Published: Mar 25, 2010 @ 15:16

B-Hive Winners Announced

The 2010 B-Hive winners were announced last night (Tuesday 23^rd March) praising the creative talents of Birmingham once more.

Over 80 students and industry professionals joined Pitch ad Marketing Birmingham for the announcement of this years winners following tow days of competitive presentations.

Rob Markwell, Director of Pitch Consultants, announced the overall winners of the four creative categories (web design, graphic design, marketing and PR) but congratulated everyone on their outstanding presentations and talents.

Sarah Mortimer was named overall winner for PR and will spend four weeks at Willoughby PR and Rewired PR, whilst Ellie Rance scooped the top marketing position and four weeks work experience at both Marketing Birmingham and COI.

The design categories awarded Alex Budau with paid placements at Made Media, Clusta, Cogent, Freestyle Interactive, One Black Bear and TAMBA internet as the overall winner of web design, whilst Mandy Wong topped the graphic design category.

Mandy, a final year Visual Design student at Birmingham City University, was overwhelmed with her prize of 12 weeks paid work experience.

“I’m looking forward to the placements, nervous, but still excited,” she said.

Originally from Leicester, Mandy stressed her enthusiasm for the scheme.

“This scheme is really helpful, I would love to stay in Birmingham after graduating so that’s why the B-Hive scheme is so good.”

Mandy received cheers from the audience as her endless list of employers was reeled off by Rob on the night.  Enjoying placements at KLM, McCann Erickson, Seal, RBH, WAA and Unsuitable, Mandy will leave with a substantial catalogue of experience.

Entering the web design category as well, Mandy was also awarded a further two weeks paid placement with TAMBA internet.

“I found out about the scheme through my lecturers, Ros Sinclair and Clive College.  The brief was really difficult as it was a lot broader than I thought it would be, but I came out feeling confident after the constructive feedback I received after the presentation.”

Praising the scheme, Mandy now looks to the future with her head held high.

 Published: Mar 6, 2010 @ 15:16

Time is running out…

With the deadline looming (Monday 8^th March) B-Hive creative have given a few helpful tips for student submissions.

Number One: It is fine to enter more than one category, so don’t hold back.  With marketing, web design, graphic design and PR placements up for grabs more than one may tickle your creative side.  Applying to more than one will give the judges a chance to see more of you and, of course, you’ll have double the chance of winning.

Number Two: File sizes should be less than 8MB.  Larger submissions can be sent in a low resolution file or printed and sent to B-Hive Creative, Ground Floor, Norfolk House, Smallbrook Queensway, Birmingham, B5 4LJ.  Remember to mention any extra material in your submission so it’s not misplaced.

Number Three: Look out for computer glitches!  If you want to double check your application was received give them a quick call.  It won’t hurt and can put your mind at rest. Call 0121 270 4080.

With only days left till the application deadline you need to act quickly.  Entrant will then be reviewed in the following week followed by the shortlist announcement on Monday 15^th March.

Good luck!

 

 Published: Feb 11, 2010 @ 19:21 

 

B-Hive Briefs Announced

Glenn Tucket and Katie White, winners of B-Hive 2009

STUDENTS ENCOURAGED TO GO GREEN FOR WORK PLACEMENTS

Students looking for a career in the creative and marketing industries are being asked how they would build on Birmingham’s green credentials for a chance to secure work placements with the region’s leading agencies.

The B-Hive Campaign, with less than a month to go before the deadline, is challenging students to come up with an initiative scheme in which Birmingham will become the greenest city in the world by 2020.

Students will be required to demonstrate how they would encourage residents and business to become proactive with green initiatives including using public transport, reducing energy usage and recycling.

Emma Gray, Head of Marketing at Marketing Birmingham, said:

“This year we wanted to ensure that the brief presented a real marketing challenge.  Birmingham has some ambitious plans to improve its green credentials and become an even better place to live, work and visit over the next decade.

“For the city to achieve this, it will need to have the support of residents, businesses and stakeholders, and this provides a genuinely challenging but exciting opportunity for students to come up with some creative and effective marketing solutions.”

The twelve successful applicants will be awarded two paid work placements each within Birmingham’s creative industry.

Published: February 3, 2010 @ 14:29

 

A foot on the creative ladder

The B-Hive campaign offers students in PR, marketing, web design and graphic design a head start in the creative industries.

Now in its second year, The B-Hive offers students across the city the chance to get involved in one of the 24 placements on offer.

Each applicant must complete an online application for their chosen category.  If successful, students will be invited to sit before a panel of six judges in a Dragon’s Den style interview.

Joining with high profiled employers, such as McCann Erikson Communications House, KLM and Seal Communications, the campaign gives the students of Birmingham a unique avenue into the creative sector.

Last year’s winners, Glenn Tucker and Katie White, took part in the four week placements and now work at creative companies in the West Midlands.

Katie said: “At McCann Erickson, I began to understand how PR relates to advertising, media planning and design as I took part in organising and running a competition for Mercedes Benz World.

“Moving to Rewired was a big change as their company is much smaller. However, this meant that I was able to become much more involved with the day to day activity of the company and I immediately clicked with the team there.”

With work experience becoming a vital part of CV’s in every sector, the B-Hive campaign targets the talent of Birmingham directly giving successful applicants that much need push onto the creative ladder.

With the applicant deadline looming (March 8th 2010) visit the B-Hive website for more information and online application forms.