Ambitious West Midlands art students eager to begin a career in the competitive commercial world are being given a helping hand by one of the biggest names in the print and signs business.

Birmingham-based Hollywood Monster has forged a partnership with Dudley College to offer students work experience opportunities and projects that will potentially see some of their work featured at a new college building currently under development.

Tim Andrews, managing director of Hollywood Monster, recently welcomed the students to the company's impressive headquarters in Tyseley. They were treated to a tour where they saw how original designs are impressively transformed into banners, hoardings and signs for customers across the country.

Hollywood Monster employs around 65 people and works with major companies including Next, Virgin Media, LilyWhites, Debenhams, Ann Summers, Coach, Whistles, HMV, Westfield, Carillion, Morgan Sindall, Lovell Homes, Redrow and Bovis Homes.  Sectors it is active in include commercial and residential property, construction, retail, corporate, exhibition, outdoor media, event, stadium, museum and theatrical. 

Ben Gamble, centre manager for art, design and media at Dudley College, said: "Students from our extended Diploma Graphic Design and Interior Design course visited Hollywood Monster to develop a working relationship through work experience and future live projects with Dudley College.

 "The students were extremely impressed with the printing facilities and structure of the business and were given a personal tour by managing director Tim Andrews.  Staff and students are very excited to be working alongside the company on new initiatives."

 These may include large format displays of collaborative work in Dudley College's impressive new Evolve campus building which is due to be completed in 2012.

 Hollywood Monster will also be offering work experience to students. Ben added: "It is refreshing to see a company actively encourage working partnerships with creative students especially in the current economic climate. I am really looking forward to developing our curriculum with creative companies like Hollywood Monster."

Tim said: "It's a tough world out there for young people trying to get a foothold in their chosen career so we are delighted to be able to offer students work experience opportunities and the chance to get involved in commercial projects. I'm looking forward to seeing how they progress and we hope that our support will give them the edge when applying for jobs in the sector."

Hollywood Monster has invested heavily in state-of-the-art printing technology enabling it to produce enormous banners and advertising hoardings at high-profile sites including sports stadiums, festivals, rock and pop concerts, shopping centres and property developments.