Kyle Bonner
I enjoyed planning and producing cards to sell on the stall, and I loved people buying my products.
North Hertfordshire College’s Level 2 Bespoke Art and Design students have been very busy over the last few weeks, taking part in an exciting range of work experience opportunities! These placements and experiences have helped our learners to test their skills, explore creative roles, and test out different employment pathways for their future.
Take a look at some of their experiences below!
Bee Creative, Bee Bespoke 🐝
Through an amazing opportunity with Stevenage Indoor Market, a group of our learners applied their creativity and entrepreneurial talents to a market stall challenge. The students worked as a team to plan and run their own market stall where they sold their own handmade gifts, including cards, keyrings, badges and printed tote bags. Enter Bee Creative, Bee Bespoke, their very own brand!
Learners worked together as if they were a small business, organising the goods for sale, creating marketing plans, and maintaining the all-important finances, stock replenishment and bookkeeping to keep their stall afloat. Students even joined the NHC Winter Staff Conference to sell their designs ahead of the holiday season and are continuing to run further pop-up stalls for both staff and students for the remaining of the year! This experience has helped to give learners hands-on experience of what it’s like to run a small creative business, and we’re sure that we’ll be seeing more of their creative ventures soon.
Rebecca Godfrey
It was nice to meet and talk with people.
Leon Hawkins
Alieu was great at selling our products on the market stall.
Alieu Shaw
It was fun selling at the staff winter conference.
Royal Opera House experience 🎭
In November, the learners had a Front of House and backstage tour of the Royal Opera House in London! As well as getting to see behind-the-scenes of the venue, learners also spoke to employees, apprentices, and ROH Apprenticeships and Work Experience Manager about what it’s like to work there and the employability skills needed for success. They also got to visit all the key departments involved in running the ROH.
With their new knowledge under their belt, the learners took part in their own practical work experience activities, working front of house with the general public, and behind-the-scenes on-stage with the technical departments – experience which is going to look amazing on their CVs!
CJ Ezeife
I loved it! A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Leon Hawkins
It was a unique experience that I will never forget.
Kyle Bonner
I really enjoyed socialising with the general public.
Michelle Wesley
It was a rare experience that I will always remember.
Jihan Attar
I really enjoyed the whole experience; I loved working on the box office!
Junction 7 Gallery 🎨
Last, but by no means least, our learners have also been involved in a local Stevenage Gallery, by working with Junction 7 Creatives. Students enjoyed a guided tour of the regeneration works by a member of Stevenage Borough Council’s regeneration team before producing drawings of sculptures around the Town Square. Learners curated and exhibited their artwork at the Gallery for the month of January.
As well as building their communication skills by discussing their thoughts independently to the gallery’s manager, John Pebble, our learners have also built their confidence in working with others and members of the public by working in the gallery and sharing ideas and artwork with local artists.
Leon Hawkins
This has given me the confidence to widen my communication skills in talking to the public.
Tom Ashcroft
It was a welcoming environment.
Kyle Bonner
I enjoyed setting up for the exhibition in the gallery, my artwork is in the front window, still.
Sam Ashcroft
I enjoyed meeting all the people that came into the gallery.
Jess Sapsford
It was great fun drawing on the windows for everyone to see.
Phew, what a busy few weeks for our Bespoke Art and Design students! We’re looking forward to seeing what they get up to next.
If you’re looking to flex your own creative muscles and try your hand at some new skills, why not check out North Hertfordshire College’s Creative and Performing Arts courses? We’re proud to offer a range of options for 16+ school leavers through to leisure courses for adults.