Brad Charlton-Wells - Visitor Attraction and Resort Management BA (Hons)
A student from our Visitor Attraction and Resort Management degree recently appeared live on BBC Radio Stoke to discuss how he is building a creative business alongside his studies.
Brad Charlton-Wells, who joined the course in 2024, shared insights into his growing enterprise, BrickLab Academy, and how his academic learning is shaping its development.
Before starting his degree, Brad had already established a professional background within the visitor attraction and hospitality sectors, including international experience delivering creative projects and guest experiences. His career has included working as a LEGO® Master Model Builder, designing large-scale models and leading live guest interactions in high-volume environments, alongside operational roles supporting service delivery and team coordination.
Building on this experience, Brad founded BrickLab Academy – a creative platform delivering hands-on LEGO® workshops, bespoke model design and community-led projects across the UK. The business combines creativity with strong operational planning, covering areas such as capacity management, staffing, pricing strategy, health and safety compliance, safeguarding and customer journey design.
Speaking on BBC Radio Stoke, Brad reflected on how his business has grown in parallel with his academic journey at the University of Staffordshire. He discussed delivering workshops nationwide, collaborating with venues and community partners, and developing opportunities for international expansion.
His work demonstrates how key principles of visitor attraction management – including demand planning, service quality, operational efficiency and visitor engagement – can be applied in real-world settings. By applying theory directly to practice, Brad is developing a strong understanding of how attractions operate within both local and global contexts.
The interview is available to listen to on BBC Sounds.
Brad is keen to continue contributing to media, events and collaborative projects that showcase the role of creativity within the visitor economy.