Claire is Innovation Partnerships Manager at Kingston University where she is leading Studio KT1 – a creative agency inside the university which aims to increase student employability, encourage collaboration between disciplines and develop new products and services.
She has over ten years experience of working in the education sector running commercial projects, events and training. Her specialism is listening to what the industry needs from its students and graduates, solving their challenges creatively and getting them credited and rewarded for their work.
Most recently Claire has worked with Kingston Students Union to open Not My Beautiful House, transforming an old PC World in 6 weeks to become a creative meanwhile space following a successful crowdfunder from the Mayor of London’s Make London programme and support from Royal Borough of Kingston. The branding, interiors and furniture for the space have all been designed by students, over 35 have been paid for their hard work on the project and 4 employed part-time to run the project. In May 2022 the project was further supported by RBK and offered new central premises in the Ancient Market House, a grade one listed building.
Since May 2021 we have welcomed over 40,000 visitors, with an average spend of £24, bucking all retail trends in the sector.
Fiercely determined to get students in places they wouldn’t normally be and be recognised and rewarded for their work – she has worked with an expansive client list including Barclays, Samsung, Kingston First, Marks and Spencer, Deloitte, Wrangler, BBC and Unilever.
