Event- Digital Innov-8 28th January

Are you interested in learning more about how digital technologies will drive economic development, create businesses and shape Smart Cities of the future?   Join Coventry University and the Local Economic Partnership (LEP) network for their exciting and informative conference “Digital Innov-8” on 28th January 2014 at Coventry University Technology Park.

Keynote speakers include Dr. Mike Short, Vice President of Telefonica Europe and Dr. Nick Appleyard, Head of Digital for the Technology Strategy Board as well as interactive sessions to experience the latest in digital technologies for your self. 

Throughout the day you will hear about the influences digital technology has on growing businesses, how the internet is constantly changing the way we do things and why harnessing technology will create smart and connected cities. You will see how Coventry University’s spin-out company Serious Games International are using visualisation, simulation and serious games technology to support the UK business to set themselves apart from their competitors.  You will also have the opportunity to take part in demonstrations of the latest digital technologies including an immersive racing car simulator, multi-touch tables, SMART TVs and photography equipment at the ERDF funded Touch Digital TechLab.

The event starts at 9am and will conclude with a networking lunch at 1.30pm.

To see full agenda and book a free place please go to http://digitalinnov-8coventryuni.eventbrite.co.uk


Louise Fidler
Programmes Manager

Touch Digital
Coventry University Enterprises Ltd, The TechnoCentre, Puma Way, Coventry, CV1 2TT
Tel: 07974 984979
Email: lfidler@cad.coventry.ac.uk
Web: www.coventry.ac.uk

Touch Digital is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund

Event - Creative Networks Online - 30th Jan

THURSDAY 30 JANUARY 2014, 5.45PM UNTIL 8.45PM - WWW.CREATIVENETWORKSONLINE.COM
BIRMINGHAM CITY UNIVERSITY, MILLENNIUM POINT, CURZON STREET, BIRMINGHAM B4 7XG

INCLUDING THE MUSIC NETWORK 4PM UNTIL 5.30PM - WWW.BIRMINGHAMMUSICNETWORK.COM
AND BIRMINGHAM SCREEN IMAGE NETWORK 4PM UNTIL 5.30PM -
WWW.BIRMINGHAMSCREENIMAGENETWORK.WORDPRESS.COM

Virtually On-Air ViLoR (Virtualised Local Radio) www.bbc.co.uk/academy/technology

Speaker: Geoff Woolf, Technology Development Manager, BBC English Regions

At November’s Creative Networks we heard from Graham Thomas about how BBC R&D is stretching the capability of broadcasting. In Birmingham’s Mailbox, BBC English Regions have been working on enhancing the tools used by programme makers. They’ve been developing a revolutionary new way to build a local radio studio. It will be a virtual radio station which is quick to install and can be set up anywhere where there is good connectivity. Geoff Woolf will explain the concept, how it works, why the BBC are doing this, the benefits, and where it could ultimately take the broadcasting technology sector.

Creative Networks brings together all parties involved in screen and sound media in the West Midlands, promoting both successful business development and collaboration.

5.45pm Registration followed by complimentary food/refreshments and networking in our Cafe
7.00pm Geoff Woolf
8.15pm Q&A
8.45pm Event ends

To join us for this FREE event, please register at www.bcucreativenetworks.eventbrite.co.uk or email
creative.networks@bcu.ac.uk or call 0121 331 5400.
Alternatively, register online at our website
www.creativenetworksonline.com

Event-Do CAKE Tuesday 28th January

Our friends at the Do Collaboration Hub have told us about their latest do CAKE event and news...

Our FREE monthly CAKE mornings are changing. All future sessions will be held on the 4th Tuesday of the month.

To kick the New Year off we have some exciting speakers and as always real CAKE, so please join us at our 1st CAKE event of the year :-)

Garry Campbell from BBC Technology, Distribution & Archives will be talking about Putting the BBC archive at your fingertips.  
The BBC has one of the biggest repositories of social, historical and cultural information in the world. Working with the Digital Humanities Hub and other Creative City partners we are investigating how multi-touch table technology can be used to explore and surface the archive in a new and exciting ways.

Mar Dixon founder of MuseomixUK and Dominic Cushnan founder of Mixed Reality Studio ltd will be talking about The Experience of MuseomixUK.
What happens when you bring coders, hackers, graphic designers, storytellers, curators and communication people together?  You remix a museum and get 7 innovative prototypes in 3 days! 

To book a space onto CAKE Tuesday 28th January follow the link http://bit.ly/1arGjqV

Live! From... Call out for contributions

Community radio station 107.5 Switch Radio are developing ’Live! From…’, a new Arts/Music/Culture program for Birmingham. They have an open call out to all local artists, collectives, events and organisations who would like some arts/culture radio time.

‘Live! From…’ are looking for a committed individual, or group of individuals, who would like to help to organise, present, produce, edit and contribute to this new project.

Whatever your discipline or medium, if you feel it can translate to radio, ‘Live! From…’ would appreciate your contribution and ideas.

If you feel you can contribute your time and grey matter in any way to the project, you are urged you get in touch with ‘Live! From…’ by contacting live@baddeley.be for more information.

Birmingham based Aidem Digital CIC wins Profit Award

Celebrate with local Digital Media Business, Aidem Digital...

A Birmingham based Social Enterprise called Aidem Digital CIC has been recognised for it’s commitment to growth and has won the Social Enterprise West Midlands Profit Award.

This award recognises Aidem Digital as a social enterprise with a strong commitment to grow and develop its business. The award was sponsored by Anthony Collins Solicitors, who were really impressed by Aidem’s drive to strengthen its business and social impact.

Growth is an important aspect of any organisation committed to succeeding. Growth comes in many ways for a social enterprise and demonstrates its dedication for its most important asset, it’s people, and the return from the investment in their development in skills and productivity. Aidem Digital recognises the importance of its team and their sheer hard work which has helped its achieve this celebrated growth.

The awards ceremony held at PwC’s Atrium Cafe in Birmingham on 14th November 2013, celebrated the presentation of 10 awards. Each of the winners received a trophy and a certificate. In addition to the winners, there were highly commended recipients who were also given certificates.

Indi Deol, Managing Director of Aidem Digital said upon receiving the award:
“This is really fantastic news for Aidem Digital CIC. We are very thankful to SEWM and Anthony Collins Solicitors for giving us this award and recognising our drive to be a profitable social enterprise. Our aim is to aggressively continue to develop digital media products and services which will attract the growth achieved to date.”

The SEWM awards event celebrated the region’s sector achievements. With over a hundred delegates who attended the ceremony.
“It was great to see fellow social enterprises being recognised for their achievements and made us proud to be part of an event organised by SEWM which really does add value to what you do on a daily basis,” said Indi.

Aidem Digital CIC was recognised for its growth by the RBS SE index 100 for achieving 241% growth in 2012 and in 2013 the company stood at 3rd position in the West Midlands region overall. In addition, the Goldman Sachs 1000 Business programme has also helped to shape a three year growth plan for Aidem Digital to achieve this kind of recognition.

The award marks the recognition of Aidem Digital CIC as a social enterprise that is committed grow and provide excellence in digital media services in the region and beyond.

You can read this post and much more about Aidem Digital on the website by clicking here

Creative Accelerator - Business support opportunity

Our friends at Creative Shift have asked us to spread the word about this fantastic opportunity! Please read on to find out more...

The beginning of a New Year is a good opportunity to think afresh about your business.

We have 10 places available on ‘Creative Accelerator’, a new business support and advice programme aimed specially at businesses like yours. Its being run by Helga Henry, Angela Maxwell and Noel Dunne at Creative Shift. This is a free programme to you, as its been fully funded through Cluster 2020, European Creative Industries Alliance and Coventry University Enterprises.

Creative Accelerator combines face to face discussions and advice with new software tools. It will encourage you to review your growth strategy, vision, sales, marketing, finance and operational plans, helping you set priorities and actionable goals for the year ahead.

To participate you will be committing to a one-day seminar with additional time to answer on-line questions and think-through your plans. Getting involved in Creative Accelerator might just be the incentive you need … to stop and think about the next steps for your business!

PHASE I – Self guided, answering a series of on-line questions on your business strategy and current operations.

PHASE II – Attend a one-day seminar with four other like-minded businesses where you will learn and explore some key business strategies as a group AND have a 1 x hour session with a business advisor for specific “surgery style” advice and support. Seminars will be on 10th or 12th February (09.30-17.00). To participate in this pilot you would need to be available on one of these two dates. Both options will take place in Birmingham City Centre.

 PHASE III – There will be on-line and telephone feedback after the seminar with a final telephone coaching session 6-8 weeks later. You’ll get a practical action plan and specific support. You can continue to use the on-line tools for the remainder of the year at no charge.

We will ask for your assessment of the programme and how it can be improved in the future.

Simply visit www.cluster2020.pipeten.co.uk to register your interest:  you will fill in an initial registration screen and shortly afterwards, if accepted, you will have an opportunity to access the site and put in your details. We will contact you to get your commitment to one of the seminar dates and answer any questions.

If February is too soon, you can still register your interest now for our second pilot, helping a further 50 businesses from the Spring onwards.

Find out more about Cluster 2020 and other European Creative Industries Alliance activities at www.cluster2020live.eu   www.howtogrow.eu/ecia .

Thank you for your interest – we look forward to your participation on Creative Accelerator. We would really value participation and feedback from a variety of companies with ambitions to grow.

This initiative is financed under the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework programme (CIP) which aims to encourage the competitiveness of European enterprises.

BBC Birmingham looks to a new digital future

We've had the following press release from our friends and colleagues at the BBC-

BBC Birmingham looks to a new digital future

BBC Director-General Tony Hall today returned to Birmingham to outline the start of a new creative vision for the BBC in the Midlands.
He spoke with the whole team in the Mailbox, the BBC's base in Birmingham, and said “I want to make Birmingham a really exciting and important part of what we do. This is just the start - but make no mistake, if you’re interested in new skills and digital innovation, this is the place to be.”
Outlining his vision, Tony Hall talked about some of the plans:

• The teams who deliver entry level training schemes, talent and skills development, including inductions, will be based in Birmingham. BBC apprenticeships and traineeships will also be run from Birmingham

• The BBC has agreed in principle with the Arts Council, England that Birmingham will become the new home for The Space, their pioneering digital arts partnership. Teams from Birmingham will also make a substantial contribution to the BBC’s Shakespeare season in 2016

• A new digital innovation team will be developed in Birmingham, working with the Creative City Partnership and local talent to tell stories differently and produce content in a whole new way. This is part of the BBC’s wider strategy to engage younger, more diverse audiences

• The BBC’s Outreach and Corporate Social Responsibility team, who work with local communities, educating and inspiring people right across the country, will also be moving to Birmingham

Tony Hall also outlined how the Mailbox would become an open skills and development space for people and his overall aim to build on the city's growing reputation for cutting edge digital work, its diverse talent pool, vibrant young audiences, strong arts scene and to celebrate Birmingham’s rich potential and ambitions for the future.

Tommy Nagra, newly appointed Head of Business Development for BBC Birmingham, will work with new Head of Regional and Local Programmes, David Jennings, and internal BBC staff and external partners to deliver the changes.

Peter Salmon, Director BBC North and tasked by Tony Hall to lead this project, said "This is the first phase of our plans for the BBC in Birmingham. We’re building a stronger BBC in the city and today’s announcements are the first steps in that journey. We will continue to work with Birmingham; the wider region and the wider BBC to increase our activity here."

These changes will take place over the next two years - and will bring around 80 jobs and £23.5m additional activity to the city over a three-year period.