ANNUAL ENTERPRISE AND

EMPLOYABILITY REPORT
2004/05

Prepared by Helen Gleaves

Annual Enterprise and Employability Report, 2004/05
 Annual Enterprise and Employability Report, 2004/05

Contents
Page
1.0 Introduction 1

2.0 Work Experience 1

2.1 Overview 1
2.2 Work Placement Support 4
2.2.1 Workshops 4
2.2.2 Enterprise and Employability Resource Centre 5
2.2.3 Work Placement Materials 7
2.3 Work Placement Quality Procedures and Feedback 7

3.0 Careers 7

4.0 Enterprise 8

5.0 Employer Contact 8

6.0 Recommendations 9

7.0 College-wide Targets for 2005/06 10

Appendix A Placement Host Organisations 2004/05 12

Annual Enterprise and Employability Report, 2004/05
Annual Enterprise and Employability Report, 2004/05

1.0 Introduction
The Enterprise and Employability Unit was established in 2002/03 to support
students and staff in organising work experience opportunities. Its’ remit has
since grown to include careers information and guidance, student and
graduate recruitment, enterprise support, the Destination of Leavers Survey,
industry links and curriculum development, such as PDP, as well as work
placement support.

The following report details activities relating to the work of the Enterprise and
Employability Unit during 2004/05. In particular, the report provides
information on:
• Work experience
• Business start-up support
• Careers information and guidance
• Enterprise and Employability Unit Resource Centre activity
• Industry links

2.0 Work Experience 1

2.1 Overview
Work experience is an important resource in the delivery of employability at
Ravensbourne, as it prepares students for the transition from education to
employment, by enhancing their tacit knowledge and practical intelligence of
the workplace.

Based on feedback from students and tutors, a more targeted approach to

contacting companies was adopted. A total of 573 organisations were
contacted about work placement opportunities in 2004/05, as opposed 1044
in 2003/04. This resulted in 374 organisations offering at least one placement
per organisation (65% of companies contacted resulted in placement
opportunities). 1004 applications were received, which translated into 309
successful placement opportunities. 60 placements were not filled.

231 placements were organised for students in the Faculty of Communication

Media. 875 applications were received for these vacancies. 277 companies
offered placements. 35 placements were not filled.

77 placements were organised for students in the Faculty of Design. 128

applications were received for these vacancies. 96 companies offered
placements. 25 placements were not filled.

1 postgraduate placement was arranged through the Enterprise and

Employability Unit. Please see Appendix A for the names of the placement
hosts.

1
Findings were collected by the Enterprise and Employability Unit and are of known placement activity.
Data may not include placements organised independently of the Enterprise and Employability Unit /
Course Leader.

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Annual Enterprise and Employability Report, 2004/05

2004/05 placement activity by course

Companies
No. of Placements Applications
Faculty Programme of study offering
placements unfilled received
placements
BA (Hons) Animation 1 4 3 7
FdSc Broadcast Media Technology 17 21 4 63
FdA Broadcast Operations and Production 114 114 0 434
FdA Broadcast Post Production (inc Cert HE
45 37 0 151
Broadcast Post Production
Communication
FdA Computer Visualisation and Animation 0 0 0 0
Media
BA (Hons) Content Creation for Broadcast and New
24 43 0 63
Media
FdA Creative Sound Design 7 7 0 23
BA (Hons) Graphic Design 20 35 15 107
BA (Hons) Moving Image 3 16 13 27
BA (Hons) Fashion (2 yr) 26 20 0 41
BA (Hons) Fashion (3 yr) 38 38 0 38
Design BA (Hons) Interaction Design 4 16 12 18
BA (Hons) Interior Design Environment Architectures 5 10 5 7
BA (Hons) Product and Furniture Design 4 12 8 24
Postgraduate MA 1 1 0 1

TOTAL 309 374 60 1004

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Annual Enterprise and Employability Report, 2004/05

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 Annual Enterprise and Employability Report, 2004/05

2.2 Work Placement Support

Students are supported throughout the period of work experience by the
academic tutor and the Enterprise and Employability Unit. The academic tutor
provides academic support, for example, assessment, project briefs,
presentations, reports etc. The Enterprise and Employability Unit support
students in applying for and finding placements, liaison with host
organisations, support whilst on placement and involvement in post
placement feedback.

Support is offered through work experience workshops, one-to-one advice,

resources from the Enterprise and Employability Unit Resource Centre, and
materials and guidance documents.

2.2.1 Workshops
A total of 48 work experience workshops were organised, which were
attended by 921 students. Details can be found below:

No. of
Type of Workshops Date of
Course Students
Conducted Workshops
Attended
CV & interview
99 Oct 04
FD Broadcast Operations & Production techniques
Placement briefing 99 June 05
CV & interview Oct 04
FD Broadcast Post Production (inc Cert. 29
techniques
H.E. Broadcast Post Production)
Placement briefing 29 Feb 05
CV & interview
13 Oct 04
FD Broadcast Media Technology techniques
Placement briefing 13 June 05
FD Computer Visualisation & Animation Employability briefing 54 Oct 04
and BA Animation Industry workshop 23 Jun 05
CV & interview
9 Nov 04
FD Creative Sound Design techniques
Placement briefing 9 June 05
CV & interview
BA Content Creation for Broadcasting & 24 Jan 05
techniques
New Media
Placement briefing 24 June 05
Placement Briefing 21 Jan 05
CV workshop 21 Feb 05
BA Fashion (2 years) Creative CV workshop 21 Feb 05
Final placement
21 March 05
briefing
Placement Briefing 37 Oct 04
CV workshop 39 Oct 04
BA Fashion (3 years) Creative CV workshop 26 Oct 04
Final placement
38 Dec 04
briefing
Employability briefing
30 Sept 04
level 1
BA Graphic Design Work experience
35 Feb 05
workshop
CV workshops level 3 17 April 05
BA Interior Design Environment n/a

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Annual Enterprise and Employability Report, 2004/05

Architectures
Employability brief inc
BA Interaction Design CV/interview 12 Sept 04
techniques
Placement briefing
22 Jan 05
Level 2
BA Moving Image
CV workshop &
22 Feb 05
techniques
Employability briefing
45 Oct 04
Level 2
Induction Level 1 34 Oct 04
BA Product & Furniture Design
Work experience brief
32 Feb 05
Level 3
Diary brief Level 3 23 Feb 05

2.2.2 Enterprise and Employability Unit Resource Centre

During 2004/05, the Enterprise and Employability Unit Resource Centre was
relocated to T1, Broadcasting. This space is shared with Short Courses and
RaveMedia. Resources have been subsequently enhanced with further
guidance materials available in the areas of careers, self-employment and
intellectual property. More resources are required to bring the Centre in line
with other HEIs. In addition, online tools need to be investigated and where
appropriate implemented.

In 2004/05, 1139 students arranged appointments with the Enterprise and

Employability Unit. A breakdown by programme and query type can be found
below:

No of student
Course appointments
per course
Cert HE Broadcast Post
Production
FD (Science) Broadcast Media
Technology
FD (Arts) Broadcast Operations
& Production
FD (Arts) Broadcast Post
Production
FD (Arts) Computer
Visualisation & Animation
FD (Arts) Creative Sound
Design
BA (Hons) Animation
BA (Hons) Broadcast
Type of query
2 Work experience, advice on CV
Work experience; advice on CV;
71 letter writing; graduate jobs;
interview techniques
Work experience; advice on CV;
interview techniques; letter
291 writing; company information;
careers guidance; graduate jobs;
other
Work experience; advice on CV;
43 letter writing; company
information; graduate jobs; other
Work experience; advice on CV;
13 letter writing; business start-up;
other
Work experience; advice on CV;
30
graduate jobs; other
Work experience; advice on CV;
careers guidance; letter writing;
21
company information; graduate
jobs; interview techniques
26 Work experience; advice on CV;

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Annual Enterprise and Employability Report, 2004/05
Production
BSc (Hons) Broadcast Media
Technology
BA (Hons) Content Creation for
Broadcasting & New Media
BA (Hons) Graphic Design
BA (Hons) Moving Image
Design
Total for Faculty of
Communication and Media
BA (Hons) Fashion
BA (Hons) Interaction Design
BA (Hons) Interior Design
Environment Architectures
BA (Hons) Product and
Furniture Design
Total for Faculty of Design
Diploma in Foundation Studies
in Art and Design
Total for Faculty of Further
Education
MA Interactive Digital Media
Total for Faculty of
Postgraduate Studies
TOTAL
Students are also encouraged to ‘drop in’ to the Resource Centre to research
and collect information. The number of students accessing the Resource
Centre in this way is not recorded, as it is difficult to monitor. Equally, support
and guidance via email and telephone is not formally recorded.
careers guidance; graduate jobs;
other
2 Work experience; advice on CV
Work experience; advice on CV;
59
graduate jobs; other
Work experience; advice on CV;
careers guidance; letter writing;
145 company information; business
start-up; graduate jobs; interview
techniques; other
Work experience; advice on CV;
careers guidance; letter writing;
91 company information; business
start-up; graduate jobs; interview
techniques; other
794
Work experience; advice on CV;
careers guidance; letter writing;
138
company information; graduate
jobs; interview techniques; other
Work experience; advice on CV;
careers guidance; letter writing;
58
graduate jobs; interview
techniques; other
Work experience; advice on CV;
25 careers guidance; letter writing;
graduate jobs; other
Work experience; advice on CV;
careers guidance; letter writing;
104
company information; business
start-up; graduate jobs; other
325
Work experience; advice on CV;
10 careers guidance; letter writing;
graduate jobs
10
Work experience; advice on CV
10 writing; careers guidance; letter
writing; graduate jobs; other
10
1139
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Annual Enterprise and Employability Report, 2004/05

2.2.3 Work Placement Materials

During the academic year 2004/05, work placement and careers materials
were updated:
• Student work placement guide - 309 guides were given to students.
• Employer work placement guide - 374 employer guides were
forwarded to host organisations.
• Handouts (CV writing, interview techniques, self-promotion,
application letters, report writing and presentation skills) were
distributed to all students preparing for work experience.

2.3 Work Placement Quality Procedures and Feedback

Procedures for enhancing quality and receiving feedback about the work
placement scheme include:
• Student feedback questionnaire.
• Health and safety questionnaire.
• Code of practice for placement learning.
• Student presentations/debrief post-placement. Students present their
experience to level one students and staff. Students are also asked to
complete a report as part of the assessment.
• Work placement guides for both students and employers, detailing the
roles and responsibilities for all involved.
• Use of a learning agreement where placement learning is assessed.
Students are also encouraged to adopt a learning agreement where
placements do not contribute to the programme.
• Learning journals.
• Employer feedback questionnaire.
• Organisations are requested to return a copy of their equal
opportunities policy/statement.

All students and host organisations are given copies of the above
questionnaires and agreements, and are requested to return completed
questionnaires to the Enterprise and Employability Unit by the required date.
However, despite continuous chasing, the response rate is relatively low. The
College needs to explore ways of ensuring both students and employers
return the necessary documentation to ensure quality of placement provision
and that legislation is adhered to. It is strongly recommended that where
placements are assessed, the procedures for agreeing placements are
revised so that academic tutors ‘sign off’ the placement opportunity.

3.0 Careers
In 2004/05 the Careers Education, Information and Guidance Code of
Practice was approved together with a Careers Policy outlining the provision
of services to students and staff. One member of the Enterprise and
Employability Unit has also started to work towards the professional
qualification in careers guidance and support.

The majority of careers guidance has been channelled through the Enterprise
and Employability Resource Centre and workshops as described above. In
addition, a number of employability masterclasses were organised:
• Getting into broadcasting / CV workshop led by industry
representatives.
• Ask the Board – a panel event, in which students had the opportunity
to ask key members of the Broadcasting Advisory Board questions
relating to changes and developments in the industry.

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Annual Enterprise and Employability Report, 2004/05

• Networking skills – 4 workshops with one-to-one follow up sessions.

Offer taken up by moving image, broadcast operations and
production, broadcast post-production and graphic design.
• Setting up your label / self employment led by London Fashion Forum
for final year fashion students.

287 vacancies were advertised during 2004/05 and 7 freelancing

opportunities were arranged.

296 (88.1%) graduates responded to the 2003/04 Destination of Leavers from

Higher Education survey: 194 (66%) were employed/self employed, and 75
(25%) in further study, 10 (3.6%) unavailable for work and 17 (6%)
unemployed and seeking work. The College exceeded its HESA benchmark
of 87.2%. The actual employment performance indicator was 95.4%.

4.0 Enterprise
In 2004/05, the Creative Business Start-up Programme was piloted. Two
workshops were delivered by the Creative Industries Development Agency.
Content included:
• Have you got what it takes to be a creative entrepreneur?
• Introduction to business planning
• Business goals
• SWOT analysis
• Skills analysis

22 students from animation, broadcasting, fashion, graphic design, interaction

design, interior design environment architectures and moving image attended
the workshops. These students were from levels one, two and three.
Feedback from students was generally positive. Issues raised focused on a
greater need to promote the workshops, buy-in from tutors, timing, and
delivering the subject as an extra-curricular activity. Students felt that the
workshops should be embedded within the courses. Further workshops are
planned for 2005/06. It is also hoped that the revalidation process will address
some of the issues highlighted by the feedback.

5.0 Employer Contact

A role of the Employability Unit is to liaise with employers to develop mutually
beneficial relationships for work experience, course contribution and job
opportunities. Organisations are contacted in a number of ways, including
mailshots, visits and networking.

As previously mentioned, a more targeted approach to contacting companies

was adopted. A total of 573 organisations were contacted about work
placement opportunities in 2004/05. In order to maintain currency and
relevance a further 69 companies were visited. In addition, emphasis was
placed on developing relationships with existing organisations, such as Iris,
Philips, Corporate Edge, Skaramoosh and Fitzrovia Post (a list of employers
hosting work placements can be found in Appendix A).

2004/05 also saw the inaugural meetings of the Faculty of Design and Faculty
of Communication Media Industry Advisory Boards. Both Boards were
established to ensure that programmes remain relevant to industry
requirements, and are in addition to the Broadcast Advisory Board.

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Annual Enterprise and Employability Report, 2004/05

6.0 Recommendations
Preparing this report has provided an opportunity to evaluate enterprise and
employability activities. As a result, the following recommendations are
1. Enterprise and employability initiatives to be embedded within the
curriculum and supported by PDP.
2. Employability targets, including work placement activity, to be built into
course monitoring.
3. Work placement staff to be more integrated in course teams.
4. Careers provision to be enhanced. Additional careers resource
required to improve the Resource Centre.
5. Review Health and Safety procedures to ensure that the College
continues to meet its statutory obligations. Given the size of
Ravensbourne, the length of work placements and the nature of the
creative industries, the College must determine what is reasonable
behaviour. Equal opportunities must also be explored.
6. Learning agreements and learning logs to be further embedded and
‘signed off’ by academic tutors as part of quality enhancement.
7. Sufficient resources to be ‘ring-fenced’ for the Destination of Leavers
from Higher Education. This should be a centrally resourced activity.

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 Annual Enterprise and Employability Report, 2004/05

7.0 College-wide Targets for 2005/06

Target Activity Lead Performance Indicator Baseline Resources / Support
Responsibility Position 2004/05 Required
Increase number of Course leaders 100% of undergraduate and Work experience Part of the revalidation
courses offering work and Enterprise postgraduate courses to include learning currently process 2005-06. May
experience and Employability work placement opportunities or assessed as part require additional
Unit work based learning equivalent of the Fashion resources as increase
and Broadcasting in placement
programmes. preparation and
Opportunities for student support.
work experience
in Moving Image,
Graphics, Product
Design and
Interaction
Design.
Increase number of Course leaders For all students in Broadcasting and All fashion and
work placement and Enterprise Fashion (where possible) broadcasting
opportunities and Employability students had at
Unit By 30% in all other courses least one
placement.

Animation (1),
Product and
Design (4), IDEAs
(5), Graphics
(20), Interaction
(4), MA (1),
Moving Image (3)
Work placement Course leaders All undergraduate and postgraduate 48 workshops
support and and Enterprise courses to include a ‘compulsory’ delivered.
preparation and Employability programme of support and
Unit preparation for work placements or
WBL equivalent.
Procedures reviewed Enterprise and Reviewed work experience Return of H&S,
(H&S, EO, feedback Employability Unit procedures implemented EO and feedback
questionnaires, questionnaires
placement approval, sporadic.
dissemination of Placement
opportunities etc). opportunities
Focus on quality advertised via
assurance intranet, notice
boards and
emails.
Employability Unit Enterprise and Increase number of students and 1139 student
Resource Centre Employability Unit staff using resources by 10% enquiries were
recorded
Employment Bureau Enterprise and Increase number of vacancies 287 positions
Employability Unit advertised to both students and advertised.
graduates by 10%
Employment Bureau Enterprise and Establish a tracking system
Employability Unit
Employability Unit Enterprise and Establish a careers library as part of New
Resource Centre Employability Unit the Employability Unit Resource
Centre
Develop careers Enterprise and Intranet site and resources available New
materials and intranet Employability Unit
site
Develop careers Enterprise Service agreement arranged with New
provision at FE level Support Manager Connexions.
and Course
Leader for FE
Review CEIG Enterprise and Reviewed careers provision New
provision and Employability Unit implemented.
implement CEIG Code
of Practice

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 Annual Enterprise and Employability Report, 2004/05

Annual Employment College-wide Maintain or increase annual 296 graduates

Outcomes employment outcomes and responded to the
employment performance indicators DLHE survey for
2003/04
graduates: 194
(66%) were
employed/self
employed, and 75
(25%) in further
study, 10 (3.6%)
unavailable for
work and 17 (6%)
unemployed and
seeking work.

Employment PI of
95.4% /
Benchmark of
87.2% /
Response rate of
88.1%
Company visits Enterprise and A minimum of 40 companies visited 34 visits by the
Employability Unit in 2005/06 Employability Unit
/ Course Leaders 35 visits by JM
Industry Advisory Enterprise and 2 meetings per Faculty Advisory Faculty
Committee Employability Unit Committee Committees
established and
inaugural
meetings held
Enterprise workshops Enterprise 25 students (including alumni and 22 students
Support Manager RaveMedia award winners) to attend attended pilot
the Creative Business Start-up workshops
Programme (6 workshops)
Enterprise Resources Enterprise Develop a series of enterprise New
Support Manager materials and intranet site
Embed enterprise Course Leaders / 100% of undergraduate and New Part of the revalidation
activities in the Enterprise postgraduate courses to enterprise process 2005-06
curriculum Support Manager activities (PDP). Will require
additional resources
and expertise.
Business plan Director for Review feasibility of introducing a New
competition Strategic and business plan competition
Commercial
Development and
Enterprise
Support Manager
Enterprise and Enterprise Increase number of masterclasses 7 masterclasses
Employability master Support Manager, organised
classes Course Leaders
and Industry
Consultant

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Annual Enterprise and Employability Report, 2004/05

APPENDIX A
Placement Host Organisations 2004/05

Course Company Name

Hardcash Post Production
Animation Indestructible Production
Skaramoosh
Broadcasting Absolute Post
AHC
Aquarium Studios
Attic TV
Banana Split
Barbershop Sound
BBC Leeds
BBC NEWS
BBC News
BBC Post Production
BBC Resources
C4
Class Films
Clearcut Pictures
CNN
Cruet Company
CTV OB
Deltatre Media
DGP Soho
Endemol
English Cricket Board
Enteraction
Exposure Post Production
Express Shopping
Finish TV
Fitzrovia
Fitzrovia Post
Free @ Last
Fusion Post
Ginger TV
Granada Factual
Holloway Film
ITN
ITV
Kanal Turk
Leopard Films
Lipsync Post
Lipsync Sound
London Studios
London TV

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Annual Enterprise and Employability Report, 2004/05

LWT
Mersey TV
NBC
Parthenon
Partizan
Picture Production Company
QVC
Royal Navy
SBC
Shooting Partners
Talkback Thames - Family
Affairs
Talkback Thames - The Bill
Target
The Facility
The Mill
Thomas Cook TV
TV Sports News
Wall to Wall
Wimbledon
World of Wonder
Yorkshire TV
Fashion Alexander McQueen
Alison Hume 101
Anna Vince
Arena
Camilla Staerk
Cent Magazine
Dazed & Confused
Dusted Clothing
Eley Kishimoto
Exposure PR
Frost French
Future Lab
Gharani Strock
Hussain Chaylan
Jenny Packham
Jens Laugensen
Jessica Ogden
Jonathan Saunders
Julian Macdonald
Luella
Marjan Pejowski
Michico Koshino
Molly Grad
Mrs Jones
Peter Jensen

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Annual Enterprise and Employability Report, 2004/05

Preen
Religious Clothing
Robert Cray-Williams
Roland Mouret
Six Eight Seven Six
Swash
Tesco
Vivienne Westwood
Allies
Corporate Edge
HSAG
Graphics
Iris
Salter Baxter
SAS Design
Kent Lyons
Philips Design
Interaction
SAS Design
Allies
Interior Design DEGW
Environment
Architectures Ikea
MA Wheel Group
Moving Image Skaramoosh
Clares
Close to Water
Corporate Edge
DEGW
Product and
Epson
Furniture
Landor Associates
MY Design
Pineapple Contracts
Unto this Last

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