Student-led marketing agency: Bright Young Things

Bright Young Things (BYT) is a student-led marketing agency offering consultancy and operational marketing support to local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and non-profit organisations. Carrying out work in the agency forms the basis for the assessment across several modules including The Professional Marketing Practitioner; Content, Copy and Creative; and Public Relations.

As part of the assessment on these modules, you’ll spend between six and seven months in teams working as a marketing agency team for a client organisation. You’ll undertake a range of activities that support an organisation’s marketing, PR and promotional efforts. These include devising and implementing social media marketing campaigns, supporting your client with business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) events and activities, reviewing and revising website content, branding, content creation (social media posts, blogging, creation of image libraries for marketing use), and in some instances supporting the client with marketing/promotional video production.

Preparing you for the workplace

BYT develops employability skills such as communication, planning and organisation, initiative, problem-solving and self-management. You’ll also improve your team-working skills, alongside gaining experience in client/relationship management.

It’s also a valuable opportunity for you to apply your knowledge of marketing in a live environment. Working on client projects ensures that when you graduate you’ll have experiences that you can draw from in job interviews, plus examples of your work.

Business as a force for good

BYT offers much-needed support to SMEs and non-profit organisations that would otherwise not have access to this level of marketing expertise.

Our students help to stimulate growth of SMEs by offering marketing expertise and operational support, enabling business owners to focus on growing their business without the need to be drawn into the day-to-day operational marketing activity.

Client testimonials

Ben Hall, Party Pub Hire

“They’ve been an absolute pleasure to work with and a real credit to Brighton University. They’ve made a real difference to the business, bringing skill and knowledge to an area that myself and Jack (business partner) aren’t overly comfortable in.

“We’ve found it’s really pushed us on and motivated us to try more and do different things.  We’ve seen a real increase in business for this year and some great event contacts that will help us in the future.”

Laura Callaghan, Plastic Free Baby

“It was a pleasure to work alongside this team, and to be involved in their creative discussions. They evolved and developed key ideas with enthusiasm and care.

“Their work on website SEO was exemplary, and has led to some organic hits and sales on my online shop. I think they each have promising careers ahead of them, and I wish them every success with their future studies.”

Luke Sanderson, Rother Voluntary Action

“The team has worked well from the beginning with a strong introduction laying out interests and talents, we were able to utilise their creative design talents. They produced a good plan for branding and merchandise making event stalls more interactive which we can go forward with.

“Their blog content was always strong, and they never missed a deadline. During lockdown they lost their main responsibilities that had been set, but pivoted very well into creation of digital materials giving us content we can continue with into the future.”

Jack Visick, Brewtopia/The Berwick Inn

“Overall, I was really impressed with the team provided and they thoroughly exceeded my expectations. With each member adding something different, the team came together nicely, with focus and drive to further develop the app and marketing strategy.

“Not only did they hit the brief, they also provided excellent ideas including the opportunity of introducing the Brewtopia Tribes! An idea we would love to execute should the opportunity arise.

Nathan Gokhool, Independent Author

“Natalie was the gold star member of my team – her communication and ideas were always spot on. The most important thing she gave me was total confidence that things were going to get done.

“I would like continue a working relationship with her some time in the future. I would strongly recommend her to any team or organisation.”

UN Sustainable Development Goals

Bright Young Things meets the following UN global goals:

• Quality education – standard four
• Decent work and economic growth – standard eight
• Industry, innovation and infrastructure – standard nine
• Responsible consumption and production – standard 12