Leeds Arts University (LAU) is a specialist arts institution with a history dating back to 1846, making it one of the oldest arts education institutions in the UK. Located in Leeds, LAU achieved university status in 2017 and stands out as the only dedicated arts university in northern England. With a broad range of creative programmes – spanning fine art, graphic design, fashion, animation, photography, and digital media – LAU offers students access to advanced facilities, including state-of-the-art studios, workshops, and performance spaces, which support its modern, industry-aligned learning environment.

The Careers, Employability & Enterprise Team at LAU plays an instrumental role in helping students and recent graduates navigate their career paths by offering personalised guidance, mentoring, and practical workshops. Through this support, students can explore entrepreneurship, freelancing, and professional networking, preparing them to launch their own businesses, pursue freelance careers, or secure roles in established organisations.

In 2023, Abigail Boyes, Employability and Enterprise Advisor at LAU, reached out to Rebecca Hopwood of Youbee Media to address feedback from enterprising students needing practical insights into social media for business. The initial discussion focused on TikTok for Business, exploring how students could use this platform to accelerate the success of their creative ventures.

Following the success of this first workshop, student feedback highlighted the need for a broader understanding of social media as a marketing tool, emphasising how digital marketing could further support business growth.

Youbee Media worked closely with LAU to create a tailored workshop designed to meet the evolving needs of LAU’s students. Starting with a TikTok for Business workshop under LAU’s "Making Things Work" series, the session provided practical advice on connecting with audiences on TikTok – a valuable resource for makers and creators.

In 2024, Youbee Media expanded its support by designing a Digital Social Media workshop for Level 5 students. Open to students across all courses, this session provided key insights into building an online presence, leveraging social media for business, and understanding how digital marketing can drive success. Attendees also received a workbook to support them as they develop their business and marketing strategies. With dedicated spaces for writing goals, mission statements, and social media content plans, this resource offers students a structured way to track and implement their marketing strategies effectively.

Rebecca also delivered a second “Making Things Work” workshop this year, with a new focus on Content Marketing and SEO strategies. Each session combined targeted insights with practical exercises, ensuring students left with actionable knowledge they could apply immediately.

The workshops delivered by Youbee Media had a significant impact on students at Leeds Arts University, equipping them with practical knowledge and strategies to enhance their digital presence and marketing efforts. Over 150 Level 5 students benefited from the Digital Social Media series, gaining valuable insights into leveraging social media for their creative careers. The "Making Things Work" sessions consistently received outstanding engagement, with 98% of attendees providing positive feedback. These workshops have become a vital part of the university’s employability strategy, helping students build confidence in personal branding, content marketing, and audience engagement. By providing actionable takeaways, including a structured workbook, the sessions ensured students could immediately apply their learnings to real-world business and freelance opportunities.