A Swindon creative agency is marking the first anniversary of a work experience programme designed to give young people a genuine insight into careers in the creative industries.
GEL Studios launched its Next Gen initiative in July 2025 with the aim of moving beyond the traditional work experience model, offering students practical projects, professional mentoring and the chance to work on live-style creative briefs.
Twelve months on, the programme has welcomed 15 students through its Swindon studio, who together have completed 91 days of placements, worked on 21 creative projects and received 344 hours of support from the agency’s team.
The initiative also extends beyond the studio, with GEL Studios strengthening its links with local schools and colleges by attending six education events and contributing more than 50 hours to careers fairs, mock interviews, futures evenings and creative workshops.
Rather than simply observing day-to-day business, students are given their own creative brief, allowing them to explore areas such as branding, graphic design, content creation, social media and market research.
Depending on their interests, participants also gain experience using professional software and platforms, including Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Canva, Google Ads and SEMrush, helping them build practical skills valued across the creative sector.
A key part of the programme is presenting ideas to the team and responding to professional feedback, something organisers say has helped students develop confidence as well as technical ability.
The approach appears to be paying off. Participants rated the programme an average of 9.6 out of 10 during its first year, with satisfaction increasing to 9.8 out of 10 in 2026. Students also praised the learning opportunities, mentoring and overall experience, with many saying they would recommend the placement to others.
Looking ahead, GEL Studios plans to expand Next Gen by introducing more classroom workshops, building stronger partnerships with schools and colleges and developing activities for younger pupils through primary school outreach.
Beth Wakefield, Creative Strategist at GEL Studios and lead of the Next Gen programme, said: “Developing Next Gen has been one of the most rewarding projects I’ve been involved in.
“I wanted to create a programme that gives young people meaningful insight into the creative industry and helps them build confidence in where their skills could take them.
“Over the past year, it has been a privilege to work alongside our Senior Designer, Elisha, to continue shaping the programme and supporting the students taking part.
“One of the most rewarding aspects has been seeing young people grow in confidence, develop new skills and start to recognise the value of their own ideas.”
One year after its launch, Next Gen continues to grow with a simple ambition: giving young people meaningful experience that prepares them for future careers, while helping to inspire the next generation of creative talent in Swindon and Wiltshire.
