"If you don't have 10 minutes to stop and discuss the future of your business.......your business may not have a future."

Skillset has teamed up with Train to Gain to provide a free and impartial skills analysis for your business, based on a real understanding of your sector. We'll also advise you on high quality, flexible training to suit your needs and help you access funding. And we'll do the paperwork.

What is Train to Gain?

It's a new, completely confidential service to help businesses develop by making sure staff have the right skills to do the job.

Train to Gain is already successfully sourcing free or best value training for creative media companies in the following areas:

• Leadership skills and Management coaching;
• Project management, Marketing and general business skills;
• Job–specific training, both basic and advanced.

To find out more or book your session please e-mail Pam Relton on:

pam@relton.fsbusiness.co.uk 

Deaffest is the UK's only Deaf-led Film and Television Festival. Deaffest celebrates the talents of Deaf filmmakers and media artists, nurtures new talent and brings together members of the Deaf and hearing film making communities from across the UK and overseas. This years festival will run from 27 to 29 November 2009.

The deadline for submissions is Friday 31 July.

Please visit Deaffest website for more details.

Medianet is the home of Media Education in the West Midlands.

Medianet is a media education network for the West Midlands and connects everyone working in media and education in the region to offer training, provide networking opportunities and enable sharing of good practice.

For more information please visit the Medianet Events Diary

Alternatively, telephone 0121 265 7120 or email info@medianetonline.org to find out more.

SP/ARK

Since it was set up in 2004, SP/ARK has had tremendous success in assisting start-up companies in the digital creative industries to establish themselves and develop by providing state-of-the-art office space, specialist IT equipment, mentoring, workshops and networking opportunities.

Some of the 25 businesses currently based at SP/ARK include Graphic Artists, Web Designers, Film Makers, Video Producers, Photographers, Multimedia Artists, 2D & 3D Animatiors, Product Designers, Toy Designers, Performing Artists, Publishers. SP/ARK provides accommodation and mentoring for business starters and freelancers.

For more information please visit SP/ARK website

The Makers and Shapers programme from the Creative Alliance prepares budding creative producers and entrepreneurs for managerial roles within their own creative businesses. This is achieved through a creative business start-up qualification and one-to-one mentoring.

The current cycle has now closed but you can register your interest for the next cycle at Creative Alliance

The Serious Games Institute conducts research, and offers business incubation and showcasing services to individuals and companies involved in developing and working with games technlogy for non–entertainment. The Serious Games Institute is based in Coventry.

For more information and for details of regional, national and international events please visit Serious Games Institute

The New Technology Institute in Birmingham is a training centre accredited by Adobe, Apple and Avid. The New Technology Institute is part of Birmingham City University, a Skillset Media Academy.

For more information please visit The New Technology Institute

Wolverhampton's Light House aims to be the regions centre for media education at all levels. The centre promotes and encourages creativity through practical workshops, information, advice and guidance, accredited training, bespoke specialist courses and master classes. Light House's aim is to support all platforms of learning, from young people and new entrants through to established creative enterprises.

For more information please visit Light House, Wolverhampton