Buckinghamshire College Group is proud to celebrate the success of its longstanding partnership with B-Loony, the UK's leading manufacturer and printer of custom branded promotional products.
Over the last five years, the College has worked closely with B-Loony to provide valuable work placement opportunities for Graphic Design students, helping them gain practical industry experience, develop professional skills and take important steps towards their future careers.
During this time, six Graphic Design students have undertaken work placements with the company, with three progressing into full-time positions within B-Loony's Artwork Department. The partnership continues to provide students with invaluable insight into the creative industry while allowing them to apply the skills developed during their studies in a real workplace environment.
Claire Bishop, Sales Director at B-Loony, highlighted the positive impact the collaboration has had on both the business and the students involved:
"Our partnership with the college has been extremely valuable for our business. The quality of students placed with us has consistently been excellent, and they have made a genuine contribution to our operations from day one.
We particularly value the opportunity to provide local students with practical workplace experience and a clear pathway into long-term employment. This not only supports skills development within our community but also aligns with our wider social and environmental commitments.
The apprenticeship-style approach benefits both parties. Students gain valuable real-world experience and career progression opportunities, while we benefit from the enthusiasm, fresh perspectives and developing skills they bring to our business. We look forward to continuing this successful partnership in the future."
The partnership has already helped many students gain confidence in the workplace and develop the professional skills required to succeed in the creative sector.
Former Graphic Design student, Alicja Kuznik, reflected on her experience at B-Loony and the benefits it provided:
"My work experience with B-Loony was truly valuable. While it was for a short period of time, I got to experience working in a 9 to 5 office setting that gave me discipline and the importance of using my time wisely. In addition, I got to use the skills I learnt from my course while building new ones, for instance teamwork and problem-solving. So, if you ever hear about any work experience opportunities from the college, just go for it!"
For some students, a work placement has become the first step towards a rewarding career.
Former student Evie Page is now employed full-time at B-Loony and credits both her college experience and workplace support for helping her achieve her career goals:
"A big thank you to my college tutor, Shaun, who has pretty much taught me all of my creative skills, particularly with the Adobe applications. Without Shaun and my training mentor, Emma, I would not be in the position I am in now: working happily full-time at B-Loony. Therefore, I highly recommend the Graphic Design course at Bucks College Group for anyone wanting to go down this type of career path!"
The success of the partnership demonstrates the vital role that employer engagement and industry placements play in helping students bridge the gap between education and employment. By working closely with businesses such as B-Loony, Buckinghamshire College Group continues to provide students with opportunities to gain meaningful workplace experience, develop sought-after skills and build successful careers within their chosen industries.
The College would like to thank Claire Bishop and the entire B-Loony team for their continued support, commitment and investment in developing the next generation of creative talent. Their ongoing partnership is making a real difference to students' futures and helping to create clear pathways from education into employment.
