Creative agency work experience.

We offer work experience for GCSE, A-Level, and University students who want to pursue a creative career.

GEL Studios is excited to introduce our Next-Gen Programme - an initiative dedicated to nurturing the next generation of creative talent.

It’s our way of giving back, doing things differently, and inspiring tomorrow’s workforce to make a positive impact.

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What to expect.

We make sure every work experience opportunity at GEL Studios is meaningful and tailored to YOU.

Whether you’re studying for GCSEs, A-Levels or a university degree, you’ll get hands-on experience that aligns with your interests and future goals. Based in our state-of-the-art Swindon studio and working alongside our in-house team, you’ll explore different creative disciplines like marketing, graphic design, branding and web design using the latest industry-standard tools and platforms.

If you're a GCSE or A-Level student, you’ll work on guided, in-house creative briefs - designed to give you a safe space to experiment, grow, and build confidence. For university students, there’s often the chance to work on a live brief for one of our pro-bono clients - real-world projects that make a meaningful impact for local good causes - learn more about our impact here. If no live briefs are available, you’ll still get stuck in with our team, supporting client work from across the UK.

All work experience offerings are fully insured and follow safeguarding best practices - we’re here to support and champion creative minds who care about doing good. If you’re interested in a future in the creative industries, you’re in the right place.

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Secondary school to college.

For students transitioning from secondary school to college, our placements offer a valuable first step into the creative world.

You’ll get an authentic glimpse into agency life, develop creative thinking skills, and work with digital tools - all within a safe, supportive space. This experience helps build confidence and prepares you for college courses like Graphic Design, Media Studies, and Business Studies. More importantly, it’s a chance to discover your strengths and passions - insights that can shape your future path.

From college to university and beyond!

For college and university students planning for the future, our work experience offerings allow you to take your skills to the next level.

You’ll work with professional tools and experience the day-to-day of a real creative agency. University students may even have the chance to contribute to live briefs for our pro-bono clients (when available), building a strong, portfolio-ready body of work. Along the way, we’ll help guide you toward relevant degree pathways, share advice, and provide ongoing mentoring where possible, giving you clarity, confidence, and the drive to pursue your creative career goals.

Hear from one of our students.

We believe the best way to understand what it’s like here is to hear directly from the students who’ve joined us.

Here's what Elise, from Bradon Forest School, had to say about her time with us:

"My experience at GEL Studios has been amazing! I have never learnt so much in a week. The entire team has been so welcoming, and I felt like I fit in really well. My favourite day of the entire week was Thursday because that was the day I got to design my posts on Canva!"

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From mock brief to real-world impact.

Our recent work experience student, Francesca, took on a mock brief we created around B-Corp brand Grind Coffee - developing a concept for a new summer flavour - and absolutely smashed it.

Her work was so impressive that Grind got in touch and shared it with their 230,000+ Instagram followers - a brilliant example of how hands-on experience can lead to real-world recognition. Moments like this show how the Next-Gen Programme builds confidence, creativity, and the kind of impact that truly resonates.

Below, we've outlined Francesca's work experience journey with us:

The brief.

We challenged Francesca to develop a social media campaign for a limited-edition summer flavour from Grind Coffee. The campaign needed to reflect the brand’s sustainability mission while generating excitement around the new product launch. Francesca backed up her direction with audience and market research.

The work.

Francesca delivered eight bold, on-brand social media posts created in Canva - each supported by thoughtful research and a detailed persona profile. Her campaign struck the perfect balance between strategy and creativity, showing a clear understanding of both the brand, its values and its core audience.

The pitch.

On her final day, Francesca pitched her summer campaign to the GEL Studios team, including our founder, Graeme. With confidence and clarity, she talked us through her ideas, research, and creative choices. Her pitch was professional, well thought-out, and delivered with genuine passion, bringing her campaign to life.

The impact.

After her time with us, we shared Francesca's work across our own social media channels - and it didn’t go unnoticed! The CEO and team at Grind Coffee spotted her work, reached out to us directly, and shared her designs with their own Instagram audience of over 230,000 followers - that's real impact if you ask us!

The next generation of creative talent.

At GEL Studios, our work experience briefs are crafted to spark creativity and inspire fresh thinking.

Designed with students in mind, each brief offers a real-world challenge supported by guidance from our in-house experts. We empower students with the freedom to take ownership of their projects, encouraging them to explore their talents, express their individuality, and create work that truly reflects their passion for the creative industry.

Fearn & Rosie x Bridgerton by Rosie.

Rosie was tasked with creating a limited-edition preserve flavour for B-Corp company Fearne & Rosie, in collaboration with the 2026 launch of the new Bridgerton season. From hand-drawn illustrations to capturing Lady Whistledown’s distinctive tone throughout the campaign copy, Rosie helped promote the partnership through social media visuals and a strategically crafted PR box.

Grub Club x Ocado by Eliska.

Eliska was tasked with creating a vibrant social media campaign for an exclusive partnership between Ocado and Grub Club. The key objectives were to effectively promote the impressive sustainable features of Grub Club's unique dog food range - from its ingredients to its packaging - and to fully embody their engaging and humorous brand voice across all written copy and custom visuals.

The Makers by Hannah.

Hannah was tasked with developing a complete brand identity for 'The Makers', a conceptual art therapy studio based in Bristol. During her time with us, she created a new logo and a full suite of accompanying materials for use across social media and other marketing collateral. A key strategic aim of this project was to raise awareness that the studio's sessions are accessible via GP referral.

Superman x Vue Cinema x Ben & Jerry's by Ryan and Lauren.

In our first joint brief, Ryan and Lauren crafted a social media campaign for a new Ben & Jerry's flavour, sold exclusively at Vue Cinemas, to promote the Superman (2025) film. Their work brilliantly blended the brand's playful spirit with the hero's inspirational message in a perfect creative partnership.

Artemis Jewellery by Romi.

Romi created a refined brand identity for Artemis, a handcrafted jewellery brand focused on sustainability and creativity. The outcome combined earthy tones, etching-inspired textures, and a versatile brandmark to reflect the brand's ethos. The identity helped elevate Artemis's eco-conscious message and drive interest in its jewellery-making workshops.

Flower Lab by Oliver.

Oliver developed a luxury brand identity for The Flower Lab, a high-end florist blending science with floristry. The project featured a sleek, modern logo and elegant branded materials for their first store launch, crafted to appeal to affluent clients seeking innovative floral design with a sophisticated, premium feel.

Pet Pack by Jamie.

Jamie crafted a modern, friendly brand identity for Pet Pack, a vet-recommended subscription box supporting pet owners post-COVID. Aimed at young families, the design featured playful illustrations and a warm, approachable tone to build trust, boost awareness, and position the brand as a helpful companion for pet care.

Bean & Brew Coffee House by Joyce.

Joyce designed “Joe the Java Bean,” a retro-themed coffee mascot capturing a playful, nostalgic vibe. She created three versatile variations for use across signage, social media, and décor. The mascot aligned perfectly with Bean & Brew Coffeehouse’s brand personality, appealing to their audience and enhancing the café’s visual identity.

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Our availability.

GCSE + A-Level.

We partner with select schools and colleges in and around the Swindon area to offer tailored work experience opportunities. Placement dates are confirmed annually by our partners and will be displayed below as soon as they’re finalised. If your school or college is not listed below, we will not be able to accommodate you at the current time.

  • Nova Hreod Academy: 11th to 15th May 2026.
  • Bradon Forest School: 6th to 10th July 2026.
  • Cirencester College: 10th to 13th February 2026 (2nd year only).
  • New College: 2nd to 6th March 2026 (1st year only).

Please note: we do offer opportunities during term breaks and summer holidays. If you’d like to join us outside the allocated work experience dates, please provide at least one month’s notice. Availability is limited and cannot always be guaranteed.

If you are a student, please follow the instructions at the bottom of this page to submit your interest.

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Higher-level opportunities.

University students.

If you're an enrolled University student looking for a longer-term or more immersive experience, such as an extended placement, we offer opportunities that come with greater responsibility and the chance to further develop your skills.

Please note that the length and timing of these placements can vary depending on our team’s availability. If your application is successful, we’ll work with you to agree on dates that suit both sides - we are not currently in a position to offer year-long placements.

To express your interest, simply follow the instructions at the bottom of this page - we’d love to explore whether we’re the right fit for each other.

 

Send us a message.

We kindly request that our contact form is not used for unsolicited sales emails.

hello@gelstudios.co.uk

01793 677150

Unit 2, 3 Lancaster Place,
South Marston Park, Swindon, SN3 4UQ