Creative sparks from University of Northampton contribute to UK’s future economic success

The University of Northampton is backing a campaign showcasing the immense contribution of UK universities to the nation’s creative industries and future economic success.

New research conducted for Universities UK shows that UK parents are strongly in favour of university creative courses, with more than two thirds (69 per cent) saying that creative courses are vital for powering the UK’s creative industries and nearly two thirds (65 per cent) saying that they benefit the UK economy.

But there are fears that this contribution could now be under threat, with two thirds (67 per cent) of UK parents acknowledging that creative industries have suffered greatly as a result of the pandemic.

In response, Universities UK has launched the Creative Sparks #MadeAtUni campaign to showcase the creativity found at UK universities like Northampton, and to encourage the government to promote and support the importance of creativity and creative courses.

Alistair Jarvis CBE, Chief Executive, Universities UK said: “Universities are places where creative ideas flourish, where innovation happens, and where businesses employing thousands of people are started. They’re where the nation’s creative sparks are ignited.”

The University of Northampton has a proud track record of igniting creative sparks who go on to successful careers in the creative industries.

Dallas Campbell.

Former drama student, Dallas Campbell, for instance, used his university experience as a springboard into a successful career in broadcasting. Dallas, who graduated in 1992, picked up acting roles on hit BBC TV dramas Casualty, Holby City and Spender, before pursuing his dream of television presenting. He’s been a presenter on Channel 5’s The Gadget Show and Bang Goes the Theory, and fronted BBC science documentaries, including the BAFTA-nominated Supersized Earth series, City in the Sky and Egypt’s Lost Cities. Dallas is also a regular presenter of the BBC Four Horizon series.

He said: “I wouldn’t be where I am today if I didn’t go to university in Northampton. Everything I learned there led to me to breaking into the TV industry. Universities are brimming with creativity and crucial for helping people like me to make their mark in the creative industries.”

Watch a video from Dallas, below.

Sam Brown.

Shortly after graduating from the Acting for Contemporary & Devised Performance course in 2019, Sam Brown secured a part in Netflix smash, Sex Education, before going on to star in a 10-part football drama. But his latest role is his biggest yet – the upcoming US mini-series, Masters of the Air. The war drama counts Hollywood legends Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg as two of its executive producers.

Sam said: “I don’t think I could have done a single scene without the training I got at uni.

“I owe everything to the team who taught me, and not just for the technical training, but they made sure I was ready to work in the industry. They tell you how to behave, how to prepare, how to be professional and adult about things. It’s this advice about how to get on in the industry that’s invaluable. They drummed it into me that you wouldn’t get very far if you could only act.”

Helen Kirkum.

Footwear & Accessories 2014 graduate, Helen Kirkum, went on to work for adidas Originals before a craving to continue with her own projects set in. She left to concentrate on building up her own footwear brand.

She now directs a small team from her studio in North Greenwich, creating one-off reconstructed trainer designs and building her namesake brand.

Helen said: “University provided me with so much knowledge and breadth of skills which have helped me to stand out of the crowd when I’ve gone for jobs and freelance roles.

“The skills I learnt at Northampton helped me to get the adidas job and progress so much when I was there.

“There are a lot of sneaker designers who don’t have knowledge of patterns and the processes behind shoemaking – I do, and it helped me to stand out.”

Dan Edge.

Dan Edge has enjoyed a varied career since graduating from the University of Northampton’s Drama degree in 2008, with parts on stage and screen, modelling shoots, an appearance in the 2012 Paralympic Games opening ceremony – while also enjoying a dual role as a wrestling promoter and professional fighter.

Sky Sports viewers might also recognise him as the star of an advert for bookmakers Paddy Power, which was on heavy rotation over a six-month period in 2017.

Dan, who also happens to have cerebral palsy, also finds time to fight for the rights of acting union Equity’s deaf and disabled members – and had a role with charity Scope, which saw him visit schools to bust the myths surrounding disability.

While his drive, determination and talent has given him an enviable spread of work, Dan is keen to talk up the importance of the University in helping to set him on his amazing career path.

“The course helped me massively as soon as I graduated, and still does today,” said Dan. “I speak to lots of actors who went to stage schools rather than a university, and they all received excellent acting tuition, but not one thing about the business side of the industry.

“At Northampton, there’s also a big emphasis on developing business skills, including how to make your applications stand out, accounting, promotion, and so on. Acting itself is only one part of being an actor, there’s so much more to it, and the course prepared me fully for this career, making me a much more well-rounded graduate, compared to many who went to stage schools.”

Elliott Dodsworth.

Elliott Dodsworth went on to co-found a video games company after graduating from the Games Art course in 2017. As lead video games developer at The Game Production Company, in Manchester, Elliott and his small team released open-world multiplayer, Adventure in Aellion, in 2020.

He said: “My games art training has influenced the art style of the project significantly. The primary skills such as 3D modelling, rendering and 2D art are obviously helpful in my everyday work, but the concept art theory has been vital – colour theory and composition has been the most useful thing I learnt as I apply the 2D techniques in 3D.”