Preston creative agency establish new bursary with UCLan for graphic design

Student Hamaz Mailk, Forepoint senior designer Abi Stones, student Olivia Hayward, Forepoint director and UCLan alumni Keith Noble and UCLan student Shahzad Ansar.

A new bursary scheme has been launched to help find the next generation of graphic designers in the city.

Creative agency Forepoint has recently marked 30 years of trading in the city and teamed up with the University of Central Lancashire.

Three students have been awarded the first Forepoint Award Bursary of £1,000 each.

Hamza Malik, Olivia Hayward and Shahzad Ansar were the first students to receive the prize which can be spent on purchasing equipment or attending events or exhibitions related to design.

Hamza said: “I want to express my gratitude to Keith and Forepoint for giving me the opportunity to showcase my work and for honouring me with this amazing award.

“This money will help me immensely with my future studies. It truly means a lot to me and I’m incredibly grateful for their support and recognition.”

Fellow winner Olivia added: “I am loving the course and appreciate this opportunity to have my first year work recognised. This is personally a big confidence boost and will massively help fund my studies.”

The students were presented with their awards by Forepoint Director and UCLan alumni, Keith Noble and Senior Designer, Abi Stones.

Keith said: “As a business, we’ve always been passionate about giving back to our industry, education, society, the environment, and towards general well-being.

“The Forepoint Award is our higher education bursary scheme for students studying graphic design. It’s our commitment to supporting and inspiring the next generation of creatives and designers and I want to offer my congratulations to three very deserving winners of our inaugural award.

“We owe a lot to UCLan, where numerous members of Forepoint staff studied, and to the fabulous course that’s nurtured and developed so many who’ve gone on to have successful careers in the creative design, illustration, and tech industries, both in the UK and abroad.”

Maggie Wild, UCLan Head of Development and Alumni, said: “We are so lucky to have such positive engagement from our alumni community here at UCLan.

“Forepoint and UCLan share a passion for high quality and creative graphic design. This new Forepoint Award is another strand to the connection. UCLan students benefit in many ways from alumni and industry relationships, and we are delighted that these three students have won the inaugural Forepoint award.”

Shahzad, the third recipient of the award, added: “Being recognized for my first-year work has further boosted my confidence in the course. It really motivates me to pursue my passion even more and the bursary will help me buy what i need for the course. Thank you Forepoint and Keith.”