In this episode of The Conversation Room, we sit down with Kevin Horton, co-founder of award winning architecture practice K2 Architects, to talk about breaking into the industry, building a career from a BTEC rather than A-levels and why the biggest myths about architecture are almost all wrong.Kevin shares his journey from a Saturday job on his parents' newsagents' sweet counter, through a rejected apprenticeship application, a chance queue mix up that put him on the right course at Hugh Baird and years spent working on major projects including Liverpool ONE, right through to setting up his own practice with business partner Mark Davis.He opens up about being written off as "not academic enough" for university, the imposter syndrome he felt as a BTEC student surrounded by A level peers and the moment a senior colleague taught him a lesson in confidence that shaped the rest of his career.If you're a student, a trainee or thinking about a future in architecture, construction or design, this one is packed with honest, unfiltered advice about what actually gets you through the door, from personality and curiosity to the people skills nobody tells you that you need.Kevin also answers real audience questions pulled at random, covering everything from how K2 Architects really started (hint: a drunken conversation on a train), to the challenges of marketing an architecture practice, his own ADHD diagnosis and what it has taught him about designing better workspaces and the project he's proudest of, the regeneration of Bootle's Strand Shopping Centre.We also cover K2's culture and values as a certified B Corporation, why he believes architecture has nothing to do with being good at maths and his advice for his 16 year old self.

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In this episode of The Conversation Room, we sit down with Dan, Connected Campus Coordinator at Liverpool Film Office and former art director of 22 years, alongside Sophie, New Entrant and Crew Coordinator, to talk about breaking into film and TV and what it really takes to build a career in the industry.

Dan shares his journey from Peaky Blinders and The Irregulars to the first British drama ever to film in China. Sophie opens up about 10 years in the locations department and why she stepped away to start supporting new talent instead.

Together they cover the realities of freelance life, the misconceptions about the industry and why Liverpool is the most filmed city outside London.

If you're a creative media student or considering a career in film and TV, this one is packed with honest advice you won't get in the classroom.

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Website: https://www.liverpoolfilmoffice.tv

In this episode of The Conversation Room, we sit down with Alex Frech, Creative Director and owner of creative agency Black and Ginger, to talk about everything from breaking into the industry to the personality, commercial awareness and resilience you actually need to succeed.

Alex shares his journey from early jobs and time spent working beyond Liverpool to building one of the city's most established creative agencies, navigating the recession years and reshaping his entire business model to come out stronger.

He opens up about the misconceptions people have about working in a creative agency, why every design studio is a commercial business first and what nobody tells you about the gap between doing great creative work and running a sustainable company.

If you're a design student, a creative apprentice or thinking about a career in branding, advertising or agency life, this one is packed with honest advice you won't get in the classroom.

Alex answers real questions on everything from landing work experience at an agency to what makes a portfolio stand out, why personality fit matters more than confidence and what "leaning into your weird" actually means for your career.

We also cover the Liverpool creative scene, Black and Ginger's expansion plans and why Alex believes the city's talent pool is one of its biggest untapped assets.

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Instagram: @blackandginger

Website: https://www.blackandginger.com

What does it really take to build a career in the hair industry?

In this episode of The Conversation Room, we sit down with Amy from Salon Promotions and Neal and Wolf to talk about everything from breaking into the industry to the skills, confidence and business knowledge you actually need to succeed.

Amy shares her journey from waitressing at Bolton Wanderers to spending eight years at GHD and now working as an account manager in the hair and beauty industry.

She opens up about the misconceptions people have about hairdressing, why it's far more science-based than most people realise and what nobody teaches you about the business side of running a salon.

If you're a hairdressing student, trainee, apprentice or thinking about a career in hair and beauty, this one is packed with honest advice you won't get in the classroom.

Amy answers real questions from our students on everything from becoming a celebrity stylist to making your CV stand out and building confidence when you're just starting out. We also cover the biggest hair trends right now including grey blending,

Hot Honey hair and why warm blondes are taking over, plus how social media is creating new opportunities for young stylists.

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💬 Drop a comment and tell us: what's the one thing you wish someone had told you when you started training?

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Instagram: @nealandwolf

Website: https://www.nealandwolf.com