"We don't distinguish the decision you're making about your academic future from the one you're making about your life." ANDREW BREWERTON — Principal
The creative sector is the fastest-growing part of the UK economy, contributing £91.8 billion each year.
A government report published in 2016 shows it's worth a massive £9.6million per hour – with the report also showing that the trend was set to continue with another blockbuster year for UK creative output.
You begin your professional career the moment you step into the college. Our teaching staff and technicians are practising artists, our visiting lecturers bring a wealth of insight and our culture of live briefs keeps things feeling real.
We encourage students to think for themselves as practitioners – photographers, illustrators, designers, filmmakers – from day one. Whatever you wish to do, we can support you during your study and help you to fulfil your career aspirations.
We offer you the opportunity to take an ambitious journey of self-awareness, professional development and business planning to equip you to use your creative practice as a springboard to lifelong fulfilment, and an exciting career in the creative industries locally, regionally, nationally or internationally.
We'll support you to find experiences that will fit in and around your studies, including:
Resources – Online resources and useful links
'I'm a Creative, what next?' a programme of workshops that gives opportunities for students to meet, engage with and learn from real world practitioners and industry professionals
Careers advice before and for up to three years after graduation
Work placements and internships
Job Wall – Offers a wide range of external paid jobs and commissions
Selling and showcasing opportunities
Great jobs for great graduates. Quality jobs and paid internships in South West England with companies that value graduate skills and talent. Because we do! New jobs added daily. Visit www.gradsouthwest.com for more information.
Third year BA (Hons) Illustration student, Jack Viant was selected to join Hallmark for two weeks in their Bradford studio.
"Jack was very enthusiastic," said Emma Greaves, Art Director (Creative) at Hallmark UK.
"Great character development with amazing expressions – perfect for humour!"
"It was well worth the trip from Bradford to Plymouth to set a project brief for the Illustration students at Plymouth College of Art. Everyone was very welcoming and we were very impressed with the standard of work," she added.
"All the students were professional when presenting their projects. They had researched and developed some innovative concepts that could have easily translated into greetings cards. Choosing placements proved a difficult task with so much choice."
"Getting this internship has been a great thing for me," Jack said. "It has taught me to work at a fast yet professional rate.
"I can now mock up final designs within a matter of hours whereas before it would have taken me days. I have a better understanding of image composition and general design which I can apply to numerous briefs and projects.
"I also learned how to work in a professional environment and I gained a good new set of skills which I can apply to my course and future job aspects. The people I worked with were incredibly kind and offered great professional advice.
"Overall it was an incredibly fun time. I met some great people, made a bunch of new friends – and I have some work in the Hallmark archive which is a great bonus."
For further information, contact our Careers & Enterprise Team on 01752 205714 or email careers@pca.ac.uk.
If you're a business or employer interested in working with us or our students, please see our Business Services page.
Our in-house Agency is a space where external businesses and organisations pitch paid live projects and briefs for undergraduate students to work on. Beyond providing direct industry experience, The Agency drives innovation and prepares students for a higher level of creative employment upon graduation, or to become independent practitioners within their field.
If you are a current student, or an alumni of the college and you are interested in joining The Agency, click here to find out more.
Keep up to date on all the latest news about our graduates and students on our blog.
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If you're interested in undertaking an internship or work placement, or want some support in your professional development, get in contact with our Careers & Enterprise Team by emailing careers@pca.ac.uk.