Member Article

Great opportunities for North’s creative sector launched!

A great, new opportunity has opened up for creative businesses and individuals in the North of England!

Creative and digital businesses in the North and North East are strongly urged to take advantage of a brand new, free, online networking “Hub” (www.creativenorth.org) launched this week - which connects them with potential clients, allows them to bid for work, promote their services and also introduces them to hundreds of creative, talented job seekers and apprentices in the region.

Not only does the Creative North Hub help businesses, it also helps talented creative individuals too! People looking for opportunities and contacts in the exciting world of digital media, film, broadcast and animation can also sign up for free, display a portfolio of work and look for interesting projects, introductions, on-the-job training and apprenticeships.

In addition, the Hub gives PR consultants and media professionals the opportunity to share their stories and their clients’ stories, spreading their messages to the region’s Creative and Digital Media Sector.

So what’s the catch? None at all – it’s simply another initiative by Creative North to grow the creative and digital sector in this region.

Creative North’s aims mirror the Northern Powerhouse goal to make the North of England an economic force that can rival London and the South East.

So get signed up quick! Everybody wins!

Ben Quigley, Group Chief Executive of creative, technology and insight agency Everything Different www.everythingdifferent.co.uk and Chair for the IPA (Institute of Practitioners in Advertising) in England and Wales says: ’‘The creative industries are one of the North East’s biggest success stories, contributing £866m to the economy and 8000 jobs. They are also one of its best kept secrets too.

“Everyone knows how important automotive, construction and renewables are to the North East economy but do not yet value design, advertising, gaming, tech and media sectors in the same way. The Creative North Hub will help to change that, raising the profile of creative businesses and connecting them with talent and opportunities.”

Founder of Creative North and Business Support Board Member of North East LEP, Rob Earnshaw says: “The Creative North Hub is a great platform for creative companies in the North and wider region as well as young creative people, to shout about what they can do and gain work, opportunities and introductions.

“In the North East we have the UK’s highest number of start-up businesses in the creative and digital sector outside London. But we could so easily be much bigger and better if we would learn to share our success and shout to the roof tops about it. “An additional the problem is that there is a perception that you have to be in London, with the result that the North is losing much of its talent to the South.

“At Creative North, we aim to reverse the talent drain to London with a number of highly attractive schemes like the Creative North Hub to appeal to both business and job seekers, and also to promote our fabulous creative business, create a huge buzz around the region’s creative capabilities and attract talent here from elsewhere!”

George Crerar (17) from Gateshead is now working as an apprentice camera operator for the National Youth Film Academy, thanks to Creative North. Within two weeks of starting his apprenticeship in February this year, he had a professional TV credit to this name. George is now hoping to become a professional camera operator on live TV sport through the Creative North Hub and with this invaluable, on-the-job experience and solid training behind him he is certainly on way!

George says: “I can’t believe I’m doing my dream job and being trained at the same time and I’m only 17. It’s brilliant and it’s all thanks to Creative North.”

Jermaine Havery (18) from Fawdon found his ideal job by signing up on the Hub. He spent three weeks training with Creative North at their base in Gateshead and from Monday 20 July, he is now working for SME Business Chat at Design Works in Felling while studying for an NVQ Advanced BTEC in Creative Media. Jermaine says: “I’ve learnt so much already within a few days of starting and I’ve now been given responsibility for the sector’s social media sites. This is a great way to get on the creative career ladder very quickly!”

You or your business can sign up at Creative North’s Hub now here: www.creativenorth.org

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Kate Slater .