NorthernNet - New Ideas Pitch Up for Digital Creative Sector
2 March 2010
Hundreds of firms from the region’s creative and digital sectors will work together to generate new business and strengthen the North West’s growing digital industry.
Events organised by Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus (Daresbury SIC), supported by NorthernNet, will give delegates the chance to hear first-hand about the innovative technologies under development by leading North West companies.
NorthernNet has been developed to facilitate collaboration between digital and creative agencies across the North, through superfast broadband access as well as an intensive events programme. The first two events will introduce the digital creative sector to the North West’s most innovative companies within the healthcare and aerospace industries.
Healthcare and biomedical related markets will be under the spotlight at the first event staged at North WestVision and Media’s offices in Media City on 23rd March 2010.
Around 25 companies will kick off the events by performing quick 90 second pitches about the kind of companies they would like to work with. All pitches will be designed to stimulate discussion on potential business opportunities and collaborations.
Companies invited to pitch will have the opportunity to join an hour long pitch training session prior to the main networking event at 11.00am. (*see below for agenda)
It is part of a broader programme across the three Northern regions delivered in collaboration with RTC North.
Daresbury SIC is home to one of NorthernNet’s 17 dedicated Media Access Bureaus located across the North West, Yorkshire and the North West, as part of NorthernNet’s aim to facilitate significant growth throughout the digital and creative industries.
Mercedes Clark-Smith, Project Director, said: “These business pitch events are designed to introduce digital and creative companies to emerging technologies and business opportunities in new markets.”
“The sector is supported by a network of 17 high speed Media Access Bureaus hosted in centres across the North of England which allow companies to share files through a 100mb (upgradable to 1GB) connection.”
At a second event held at Daresbury SIC on 26th May, digital creative firms will be invited to meet companies involved in the Aerospace industry
For more information or to register for the NorthernNet business pitch events email pauline.sallis_dsic@nwda.co.uk or call 01925 607015.
To find out more about Northern Net or to book the use of a Media Access Bureau visit http://www.northernnet.co.uk/
Agenda | |
10.00am -11.00am | Pitch training: Pitching companies arrive early for pitch training by Winning Pitch |
11.30am – 12.30pm | Business Pitch: 90 seconds focussed specifically on businesses ‘offers’ or ‘needs’ |
12.30pm – 2.00pm | Networking & Lunch: supported by sector relevant business support brokers |
For further information please contact:
Jane Smith
Smith & Smith PR
T: 0161 236 5560
jane@smithandsmithpr.co.uk
Notes to editor:
Northern Net:
Connecting the North - Technology. The speed and capacity for data storage and transmission has never before been available to Northern businesses. For the first time the North West, Yorkshire and the North East will have a single high speed, digital network that connects the region’s creative and digital industry sectors and customers. The pay-as-you-go use of Media Access Bureaus in convenient locations across the North will enable freelancers and small businesses to really compete in the game. In the Media Access Bureaus they will be able to access the kit and speed needed to open new markets, extend their resources and expand their offer to customers.
The speed and efficiency of NorthernNet will transform the way businesses are able to develop their products and communicate with customers. It will help creatives to explore new R&D.
This technology will equip the Northern digital and creative companies with the infrastructure to compete with the rest of the world.
NorthernNet Innovation and Collaboration Programme
NorthernNet will support and develop the creative and digital industry, through encouraging innovation and collaboration, safe guarding and creating jobs and companies, training and skills development.
Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus is one of two national Science and Innovation Campuses, launched by Lord Sainsbury, the then Science Minister in 2006. The other Campus is at Harwell in Oxfordshire.
Daresbury SIC is an internationally recognised location for high-tech businesses and leading-edge science. It represents a fundamentally new approach to driving UK competitiveness in global science and innovation. It was recently awarded the prestigious ‘Outstanding Science Park’ award by the UK Science Parks Association. Daresbury SIC was formed by the Northwest Regional Development Agency and the Science and Technology Facilities Council, Lancaster University, the University of Liverpool, the University of Manchester and Halton Borough Council. For further information please visit www.daresburysic.co.uk.
There are currently almost 100 high-tech companies based on the Campus, mainly from the digital/ICT, healthcare and advanced engineering and instrumentation sectors.
The Campus is now moving into its next exciting phase of delivering world class science and high-tech businesses. It is in the process of identifying a private sector partner to develop up to 1 million square feet of space for business, research and innovation, providing facilities management and other services to the Campus and realising commercial services and investment opportunities with the Campus companies. This will continue to bring together businesses, universities, research organisations and industrial partners with the business support and investor community, to create over 6,000 jobs.
RTC North is an independent innovation agency committed to helping business and society manage change. Excelling in the areas of technology transfer, business growth and innovation management, RTC North has worked with thousands of organisations since 1989 to create jobs, wealth and a better quality of life for the people of Northern England. Today the company employs over 60 people and has offices in Sunderland, Liverpool and Leeds.