Jenny Evans to lead new Content Creation degree at Arts University Plymouth in partnership with The Influencer Academy

<p dir="ltr">Launching in September 2026, the degree is designed for aspiring creators who want to work for brands, agencies and organisations, develop a freelance practice or build their own personal brand and creative business.</p> <p dir="ltr">Students will create work across moving image, photography, audio, animation, and written content while developing skills in marketing, branding, audience engagement, data-informed planning and business development. They will also critically explore the responsible use of digital platforms and emerging technologies, considering both the ethical implications of these tools and the wider responsibilities involved in building audiences and communicating online.<br /></p>

<p dir="ltr">The Influencer Academy will work with students across all three years of the degree, giving them sustained insight into current professional practice and industry standards.</p> <p dir="ltr">First-year students will complete six weeks of focused training covering how to price creative work, pitch ideas and manage professional collaborations. As the course progresses, students will respond to live briefs and pitch content ideas to national brands.</p> <p dir="ltr">Selected work may lead to paid commissions, helping students gain experience of contracts, client relationships and professional delivery while building their portfolios. Final-year support will include portfolio reviews and talent development, with standout students potentially considered for agency representation through The Influencer Academy.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Jenny Evans, Senior Lecturer and Course Leader for BA (Hons) Content Creation at Arts University Plymouth, said:</strong> “Content creation changes quickly, so we have designed this degree to combine practical production, commercial understanding and critical thinking, giving students adaptable skills for careers that extend beyond any single platform or trend.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Students will learn to make ambitious work, understand audiences, use data intelligently, pitch and price their ideas and make responsible decisions about trust, representation and ethics. Through our partnership with The Influencer Academy, they can test those skills against real professional expectations while developing their own creative identity.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I want students to graduate with a strong portfolio, a clear understanding of the value they offer and the commercial confidence to build a sustainable creative career.”</p>

<p dir="ltr">Jenny’s career spans creative practice, entrepreneurship, marketing and business development. After winning the post-revenue category of the Santander Universities Entrepreneurship Awards in 2017, she raised a £350,000 seed round for an investor-backed design business, leading a team of ten across two UK offices and selling luxury homeware and fashion accessories internationally.</p> <p dir="ltr">She later mentored hundreds of founders through Outset, served as UK Policy Chair for Young Entrepreneurs at the Federation of Small Businesses and created organic digital content generating millions of views. Jenny is also a Trustee of Plymouth Culture and is completing an MA by Research at Arts University Plymouth, exploring digital community-building through creative collecting.</p>

<p dir="ltr">The degree launches during continued growth in digital, social and video advertising. <a href="https://www.iabuk.com/news-article/digital-adspend-2025-uks-digital-ad-market-reaches-ps405bn">IAB UK’s Digital Adspend 2025 study</a>, produced with Oliver Wyman, found that the UK digital advertising market reached £40.5 billion in 2025, growing by 10 percent in one year.</p> <p dir="ltr">Within that total, social media advertising grew by 21 percent to £11.5 billion, while investment in video across social platforms, broadcasters, streamers and publishers increased by 20 percent to £9.3 billion.</p> <p dir="ltr">Creator-led marketing is also attracting greater investment. Research by Kolsquare and NewtonX, <a href="https://www.marketingweek.com/2026-social-media-influencer-marketing/">reported by Marketing Week</a>, found that 81 percent of surveyed UK influencer-marketing decision-makers expected their budgets to increase in 2026.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Professor Stephen Felmingham, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic) and Professor of Artistic Research at Arts University Plymouth, said:</strong> “Content creation is maturing rapidly as a professional field. Successful creators need creative excellence and technical ability, as well as commercial confidence and a clear ethical framework.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Jenny’s appointment, together with the sustained industry access offered by The Influencer Academy, creates a compelling proposition for students who want to turn their creativity into a career.”</p>

<p dir="ltr">The Influencer Academy provides professional training in personal branding, content quality, audience metrics, legal and ethical responsibilities, online safety, pricing creative work and working with brands and agencies, helping creators elevate their work and achieve more. Its team brings experience across PR, marketing, talent management, business and education.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Matt Hill, Director of The Influencer Academy, said:</strong> “Brands and agencies need creators who can combine strong ideas and high-quality content with an understanding of audiences, metrics, contracts, disclosure and commercial value.</p> <p dir="ltr">“By working with students from the beginning of their degree, we can help them build confidence, understand professional expectations and develop the experience and relationships needed to create sustainable careers in a fast-moving career category.”</p>

<p dir="ltr">BA (Hons) Content Creation will prepare graduates for careers across digital content creation, social media, video and audio production, PR, content writing and editing, branding strategy and freelance consultancy, alongside opportunities to develop independent creator businesses and personal brands.</p> <p dir="ltr">The National Careers Service currently lists salary ranges of <a href="https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/social-media-manager">£25,000 to £50,000 for social media managers</a> and <a href="https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/video-editor">£24,000 to £48,000 for video editors</a>, depending on experience.</p> <p dir="ltr">Students will have access to an infinity green screen, sound and media studios, edit suites and professional production equipment through Arts University Plymouth’s Equipment Resource Centre.</p> <p dir="ltr">Clearing 2026 is now open. Prospective students can <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-content-creation">explore BA (Hons) Content Creation and apply for September 2026</a>.<br /></p>