Creative Futures was founded by a group of established, forward thinking organisations - Julie’s Bicycle, Music Tank, Portobello Film Festival, Portobello Business Centre (PBC) and New Media Knowledge (NMK) in association with Paddington Development Trust (PDT) and the University of Westminster.
If you are a developing an existing business model, designing new product or service, analyzing energy consumption, designing a green base into your business, seeking new markets, wanting to improve existing performance, or looking for investment capital, the Creative Futures programme might be able to assist.
Membership is free and includes free consultancy and free annual events from social networking to technology innovation and specialist seminars in environmental and product development. All you have to do is register for the Creative Futures programme (First come, first served).
To join Creative Futures sign up now. This gives you free membership an active online profile in a community of like-minded businesses and entrepreneurs; and free access to all CF events, seminars and workshops. You can work with specialist business advisors or set up an energy audit of your business. You will gain access to London’s best knowledge networks with opportunities to participate in pitch camps designed to attract investors and business angels.
Membership of Creative Futures network gives you free resources that could improve your performance, competitive position, environmental sustainability, commercial networking, and market edge.
Funded with European money the network operates a free membership (no hidden costs!) for entrepreneurs and businesses working in creative industries. Members get free access to business-to-business networking, one-to-one consultancy, specialist technology seminars, demonstrations in Internet and IT innovation and latest information on climate change, including energy and environmental management performance.
Specialist advisors will provide customised business planning support and work alongside as you take your product and services to market, improve your selling proposition and develop your growth potential.
Below is a brief introduction to some of our partners.
New Media Knowledge
“NMK offers a unique opportunity for working professionals to update and share their knowledge on social media and digital media. The NMK community links professionals and academics, covering both leading-edge research and key topics for practitioners. The more community members share their knowledge and experience, the more social capital is created to benefit the all members. The University is here to facilitate the conversation.”
Dr Magda Hercheui, Senior Lecturer at Westminster Business School and NMK Champion
NMK is a knowledge hub managed by the Westminster Business School. Created in 1999 by the University of Westminster, the NMK hub specialises in diffusion of knowledge on digital and social media topics. It has an active community of around 7,000 professionals, mainly in the creative industries. The NMK website (http://www.nmk.co.uk/) publishes reports, opinions and tips from academics and industry professionals, offering a unique space to share relevant knowledge and information from different perspectives. Furthermore through the website, NMK communicates with the community via a weekly newsletter, social media channels (Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter), and events.
Portobello Film Festival
“Creative Futures will provide young film companies with opportunities to explore new distribution technologies, production innovation and a greater understanding of an industry undergoing great change.”
Jonathan Barnet, Director of the London Film Makers Convention and Portobello Film Festival (PFF)
PFF is one of the UK's leading film festivals. It exists to provide a platform for new work, mostly in the digital medium. Entry is free. In 2009 Portobello Film Festival screened 700 new films to over 10,000 people.
The London Film Makers Convention has been running biannually since 2006. It provides special opportunities for London film makers and production companies to network, screen work to each other and the general public, and attend workshops, Q&As, seminars on the latest developments and trends in film making from the likes of Hanif Kureshi, Metrodome, Apple and Dominic West.
www.portobellofilmfestival.com
Julies Bicycle
'Climate change and reduction of carbon emissions from business
activity is the most urgent issue of the day. Creative Futures will
enable small creative businesses to become environmentally responsible
and contribute to the 60% carbon reduction target by 2020 set by the
Mayor of London.'
Alison Tickell, Director, Julie's Bicycle
Julie's Bicycle is a not-for-profit company helping the music business cut its greenhouse gas emissions, developed by passionate industry members looking towards a low carbon creative future. The Julie’s Bicycle ‘Industry Green Framework’ is helping companies from across the creative industries reduce their carbon emissions; the ‘IG mark’ is an environmental seal of approval which lets a company’s business partners, suppliers and audiences know that it has assessed its impact on climate change and is taking steps to reduce it. ‘Industry Green’ status is available in areas including manufacturing, buildings, live events and travel. Julie’s Bicycle also provides advice and support, full greenhouse gas audits and energy measurement tools to help companies develop more sustainable businesses long-term. JB clients include The BRIT Awards, Faber, PRS for Music, T in the Park, Frieze Art Fair, Summer Swing at Kew and The Official Charts Company.
University of Westminster
Educating for professional life
Across our sites in central and north-west London, the University of
Westminster teaches more than 22,000 students undertaking degrees,
Masters, research, professional programmes and short courses.
Since its foundation in 1838 as Britain's first polytechnic, the
University has been closely involved in the business, professional and
academic life of London.
Westminster has always been and continues to be imaginative in
recognising new needs and developing appropriate offerings in its many
target markets.
MusicTank
“Small businesses need to be at the cutting edge through technology, knowledge transfer and up to date industry innovation. Creative Futures will act as a gateway to high level knowledge networks for cross-sector creative industries in London.”
Jonathan Robinson, Director of MusicTank
MusicTank is a business development network for the UK music industry – an independent body owned and operated by University of Westminster, set up to inform and guide the future shape of the music business through engagement with industry, change and innovation. Its content-rich website contains a wealth of industry information and resources, together with event transcripts and podcasts, news, reports, research papers and an events and newsletter archive.
Established in 2003, MusicTank has built an enviable reputation for its ongoing and unique programme of think tank debates, events and conferences, a natural progression from which has been the delivery of incisive reports commissioned from key industry figureheads.
MusicTank is a keenly sought delivery partner for a diverse range of organisations including The Prince’s Trust, Youth Music, CIDA, NIMIC, South Birmingham College, In The City, Music Works, The Gramophone awards, The Great Escape, Canadian Music Week, Midem and most recently, Paddington Development Trust’s Creative Futures programme.
Portobello Business Centre
“The Creative Futures project will give small businesses access to specialist advisors working in e-commerce, fashion, music and film at a time when resources are generally diminishing for the support of creative industries in London.”
Abim Olabanjo, CEO, Portobello Business Centre
Portobello Business Centre provides an array of services for start-up and existing businesses in London. This award winning business development agency - described as ‘the best in London’ – is well-known for its range of courses, free access to key business tools, sound advice and consultancy, offered to those wishing to set up on their own and established business planning to expand. PBC success stories include Innocent Drinks, fashion designer Karen Karam and Lorella Belli Literary Agency.
PDT
“In a world faced by the challenges of a new and emerging economic realities dominated by climate change, ever-advancing technologies and shifting markets, London’s creative industry can support great talent and outstanding projects, and allow talented people to find opportunities to work and collaborate…”
Neil Johnston, Chief Executive, Paddington Development Trust
Paddington Development Trust (PDT) has focused on the development of Creative Industries in London for over a decade. One of the London-wide Creative Hubs set up by Ken Livingstone in 2003 it operates creative services from local neighbourhoods into mainstream business sectors.
