Employing UCOL Graduates

Industry support: Kevin Bills media, industry partner, goes the extra mile to support UCOL

Twenty one years in business, Kevin Bills ran a photography business with portraiture, wedding and commercial photography. They were growing in size quickly and took the courageous step eighteen years ago to employ staff for the first time, choosing a UCOL graduate after recommendations from photography staff.

The business has gone from strength to strength over the last 21 years and has evolved into Kevin Bills Media. Each time they required staff, they have contacted staff at the UCOL creative department for recommendations. Overall, Kevin Bills Media has only employed UCOL graduates - nine of them: from photographers, videographers and editors to project managers. This company is now Manawatū’s largest photographic employer.

Kevin Bills Media has adapted with the market over the years and is now focused on commercial  / real-estate / video / drone / time-lapse work. This dynamic change has enabled his company to thrive through the pandemic, while other pure photographic businesses have struggled. They also turn around work fast to exceed their clients expectations, which assists with client satisfaction and retention. Kevin Bills says “Video is also now a large component of our media business. If we were not doing video today, we would lose 30-40% of business”.

Kevin and his team also help out UCOL with advice for our curriculums on current industry requirements and expectations. Staff member Alistair Thom, a UCOL alumni, is now assisting block 2, Creative Media, with Matterport technologies and current drone technologies.