Bristol-based ‘disruptive educator’ boomsatsuma has shown Labour’s Shadow Culture Secretary and Bristol West MP Thangam Debbonaire how ethical funding can improve communities, culture and learning.
It also urged her to ensure a future Labour government would reform education funding to enable it to help more young people from often-marginalised communities across Bristol secure jobs in the city’s burgeoning creative sector.
Ms Debbonaire, pictured, met staff and students at boomsatsuma to find out more about the challenges and opportunities facing independent trainers.
During her visit to Leadworks, one of boomsatsuma’s six training centres across Bristol, she also met representatives from impact investors Bristol & Bath Regional Capital (BBRC), Better Society Capital and Access – the Foundation for Social Investment.
Boomsatsuma – which prides itself on delivering education in a different way – has been supported with around £800,000 investment from City Funds, the £10m place-based impact investment fund managed by BBRC.
This has underpinned significant expansion at boomsatsuma and enabled it to significantly increase capacity to meet growing demand for its courses that feed into careers in the Bristol’s thriving creative industries.
Ms Debbonaire said: “It was great to visit boomsatsuma and see how their brilliant facilities and staff are enabling students to take their talent to the next level. 
“I’m proud of Bristol’s vibrant cultural life. As Culture Secretary in a Labour government, I’ll work with institutions like boomsatsuma to secure the creative talent pipeline our city needs so that it can continue to generate joy, jobs and wealth that we all benefit from.”
Boomsatsuma founder Mark Curtis said it was clear Ms Debbonaire shared the organisation’s passion for culture, sports and could see their importance to Bristol society and the economy.
“It’s encouraging that there is top level recognition that these sectors are important and require training pathways, beyond maths and engineering, to meet the needs of the employers and also fulfil the passions to give the next generations a voice,” he added. 
“A significant challenge for providers like boomsatsuma is that although we could meet the demands of expanding student numbers and align new courses with the region’s skills agenda, we have had no direct access to central government or the Education & Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) to support our growth and demand.”
He said boomsatsuma had increased its engagement with Business West, the regional business support organisation, and the West England Combined Authority over the past year and hoped Ms Debbonaire’s visit would help consolidate its position in the local creative training landscape.
“While we enjoy very positive relationships with our education partners at Cabot Learning Federation and Olympus Academy, it’s unfortunate that we are capped by the current system that restricts our ability to grow and scale into new markets and territories.
“Without systemic change we can only reach a limited number of young people. Sometimes to make a difference you have to actually do things differently. We are hoping the next administration will support us in this.”
Better Society Capital CEO Stephen Muers described Boomsatsuma as a brilliant organisation helping to channel Bristolian talent into creative jobs.
“Organisations like this which help people access the UK’s thriving creative industries are invaluable and we are so glad to support Mark and the team,” he added.
“It was great to be able to show Thangam Debbonaire a wonderful example of the role social investment can play in a really important local business.
“Social investment can help transform lives and we are eager to work with the next government to unlock billions more pounds of private investment into tackling the UK’s social issues and grow the economy.”
BBRC chief executive Ed Rowberry said the organisation was delighted to have invested in boomsatsuma by deploying blended finance at the local level via City Funds.
“The blend of finance, sourced from Better Society Capital, Access and Bristol City Council, has enabled boomsatsuma to continue to deliver on its important mission to provide pathways for young people, particularly those from Bristol’s marginalised communities, into the region’s creative and digital workforce.”
