Member Article

Region's Creative and Digital Sector Praises Successful Digital Scale Up Cohort

Generator’s innovative Digital Scale Up Programme has been hailed a triumph by representatives of the region’s creative and digital industries as the organisation looks to fulfil its ambition of plugging the North East’s skill gap.

Designed specifically to assist digital SMEs with high growth potential, the 12-month programme has attracted some of region’s shining creative lights onto the course since launching its third cohort January and participants have already reported a positive impact on their businesses.

Generator’s Digital Scale Up service is an intensive programme which sees companies receive expert strategic mentoring across sales, marketing, and finance.

Reacting to the progress made so far, Generator’s head of Business Support, Emma Whitenstall, said: “Sustainable business growth is a marathon, not a sprint. We have been running the programme for a little over 18 months but already we are seeing results from the first cohort. 

“Our past cohorts will tell you how the programme has given them clarity on the direction of their business and has had a huge impact on their leadership and operational capacity, laying strong foundations for their growth plans.

“All of the businesses that have enrolled have huge growth ambitions and all are facing different issues that are blocking that growth.  They all realise the value of one-to-one mentoring and expert advice and that having a fresh pair of strategic eyes on the way they operate can aid strategy and development. 

“It’s very hard for business owners to work on the business, rather than in the business and this programme helps them to do just that.”

The Digital Scale Up’s current roster of participants highlights the diversity that currently exists in the North East’s burgeoning creative, digital and tech sector.

Members from breakthrough medical software firm Cievert, Tyneside’s search specialists Evolved Digital, Sunderland’s social media outlet The Office Rocks and Sunderland-based marketing agency, Narrative Communications, have all reported positive results.

Ian McIntosh, Operations Director, of Evolved Digital Marketing Limited, added: “We were attracted to the programme by the people. There is so much value in discussing business strategies with people who have been there and done that. 

“If the team can stop us making mistakes that would otherwise cost us time and money, then we take great value in that.

“This opportunity has offered a whole new perspective from the outside and will help us grow as a business and as an individual.

“Whilst we’re only a couple of months into this, we’ve already been approaching things slightly differently.   We are thinking differently and asking ourselves some difficult questions that we might not otherwise have asked.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Jane Crosby .