Just over a year ago, Brew Digital joined our STEAMhouse Incubator. But before then, they were already involved with us by recruiting recent Birmingham City University graduates – three to be exact.
These grads form integral parts of Brew’s team, across their account team and design work. We caught up with them – Beatrice, Jim and Natalie, to find out how this happened, and why working in STEAMhouse is the place to be!
Q: Thanks for joining me today! To start with, tell us a little more about what do you do at Brew?
Beatrice: I’m an Account Manager working primarily within social media across various clients, running client briefs from start to finish making sure that all the elements come together and are delivered on time.
Jim: I’m a Designer working on anything design-related from social media assets to web design projects.
Natalie: I’m an Account Executive assisting our Account Directors on several different clients across the agency. I work on a variety of projects but currently, I’m helping get some of the newest clients on our new website platform as well as working on the initial stages of SEO projects.
Q: So for those who don’t know, what is Brew Digital?
Jim: Brew is a website and digital marketing agency who have spent over 14 years becoming experts in our fields. Working with a wide range of clients from pubs and restaurants to universities and motor factors we collaborate on digital marketing strategies and campaigns that drive action and help clients be their digital best.
Q: That’s great! So after graduating from Birmingham City University, how did you end up at Brew?
Beatrice: I first came across Brew while I was still studying at BCU. I received an email from one of my lecturers about an opportunity with a local agency that needed some support with an upcoming event. I applied straight away and had an interview with Client Service Director Matt, that week.
I was lucky enough to get the role and began working as a digital marketing intern shortly after. I assisted with various tasks over the next two years whilst I completed my degree. Once I completed my degree, I was offered a job as an Account Executive at Brew.
Jim: When I graduated, I decided to continue working in my hospitality job, but after a few months I decided that it wasn’t for me, and I wanted to get back into the creative design industry. I contacted the careers office at the university and started to receive weekly job advertisements.
Through those job ads, I noticed an opportunity for a ‘Junior Digital Designer’ which was a new role at Brew. I applied, had an interview, and got the job! I’ve now been here for three years.
Natalie: I first connected with Brew in 2018 when it was still called Connecting Element. I volunteered to be part of the university’s marketing agency called ‘The Link’, a BCU initiative placing marketing students on live projects for businesses around the Midlands.
My team was tasked with thinking of innovative ideas to help Connecting Element promote itself as it became Brew. After completing the project for Brew, I continued my studies at university with a year’s placement at a national train company before graduating in 2021. After a bit of a bumpy road out of university, I’m happy to say I’ve found my place here at Brew as an Account Executive.
Q: That’s fascinating! You’ve all been with Brew for a few years now – how did Brew end up in STEAMhouse?
Beatrice: At Brew Digital, they’ve always had a hybrid work environment – some working from home, some working from the office. Our Client Services Director Matt told us that it seemed quite novel 13 years ago when they started.
Now it’s far closer to the norm and after a hiatus where everybody had to work from home during lockdown, we’ve now landed back on a hybrid setup between home working and here at the STEAMhouse.
Q: And what’s your experience been like working in the space?
Natalie: We have really enjoyed working in the STEAMhouse. For us three it’s our first job where most of our working week is from home so it’s nice to get out of the house and see other people!
Jim: With COVID having a big effect on our education and initial working years it’s been beneficial for us to have STEAMhouse to socialise and network as we begin our careers…and the fact it’s right next to the University community we knew so well is also a bonus!
Q: That’s so nice to hear! Overall, do you reckon you would you recommend STEAMhouse to other businesses, and if you would – why?
Beatrice: We’d definitely recommend STEAMhouse to other businesses. Everyone is so lovely and supportive, and it’s been the perfect place to fit into our ways of working as an agency. We’ve also enjoyed getting to know the other businesses around us and learning off each other as we settle into life at STEAMhouse. We can’t wait to see what the next year brings!
You can find out more about Brew Digital and their work here, or if you’re interested in becoming an Incubator member, see what we can offer you here.
