Birmingham student Natalie Miller aims to show the world’s fashion capital what Brum has to offer.

The 18-year-old from Oldbury, along with fellow art and design students at Joseph Chamberlain College in Highgate, are making colourful costumes for this year’s Notting Hill Carnival Parade in London.Top experts from The Perpetual Beauty Carnival Association spent five days talking to the students and passing on traditional skills. Joseph Chamberlain is one of six Birmingham schools and colleges taking part in the pilot project organised by Compass Partnership and the costumes will get their first outing at the city’s Jazz Festival parade on July 3. The ones judged the best will be put forward for the Notting Hill event. Natalie says: “We were given tips on improving our costume designs, taking into consideration the structure and weight of it. It has to be comfortable for the person wearing it.” Natalie says she would like to design clothes for the catwalk but thinks it may be a little too competitive. “I’m considering going into interior design because it is very ‘hands on’,” she says. She is studying for a GeneralNational Vocational Qualification (GNVQ) at college. “You have to be enthusiastic, really creative and you always need new ideas,” says Natalie. The students on the GNVQ course are following Natalie’s design for the costume which is a butterfly on a flower with smaller butterflies following behind in the parade. JOB FILE Qualities: Resilience, self confidence, talent, creativity and imagination, the ability to take criticism. Options: Art and design covers many different subjects. Some to consider are fashion and textiles, graphic design and illustration, and three dimensional design. Further information: National Society for Education in Art and Design, The Gatehouse, Corsham Court, Corsham, Wilts, SN13 0ES. Further reading: Careers in Art and Design by Linda Ball & Noel Chapman (Kogan Page). RESULTS OF HARD WORK panelHundreds of budding young fashion designers took part in this year’s Graduate Fashion Week in London. Some of the just-graduated designers had their eye to the market - but for others, it was a chance to sum up three or four years of hard work. Some students were hoping to gain one of BhS’s sought-after placements. Each year the high street company appoints a number of fashion graduates. “We are above all looking for originality and flair,” says BhS’s Design Director Shena MacDonald. Get into print DEAR SYLVIA I am 30 years of age and have two children. I have a BTEC National in Computer Studies and a Diploma in Microsoft level 1. I have desktop publishing experience too. I would like a career in printing, designing things like fliers, leaflets and recordslee ves. Can you give me advice on my next step? Maxine, Hockley. SYLVIA SAYS: The printing industry is changing rapidly with new products and technology. Most companies look for people who have got some basic skills in printing and recruit from fulime college courses. For those aged between 16-24 there are also modern apprenticeship opportunities available. A wide range of skills are involved, using computer graphics, origination, machine printing and print finishing. Computer skills are important, as is an eye for detail, the ability to concentrate and, in some case s, a talent for design. A useful qualification is the GNVQ in Media, Communications and Production. Matthew Boulton College runs this course and also a range of related City and Guilds courses. A few degree or Higher National Diploma courses exist in printing technology and/or management or business studies with a printing option. BWMPI - Birmingham and West Midlands Print Initiative, is a regional partnership between Birmingham TEC, Birmingham City Council, BPIF, Careers and Education Business Partnership, key employers and others. You can contact this organisation on 0121 446 45 45. You could also contact your local British Print Industries Federation Office at Alliance House, 962 Alum Rock Road, Ward End, Birmingham. B8 2NS. Tel: 0121 789 7222. Send your questions to Sylvia Burton, Choices, Evening Mail Features Dept, 28, Colmore Circus, Birmingham B4 6AX. The Careers and Education Business Partnership can provide you with more advice on applying for jobs. Contact: 100 Broad Street, Birmingham B15 1AE (0121 248 8004/5) 778 Bristol Road, Selly Oak B29 6NA (0121 248 8150) Church Road, Yardley, Birmingham B25 8UX.(0121 248 8200) Lichfield Road, Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, B74 2NP (0121 355 1021). Skills put to the test n ON THE BALL: Kris Akabussi practises with youngsters Top athlete Kris Akabussi and the Birmingham Bullets will be on hand with training hints and tips during the Sunny D 3 on 3 tournament in Centenary Square and Victoria Square from 9.30am. Call 0191 416 7999 for more details. Sunny D 3 on 3 is a version of basketball that involves teams of three players and is part of a programme aimed at getting 11 - 16- year-olds playing the sport at school. The scheme, sponsored by citrus drinks maker Sunny Delight, consists of a training and skills awards programme. n HAIR TODAY: Hairdressers took part in a new competition to find the region’s top young stylist. NVQ students were put through their paces at the Hairdressing Extravaganza, at Walsall’s Royal Hotel. The Peter Pyne Training School hosted the event and National Hairdressers’ Federation president, Jane James, judged the competitions. She is pictured with some of the contestants.