As Dean of the School of Creative Arts at the University of Hertfordshire, Dr Stephen Partridge is forging a vibrant nexus where inspiration meets industry. He champions “learning-by-doing” as a transformative ethos, shaping opportunities where creativity, craft, and inclusion converge.
Dr Partridge is the co-creator of Propeller Stages – a UH School of Creative Arts initiative – which is a bold, catalytic model for film and television training – an “industry within education” that unites government, industry, academia, and community. This world-leading approach widens access, expands career pathways, and sharpens the talent pipeline in a region rapidly becoming the UK’s creative powerhouse.
Launched with Propeller Stage One, a cutting-edge commercial film studio facility repurposed from a former architecture studio – funded at around £1million – it opens opportunities for hands-on production and training from late 2025. The studio echoes the scale and standard of major industry counterparts while offering affordable access to student-inclusive productions.
Dr Partridge’s ambition is clear: to develop four fully functioning stages over the next 2–3 years, each capable of producing 6–8 feature films annually alongside other projects. This initiative aims not only to educate – but to nourish a resilient and inclusive workforce, dismantling long-standing barriers to entry and offering sustainable, real-world career pathways.
A devoted advocate for diversity, Dr Partridge ensures that Propeller extends opportunities to students from under-represented or disadvantaged backgrounds – collaboratively aligning curricula, real-life production, and employer engagement to sculpt graduates who are both visionary and job-ready.
As Dean of the School of Creative Arts, Dr Partridge leads an academic community energised by purpose, creativity, and enterprising spirit – underpinned by a rich ecosystem of workshops, studios, galleries, and live projects, and bolstered by a sterling track record of graduate success across global creative industries.
He also plays a central role within the university’s leadership, serving as Dean of the School of Creative Arts within the Chief Executive Group – advocating for research, enterprise, inclusion, and professional development at institutional and regional levels.
