Careers Information, Enterprise and Guidance

At Boomsatsuma, career guidance isn’t an extra, it’s built in. From tutors to support staff, everyone helps students shape their next steps and prepare for whatever their future looks like. It’s the fabric of what we do that trains the next generations of creatives in television, film, photography, game design, digital media and sports media. 

Whether a student wants to pursue an apprenticeship, freelance employment, higher education, or employment as their next step, Boomsatsuma gives the same commitment to the guidance, support and opportunities available to all students in making the right choice for their future. We equip students with the technical and creative skills they need to thrive, and build resilience, confidence and imagination to navigate the employment market.

Boomsatsuma provides high quality impartial careers guidance to students which inspires and motivates them into positive destinations at the end of their period of study with us. This happens on an almost daily basis with a client focused approach and lessons which mirror real working environments. We work closely with our partners and have firm relationships with industry leaders including The Bottle Yard Studios, Films at 59, Doghouse Post Productions, Plimsoll, Bristol Creative Industries, Gorilla, Venture Studio and Great North Museum.

To provide practical guidance that is career specific and relevant to our industries and wider, in the best interest of the student. All colleagues through their day to day interactions contribute to raising achievement, develop higher aspirations in students whilst considering a broad range of careers pathways. We help develop enterprise and employability skills including skills for self-employment/freelance work by promoting students to attend careers events, UCAS and Bristol Job Fairs, as well as progression-related events at the Watershed, Bristol Creative Industries and our own unique Higher Education provider.

We support inclusion and promote equality of opportunity at every turn working closely with our Support Team who are highly experienced practitioners.

All our education is centred around creating life chances of all students.

Experiences of work are an essential and a dynamic part of our curriculum. Students work with real-life clients on professional briefs with deadlines, many of which lead to genuine freelance and employment opportunities. Their work is exhibited across our local communities, in the city centre, and more widely. These experiences, both inside and outside the classroom, enrich learning and help students develop an understanding of their own economic wellbeing, careers, and enterprise. We are currently developing programmes with strong personal development elements, enabling students to understand themselves, their communities, and the influences around them. Core themes include managing time, staying safe, building positive relationships, outreach, excellence, and living confidently in the wider world.

Careers exploration is central to all our courses. Every programme includes the RSL Careers unit, which empowers students to explore current opportunities as well as post-18 pathways. Students are supported to manage their career journeys through destination planning, adapting to change and transition, and receiving tailored guidance via confidential one-to-one careers meetings. Group sessions also support this work, including mock interviews and networking events.

We work closely with a range of key partners, including the Western Training Partnership Network, UWE, and the National Apprenticeship Service, to widen participation and access to opportunities. Our student support team maintains regular contact with the local authority NEET team to support students who leave Boomsatsuma without a confirmed destination. We also collaborate with The King’s Trust and local inclusion organisations such as Babbasa Youth Empowerment, Bristol Youth Maps, and Catch22, alongside support organisations across North Somerset, BANES, and South Gloucestershire.

Students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) receive targeted support through one-to-one meetings with a Careers Coach or Academic Mentor to plan transitions and next steps. Careers resources are regularly reviewed with our partners to ensure they provide high-quality, inclusive guidance and support access for disadvantaged students. Careers events and open evenings help students and parents understand the range of opportunities available, raising aspirations through exposure to real-world pathways.

We closely monitor the destinations of our leavers and actively encourage alumni to return to Boomsatsuma to inspire and support current students. In addition, we host regular visiting speakers from diverse backgrounds, offering both academic insight and career-focused perspectives.

Monitoring and evaluation of destination data is captured by our programme teams and collected centrally. This acts as an evaluation tool each academic year to check our careers offer and general progress in careers education at Boomsatsuma. UCAS tracking data and internal tracking systems monitor the progression of said destinations for each student. 

Boomsatsuma is a member of the local authority In Learning group which meets fortnightly, which has over 50 local Careers Leads and Advisers which aids the importance of collaborative working.

Boomsatsuma has an internal CPD model where careers guidance plays a central role with regular inputs and  with the ambition to train a further Careers Adviser/Coach to Level 6, who will work towards the UWE post graduate qualification. Some of this training is informally in progress with several colleagues and we are proud to say we have a Careers Champion in each of our programmes ensuring we track all intended destinations. We seek feedback from our students, parents/carers and our partners to constantly improve our offer.