Sea City Museum and CoolPixel Studios attend Festival of Industries event
By Grace Kendall, SUN Outreach Coordinator
On the 14th May 2026 the Southern Universities Network (SUN) organised a Festival of Industries event in partnership with Hampshire Careers Hub. Hosted at the University of Southampton, the event welcomed students from Bishop Challoner Catholic Secondary School and Testwood School for a day of learning about educational pathways, future job roles and university life.
The Festival of Industries was designed to help young people broaden their understanding of the wide range of career opportunities available to them, by giving them the chance to speak with employers from the local area, thus inspiring them to think about their future educational pathways. Additionally as part of the event, students also took part in a guided campus tour led by University of Southampton student ambassadors. This activity enabled the students to experience university life, explore the key facilities available across the campus, and ask questions to current university students. The ambassadors shared their own educational journeys and experiences, helping students gain a better understanding of what to expect at university.
Sea City Museum Workshop
The first workshop of the day focused on careers within the museum and heritage sector. Students met with Andrew Skinner, Lifelong Learning Manager at SeaCity Museum, who spoke about the diverse range of roles that contribute to the running of a museum. From education and visitor engagement to exhibitions, marketing, and conservation, students discovered that museums offer a wide variety of career opportunities beyond what many might initially expect. Andrew also shared his own career journey and discussed the skills and qualifications that can support a career in the sector. Following the presentation, students took part in an interactive activity exploring the history of Southampton, encouraging them to engage with local heritage in a fun and hands on way.
CoolPixel Studios Workshop
During their second workshop, students were introduced to the exciting world of video game development. Will Andrews, Director at CoolPixel Studios, delivered an engaging session exploring the many career pathways within the gaming industry. Students learned about roles including game design, programming, animation, sound design, and project management, as well as the collaborative nature of creating a successful game. Will also provided an insight into some of the innovative projects currently being developed at CoolPixel Studios, and shared advice for young people interested in pursuing a career in the creative and digital industries.
The workshop concluded with a practical activity where students worked together to design and create their own video game concepts. They were encouraged to think creatively, develop unique ideas, and present their games to their peers. The activity helped students build confidence in their presentation skills and the importance of teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving skills.
Overall, the event was a great success, providing students with valuable opportunities to engage with employers, explore future career options, and gain a deeper understanding of university life. Feedback collected through post event evaluation surveys was overwhelmingly positive, with many students highlighting how much they enjoyed meeting professionals from different industries, and learning about careers they had not previously considered. Read below what some of the students had to say about the day.
I enjoyed creating game ideas, and explore the Southampton university campus
Student
I enjoyed learning about the job opportunities
Student
I enjoyed the Sea City museum workshop. It re-introduced a topic I previously learnt, and taught me a few new facts. As well as showing jobs that linked to an interest in history
Student
Grace Kendall
SUN Outreach Coordinator
