Business Support for Photo Imaging in the SW
Skillset has recently undertaken a summary review of the Business Support available to Photo Imaging practitioners in the South West. The following Agencies are resourses that we have found that may be of use to you.
This is an ongoing process and if you wish to be included or have any suggestions to add to this list please contact us at: photo@skillset.org
ArtsMatrix is the skills and enterprise agency for the creative industries in the South West. They work to enable individuals to develop the skills to achieve their potential, economically and creatively. Their role is to provide, directly and through partnership, a programme of services that develops skills, encourages enterprise, nurtures creative talent and improves access to learning opportunities.
Their services include business diagnostics, one-to-one skills audits, mentoring, coaching, professional development planning, action learning programmes, sector specific non-accredited seminars, information services, and research into skills needs within the sector.
With seven offices across the region (offices in each county except Cornwall, where they work in partnership with Creative Skills), they have strong networks at both a regional and local level, with links to enterprise agencies, sector specific agencies, HE and FE institutions, local authorities and strategic agencies such as Arts Council England SW, Culture South West, LSC and the South West Regional Development Agency. At a national level, they link to the Creative and Cultural Skills sector skills council (SSC) as well as to Skillfast and Skillset SSCs.
For more information visit: ArtsMatrix or telephone: 0117 915 0190
Bristol Media is an active network for companies and individuals.
They have a membership base.
Membership is currently free and provides many benefits which are listed here: Bristol Media Membership
Bristol Media brings together people who engage in the creative and media industries providing them with the opportunity to share ideas, build up skills, identify opportunities and forge new partnerships
They offer advice, news, information and a varied range of networking and social events. They also arrange larger, high profile events such as the BM Ball and Light Up Bristol.
Training that Bristol Media offers is in conjunction with other organisations.
They have an online directory which has 17 entries under ‘Photography'. Anyone can access the directory but you need to be a Bristol Media member to be listed.
They have a very well used Jobs page where members can upload vacancies.
For further information visit: Bristol Media or telephone: 0117 971 0199
Business Link offer networking to all businesses in all sectors.
They can offer business support and one-to-one sessions about starting a business and/or going self-employed
They can also refer you to the appropriate experts
Business Link offers free business support; this can be face to face or over the phone with Business Link advisors.
There are two Business Links in the South West. One covers Devon, Cornwall and Somerset, the other covers the north of the region.
Business Link can provide written literature and has a database of factsheets aimed at businesses. People can phone or email to request these.
People can register for a Business Link login, this will then give them access to the national Business Link website. The site also contains links to Revenue and Customs which can be completed online.
Business Link can provide information for businesses throughout their development including:
Information for Start-Ups: not yet started - approx 1year of trading.
Young Businesses: 1 - 3 years approx of trading and Established Businesses
Business Link hold or co-sponsor events in partnership with other organisations such as the SW Clusters, South West Screen, Artsmatrix and the West of England Design Forum.
Events are publicised through the Business Link website and through two electronic newsletters, Businessi and Businessi Creative which is aimed at the creative sector. These are sent out monthly to those on Business Link's database and through networks and contacts.
For further information visit: Business Link South West or telephone: 0845 600 9966
Chamber of Commerce
You need to pay to be a member of a Chamber of Commerce
They can provide mailing lists for marketing. This is from a UK wide database and it can be tailored to specific needs.
They provide networking opportunities to all businesses and offer a professional advice service.
There are currently 22 Photo Imaging related companies registered as Chamber members under Business West Chamber.
There are many Chambers spread across the region.
For further information visit: Chamber of Commerce or telephone: 020 7654 5800
Create is a media centre based in Swindon. This is where their main focus is but they also do things further a field depending on the project.
They are not members based.
Their facilities and services are open to all.
Facilities available include a digital suite, a studio space that can be set up for shoots and cameras that can be hired.
In April 08 there will also be Incubation Space where new photographic talent can be nurtured.
They offer the chance to improve existing skills or learn new ones. This can be in the form of 121 advice sessions or as part of a workshop or course. With 121 sessions the first half an hour is free.
Create also offers the chance for photographers to Design their own Workshop. There is a fee attached to this but it means that the workshop can be tailor made to the needs of a specific group or an individual.
They run course on Photoshop techniques for Photographers and People in Pictures, a seminar focusing on taking photographs of people. You can take along your own camera and have a go. Other seminars that they can run include IP and copyright, archiving and web marketing.
For further information visit: Create Studios or telephone: 01793 465399
The GMG offer a wide range of training courses ranging from Business/Personal Development courses aimed at creatives to technical related courses such as Adobe Photoshop and Final Cut Pro. Some of these courses are fully funded or heavily subsidised. The GMG has recently submitted a £300 000 bid for European Social Fudning to provide training to the Media industry in Gloucestershire and should receive confirmation by mid-Mar.
For further information visit: Gloucestershire Media Group or telephone: 01242 542 712
Knowle West Media Centre is based in South Bristol and is engaged in developing the creative, educational and social potential of people within the surrounding community and the city as a whole.
In March 2008 they will be moving into a purpose built eco-building in Leinster Avenue BS4 designed with the local community and accessible to all. The media centre will act as a creative focal point for the community, providing access to project facilities, training and mentoring.
Facilities in the new building include:
- A flexible exhibition space with 12 lantern lighting rig
- 65 seat digital cinema/theatre/conference room
- Boardroom (seats 15) with internet access and plasma screen
- 2 interlocked training rooms each with a full range of presentation software and 16 workstations
- Digital Darkroom with slide scanner/large format output
- Digital Cameras and associated equipment available for hire
- In house web and print design team
- Incubation space for new/small businesses.
- 24/7 access
The facilities and training rooms at the centre are available for hire, whether for training events, commissions or workshops. In future the centre will be looking at running workshops and training programmes, not only for the community but for working practitioners too.
Knowle West Media Centre also has a bank of professional freelancers that lead on the charities projects and are also available for professional commissions.
NLARGE PHOTOGRAPHY are also based at the centre. They are a young photographers group, who take commissions for a range of clients from Morrisons to the Arts Council. Its members range from ages 15- 18yrs.
For further information visit: Knowle West Media Centre or telephone: 0117 9030444
Knowledge West is a local gateway to world class expertise from an extensive range of academic and commercial experts.
Knowledge West delivery includes Digital Media flagship initiatives between business and our higher education partners; a register of potential Non-Executive Directors; early market research for innovative businesses via QuickMark® and the Knowledge West Enterprise Awards - a winner of winners Business Plan competition.
Digital Media flagship initiatives are strategic collaborations enabling business to de-risk innovation challenges in areas such as website re-evaluation using multidisciplinary teams; media distribution using p2p technology; collaborations between media, film/media students and schools; digital art and design for information and interpretations tools; and exploiting technology and new media rights e.g. meta-tagging. Such initiatives are designed to strengthen the knowledge economy of our sub-region.
For further information visit: Knowledge West
Phoenix Media is a dedicated production, access and training resource for all forms of digital media. The Phoenix Media Centre.
We offer a wide range of courses and workshops designated to supply organisations, groups and individuals with the skills and training they require. Phoenix Media can also provide bespoke media training. All courses are run using Apple Mac computers and our tutors are Apple and Adobe certified trainers.
Courses include:
- Introduction to Digital Photography
- Introduction to Photoshop
- Introduction to Web Design
- Introduction to Final Cut Pro
- Introduction to After Effects
Introduction to Adobe Flash
For more full course listings and further information please visit: Phoenix Media or telephone: 01392 667066
PMP is members based and is free to join.
The' Plymouth Media Partnership (PM-P) incorporates a wide range of companies from graphics, music and photography, to web and games design, broadcast and corporate television production companies.
They offer a variety of services that range from networking events to training sessions. Through these events they can give members access to buyers, market intelligence, technology and specialist advice. They also publish regular newsletters and bulletins for members to share news and information and to raise the profile of member companies.
PM-P provide a website database of companies in the area together with information about business opportunities, jobs and a discussion forum
They also develop networking, dialogue and links with educational institutions, and to facilitate knowledge sharing, collaboration and partnerships between businesses and education
In the 2008 Media Innovation Awards there is a category for the most Innovative Photography. These awards were run very successfully in Devon and Cornwall in 2007 and are being rolled out across the South West for 2008 in association with the other cluster groups. There is more information at: www.mediainnovationawards.com
The judging panel for the photography category within the awards will be judged by:
Richard Vickers, University of Hull
Paula Roush, London South Bank University
Paul Fifield, BigKid
For further inforamtion visit: Plymouth Media Partnership or telephone: 01752 346530
Wessex Media Group (WMG)
Wessex Media Group is members based and includes benefits: http://www.wessexmediagroup.co.uk/about/benefits
They provide support via sector updates and relevant information on forthcoming events. They hope to provide training to all of their digital businesses in the future and are looking at securing funding for this.
WMG can assist with Business Development - including information on training and advice on all areas of developing your business from business planning, marketing and sales to negotiation, strategic planning, financial management and intellectual property rights.
They also host networking events, some with industry speakers.
For further infromation visit: Wessex Media Group or telephone: 0751 997 4023