“Since their appointment to the Digitech team, AMBITIOUS has played the important role of developing our communications and stakeholder engagement strategy and delivering tactical support that has resulted in generating high levels of awareness, engagement and importantly student applications.
Their insight and connectivity across the creative, digital and tech sector has made a significant difference to the type employers and business leaders we have been able to engage and ongoing counsel and support provides me and the team with a valuable resource and skills set.”

M. Veale, Principal

DIGITECH STUDIO SCHOOL BRISTOL

Integrated Marketing Communications

About Digitech Studio School Bristol

Digitech is the first school in the South West region to specialise in creative, digital and high tech industries – offering students a range of qualifications including GCSEs and A Levels, as well as work placements that lead students to university, further training and employment.

Joining the Cabot Learning Federation, which sponsors 12 primary and secondary academies in Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Bath and Weston-super-Mare, Digitech is a new type of school – a studio school.

Catering for around 300 students aged 14 to 19 years old, Studio Schools work to close the gap between education and employment by helping students develop the skills they need to flourish in life and employment. More like a workplace than a school, it’s a 9am-5pm day and a new approach to learning is applied, developing a curriculum with loyal employers, which includes learning through projects and real work.

A new concept and a new approach to schooling through employer engagement, Digitech Studio School Bristol needed to both educate and engage local communities, partner employers, and importantly inspire students (and their parents) to enroll into a new type of school.

AMBITIOUS, supported by design partners on this project Mango, was tasked with developing an integrated marketing communications campaign that included brand identity, content creation, media relations, social media, employer engagement and client counsel.

With much to be achieved in a short period of time, AMBITIOUS set about developing a robust strategy built around Bristol’s reputation as a leading light in creative, digital and tech and the increasing need for local young talent. This was supported by a focus on helping target audiences to understand ‘what is a Studio School’.

Stakeholder insight was critical to the campaign planning and AMBITIOUS hosted workshop sessions with students and local employers to inform the strategic communications planning and tactical activity.

The Results

From putting in place hard working PR tools – social media platforms, quality content including a film featuring industry leaders (see below) event promotion and securing regional media coverage including thought leadership articles – AMBITIOUS created a buzz about Digitech that inspired the local community to engage.

Applications exceeded targets and influential employers in the region pledged support and ongoing commitment to the school.