Member Article

North East business leaders launch scheme to strengthen creative and digital media sectors

Creative North has been launched by a group of business bosses in the North East, aiming to highlight the creativity and capability of the creative and digital industries.

Led by Rob Earnshaw, director of the Youth Training Academy, Creative North aims to create greater awareness of the strength of the creative and digital media sectors in the North.

The scheme is looking to create 200 creative apprenticeships for local students with regional businesses by August 2015.

Rob Earnshaw was joined by the some of the campaign’s Creative Ambassadors who have pledged to support its goals.

Dave Sharp of Digital Asylum; Kari Owers of communications agency OPR; Andy Thompson of Bede Gaming; Tristan Watson of Ignite100 who run programmes to help entrepreneurs; Mike Owen of Violet Bick and Liz Lamb of La-Di-Da Magazine, a high-end lifestyle publication.

The campaign has been established to create greater recognition of the career opportunities available in the region.

Further Creative Champions, who will help to promote the campaign and creative industries, are being sought to enhance and broaden the reach of the campaign.

Creative North aims to sign up the support of 500 creative businesses, schools and organisations, and have 150 of those businesses engage with schools and training programmes by August 2015.

Rob Earnshaw said: “There is real and tangible skills drain affecting the potential of creative businesses in the North of England, and it is down to a lack of understanding among young people of the opportunities which are open to them here.

“Too many talented young people are choosing to move away in search of creative jobs, or opting not to come to the North because they are unaware of the fantastic businesses which are here, and the careers which are open to them.

“By engaging with hundreds of businesses and educational bodies, with the support of a growing group of Creative Champions, and creating opportunities for young people, we aim to use the Creative North campaign to reverse this trend, keep more young people in the region and attract talent.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ellen Forster .