AN agency dedicated to providing opportunities for young people to break into the creative industries has relocated to Kidderminster.

Studio B61, run by Hannah Dudley, has been designing for a portfolio of high-profile clients for almost 10 years.

Having operated from Bromsgrove for the past six, she has decided to move her business closer to her hometown of Bewdley.

The new site at 13 Comberton Hill also includes a dedicated photography studio, to provide everything from corporate headshots and product photography to children’s cake smash photoshoots.

Hannah said: “Our new premises on Comberton Hill has plenty of space to accommodate our current team, as well as any future recruits and students looking for work experience.

“It’s not an easy industry to break into. Employers and clients want to see an impressive portfolio as well as qualifications, and work experience isn’t always easy to find. We’re really keen to provide hands-on opportunities to young people so that they can start to build their portfolios.

“I wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t had that opportunity, so it’s important to us to give back now that we’re in a position to do so.”

Hannah originally set up as a freelance graphic designer during an entrepreneurial development programme at Coventry University in 2011.

After six years of freelancing, she started her creative agency in 2017 with help from Worcestershire Business Central’s Enterprising Worcestershire programme, which is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, Worcestershire County Council and district councils.

She added: “Both the mentoring and the funding we received really helped us through what can be a very difficult stage of getting a business off the ground - quite literally in our case, as we used part of the funding for training and equipment to become CAA approved for commercial drone photography and videography.

“It’s been an exciting time and we’re looking forward to building on our success and working with and supporting other local businesses in Kidderminster now we’re settled in.”