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North of Tyne Business Support

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Our bespoke business support programme is designed to support businesses and freelancers working in the culture and creative sectors throughout Northumberland, Newcastle and North Tyneside. 

Led by experts in the industry there is practical and helpful business advice for everyone. Over the course of the programme, we will be hosting open access networking events and masterclasses, alongside bootcamps to support cohorts of enterprises to take a deep dive into specialist areas. 

Available Support:

Lunch & Learn WebinarsWatch now

Lunch & Learn Webinars

Catherine Johns, business advisor on the North of Tyne Culture and Creative Programme, hosted a series of free 30 minute webinars over the autumn of 2022. The webinars were aimed at creative sector businesses and provided a fun and engaging introduction to some of the key skills and knowledge needed when it comes to developing your business.

Watch here

Business Planning Application

If the support you need is not covered by our business support programme, you can request support via a Business Planning Application.

The Culture and Creative Investment Programme will pay up to £2,500 (inc VAT) to subsidise the cost of working with an expert to support companies with their business planning and strategy. This may include acquiring specialist expertise, knowledge and contacts that will get to know you and your company and refine your business proposition.

Find out more and apply

Lunch & Learn Webinars

Catherine Johns, business advisor on the North of Tyne Culture and Creative Programme, hosted a series of free 30 minute webinars over the autumn of 2022. The webinars were aimed at creative sector businesses and provided a fun and engaging introduction to some of the key skills and knowledge needed when it comes to developing your business.

Watch here

Upcoming Activity:

Funded Internships

Funded Internships 

Creative Fuse Internship programmes are focused on helping eligible businesses access paid-for help and support to enable them to develop their innovation capacity and scope. Funded by Creative Fuse North East (via AHRC, ERDF and Creative UK and North of Tyne Combined Authority funding) an internship provides for a recent graduate or a current Masters student to work on a defined ‘task and finish’ project, over the course of 8-12 weeks, that is co-developed with a SME business.

Creative Fuse North East and Creative UK North of Tyne Culture & Creative Investment teams hosted a virtual masterclass on Creative Fuse Internships which gave an overview of the Internship Programme, including:

  • what benefits an intern can bring to your business;
  • how businesses can apply for the internship programme;
  • eligibility criteria and requirements of hosting a fuse intern;
  • the application and development process.

Please email creativefuse@newcastle.ac.uk for further information and an expression of interest from.

Comics CreateNet

Comics CreateNet

Following the successful Creative Fuse CAKE event on Comics (January 2022), where participants enthusiasm and questions for our amazing panel of Doug Braithwaite, Lydia Wysocki and Zoe Thorogood made it a special occasion, we are launching an Action Learning Programme for professionals, artists and aspiring creators in the Comics industry.

During the event, there was discussion on how particular groups and contacts in other regions helped writers and artists develop their skills and get their work finished and published. Following up on this, we are launching a new Action Learning set for the North East region called Comics CreateNet. We imagine this as a growing network for both professionals in the industry as well as artists and aspiring creators to share their work and challenges and to learn about opportunities for funding and resources available locally. We also hope to draw on more of the talented stars we have here in the region as in the CAKE event.

Comics CreateNet will start a programme of six sessions, which will begin online and may switch to in-person meeting depending on how people feel. The agenda will be owned by participants and we will bring in guests to help support people’s interests.

Date: September 2022 onwards

Find out more and register

Crafting Connections

Crafting Connections

Run by our partners Creative Fuse. Crafting Connections is a new programme of workshops for North East craftspeople and designer/makers to explore the innovative potential of their businesses.

Further details and registration via Creative Fuse

 

Funded Internships 

Creative Fuse Internship programmes are focused on helping eligible businesses access paid-for help and support to enable them to develop their innovation capacity and scope. Funded by Creative Fuse North East (via AHRC, ERDF and Creative UK and North of Tyne Combined Authority funding) an internship provides for a recent graduate or a current Masters student to work on a defined ‘task and finish’ project, over the course of 8-12 weeks, that is co-developed with a SME business.

Creative Fuse North East and Creative UK North of Tyne Culture & Creative Investment teams hosted a virtual masterclass on Creative Fuse Internships which gave an overview of the Internship Programme, including:

  • what benefits an intern can bring to your business;
  • how businesses can apply for the internship programme;
  • eligibility criteria and requirements of hosting a fuse intern;
  • the application and development process.

Please email creativefuse@newcastle.ac.uk for further information and an expression of interest from.

Comics CreateNet

Following the successful Creative Fuse CAKE event on Comics (January 2022), where participants enthusiasm and questions for our amazing panel of Doug Braithwaite, Lydia Wysocki and Zoe Thorogood made it a special occasion, we are launching an Action Learning Programme for professionals, artists and aspiring creators in the Comics industry.

During the event, there was discussion on how particular groups and contacts in other regions helped writers and artists develop their skills and get their work finished and published. Following up on this, we are launching a new Action Learning set for the North East region called Comics CreateNet. We imagine this as a growing network for both professionals in the industry as well as artists and aspiring creators to share their work and challenges and to learn about opportunities for funding and resources available locally. We also hope to draw on more of the talented stars we have here in the region as in the CAKE event.

Comics CreateNet will start a programme of six sessions, which will begin online and may switch to in-person meeting depending on how people feel. The agenda will be owned by participants and we will bring in guests to help support people’s interests.

Date: September 2022 onwards

Find out more and register

Crafting Connections

Run by our partners Creative Fuse. Crafting Connections is a new programme of workshops for North East craftspeople and designer/makers to explore the innovative potential of their businesses.

Further details and registration via Creative Fuse

 

Data and Decisions Made Easy

Data and Decisions Made Easy

Delivered by our partners Creative Fuse. A practical and focused programme that will help you understand what type of data you have in your business and organisation and how using that efficiently and with practical guidance you can significantly improve decision-making and understanding. 

Further details and registration via Creative Fuse 

Net zero and sustainability   

Net zero and sustainability   

A masterclass in making plans to reduce environmental impact, and to measure, understand and report on your progress in doing so.  

Further details and registration link to follow 

Financial Reporting Matters

Financial Reporting Matters

Understanding how financial information informs and is used as part of governance.  

Further details and registration link to follow 

Data and Decisions Made Easy

Delivered by our partners Creative Fuse. A practical and focused programme that will help you understand what type of data you have in your business and organisation and how using that efficiently and with practical guidance you can significantly improve decision-making and understanding. 

Further details and registration via Creative Fuse 

Net zero and sustainability   

A masterclass in making plans to reduce environmental impact, and to measure, understand and report on your progress in doing so.  

Further details and registration link to follow 

Financial Reporting Matters

Understanding how financial information informs and is used as part of governance.  

Further details and registration link to follow 

Management and Culture 

Management and Culture 

A bootcamp leading enterprises through how to build a supportive an inclusive workplace culture. 

Further details and registration link to follow 

User Experience (UX) for the Culture and Creative sectors 

User Experience (UX) for the Culture and Creative sectors  

A masterclasses on user experience (UX), customer experience (CX) and service design.  

Further details and registration link to follow 

Digital Adoption

Digital Adoption  

An intensive on CRM and Data for the Culture and Creative sectors.  

Further details and registration link to follow 

Management and Culture 

A bootcamp leading enterprises through how to build a supportive an inclusive workplace culture. 

Further details and registration link to follow 

User Experience (UX) for the Culture and Creative sectors  

A masterclasses on user experience (UX), customer experience (CX) and service design.  

Further details and registration link to follow 

Digital Adoption  

An intensive on CRM and Data for the Culture and Creative sectors.  

Further details and registration link to follow 

R&D Tax credits 

R&D Tax credits   

A masterclass in getting the most out of your finance. 

Further details and registration link to follow 

International Partnerships in a post Brexit economy 

International Partnerships in a post Brexit economy  

A bootcamp focusing on the challenges and opportunities of internal collaboration for the Cultural and Creative Sector. 

Further details and registration link to follow  

Good Governance 

Good Governance  

A governance masterclass for the Culture and Creative sectors. 

Further details and registration link to follow 

R&D Tax credits   

A masterclass in getting the most out of your finance. 

Further details and registration link to follow 

International Partnerships in a post Brexit economy  

A bootcamp focusing on the challenges and opportunities of internal collaboration for the Cultural and Creative Sector. 

Further details and registration link to follow  

Good Governance  

A governance masterclass for the Culture and Creative sectors. 

Further details and registration link to follow 

Past Activity:

An Investment Mindset

An Investment Mindset

A series of two half day (3.5hrs each) workshops, individual coaching sessions (up to 3hrs) plus a meet the investors pitch event (2hrs). 

The programme will be led and managed by Jordan Dargue, Director of NorthInvest and Head of Access to Finance at Innovation SuperNetwork. The programme will be supported by Helen Oldham, Founding Director of NorthInvest and Estelle Blanks, CEO of The Innovation SuperNetwork. 

Participants will also hear from our Investment Manager Rahul Misra on accessing finance in the North of Tyne through Creative UK. 

Apply here

Workshop 1 – The Funding Landscape 

Wednesday 29th June, 13.30 – 17.00 

  • Accessing Funding and Grants 
  • The Current funding landscape – what is available and what is appropriate for you 
  • What investors are looking for – understanding the investor mindset 
  • Financial Forecasting – hear from leading accountants who will take you through how to prepare your financial projections ahead of raising investment/funding 
  • Legal considerations – hear from legal experts who will give you an overview of the legal support needed when taking funding into a business 

 Workshop 2 – Investor readiness and developing a winning pitch 

Tuesday 12th July, 10.00 – 13.30 

  • How to get investor ready 
  • Creating a winning business elevator pitch, to set you up for any business-related conversations 
  • What an investor pitch deck should include – the outcome of this will give each business a real comprehensive business plan 
  • How to pitch to investors 

Individual coaching sessions will be scheduled throughout the process (Virtual)

Time and support to refine and practice your pitch. 

‘Meet the Investors’ pitch event (Virtual)

Wednesday 7th September, 10.00 – 12.00 

  • Pitch to a panel of experience investors and coaches 
  • Questions and answers from the investor panel 
  • Feedback to each participant 
  • The opportunity to pitch at a Newcastle Angel Hub pitching event and/or be introduced to suitable funders for those that are identified as suitable 
  • Deal progression and support 
The Big Culture Northumberland Co-working Day

The Big Culture Northumberland Co-working Day

Date: Wednesday 22 June 2022

Creative UK’s North of Tyne Culture and Creative Investment Programme, are delighted to be working with Culture Northumberland and North East Cultural Freelancers to host a free in person and online (hybrid) event for cultural freelancers and artists based in the North East to come together to work, think and collaborate.

Whether you have something you would like to work on, a partner or colleague you would like to catch up with, or simply feel inspired by one of Northumberland’s beautiful cultural venues, we welcome you to the Big Culture Co-Working day!

You can take part from home, invite a new collaborator to work with you in a space anywhere in Northumberland or come and work in one of our host venues.

Find out more via this link

An Investment Mindset

A series of two half day (3.5hrs each) workshops, individual coaching sessions (up to 3hrs) plus a meet the investors pitch event (2hrs). 

The programme will be led and managed by Jordan Dargue, Director of NorthInvest and Head of Access to Finance at Innovation SuperNetwork. The programme will be supported by Helen Oldham, Founding Director of NorthInvest and Estelle Blanks, CEO of The Innovation SuperNetwork. 

Participants will also hear from our Investment Manager Rahul Misra on accessing finance in the North of Tyne through Creative UK. 

Apply here

Workshop 1 – The Funding Landscape 

Wednesday 29th June, 13.30 – 17.00 

  • Accessing Funding and Grants 
  • The Current funding landscape – what is available and what is appropriate for you 
  • What investors are looking for – understanding the investor mindset 
  • Financial Forecasting – hear from leading accountants who will take you through how to prepare your financial projections ahead of raising investment/funding 
  • Legal considerations – hear from legal experts who will give you an overview of the legal support needed when taking funding into a business 

 Workshop 2 – Investor readiness and developing a winning pitch 

Tuesday 12th July, 10.00 – 13.30 

  • How to get investor ready 
  • Creating a winning business elevator pitch, to set you up for any business-related conversations 
  • What an investor pitch deck should include – the outcome of this will give each business a real comprehensive business plan 
  • How to pitch to investors 

Individual coaching sessions will be scheduled throughout the process (Virtual)

Time and support to refine and practice your pitch. 

‘Meet the Investors’ pitch event (Virtual)

Wednesday 7th September, 10.00 – 12.00 

  • Pitch to a panel of experience investors and coaches 
  • Questions and answers from the investor panel 
  • Feedback to each participant 
  • The opportunity to pitch at a Newcastle Angel Hub pitching event and/or be introduced to suitable funders for those that are identified as suitable 
  • Deal progression and support 

The Big Culture Northumberland Co-working Day

Date: Wednesday 22 June 2022

Creative UK’s North of Tyne Culture and Creative Investment Programme, are delighted to be working with Culture Northumberland and North East Cultural Freelancers to host a free in person and online (hybrid) event for cultural freelancers and artists based in the North East to come together to work, think and collaborate.

Whether you have something you would like to work on, a partner or colleague you would like to catch up with, or simply feel inspired by one of Northumberland’s beautiful cultural venues, we welcome you to the Big Culture Co-Working day!

You can take part from home, invite a new collaborator to work with you in a space anywhere in Northumberland or come and work in one of our host venues.

Find out more via this link

Need something else? 

If the support you need is not covered by our Business Support programme, we may be able to provide 1:1 support, connect you to one of our partners or provide signposting support. 

Email the team at northoftyne@wearecreative.uk