East London-based new enterprises in the digital field can avail of enhanced support in 2005 courtesy of the Cultural Industries Development Agency (CIDA), a multi agency-backed source of creative and cultural industries support in the area.

CIDA have underlined their commitment to minority-led creative enterprises by adding two new faces to their staff. Lucy Kyle, CIDA’s new Creative Industries Start-up Adviser and Andy Townsend, CIDA’s new Creative Digital Consultant join the CIDA team with more than twenty years of combined creative industries expertise between them.

“These new appointments highlight CIDA’s committment to tackling key issues for the creative economy of East London,” said CIDA’s Chief Executive Mhora Samuel, “including the need for enhanced support for ethnic minority, women and disabled-led, new creative businesses and the need to harness the opportunities brought by emerging technology.”

Digital consultancy

As technology becomes ever more important to creative enterprises, CIDA has responded and appointed Andy Townsend as their new Creative Digital Consultant to work with established creative enterprises in Tower Hamlets, Hackney and Newham.  Andy will help businesses to integrate digital technology and innovation into their work and help them to capitalise on new opportunities provided by digital technology.

His work is part of CIDA’s ‘Building Creative Industries Competitiveness’ (BCIC) project. During ten years in the music industry Andy has earned his spurs working for Rough Trade, SSL, Warners, Nude Records and PIAS. He was Head of Marketing for Palm Pictures and latterly Head of DVD at the Metropolis Group.

A four-year project running until December 2006, BCIC provides a free specialist business advice service to aid creative enterprises in Tower Hamlets, Hackney and Newham. Its goal is to assist enterprises in realising both their business and their creative potential. Positive action is taken to ensure that minority and ethnic groups, women, and the disabled have equal access and opportunity for business growth, skills development and jobs. BCIC is funded by ERDF (European Regional Development Fund), the London Development Agency and the London boroughs of Newham and Tower Hamlets.

Start-up advice

For pre-start-ups and new start-ups Lucy Kyle, Creative Industries Start-up Adviser, is available to help new creative enterprises in Tower Hamlets, Hackney and Newham. A former Marketing Manager at Wembley Arena, Lucy also ran the cultural department of Australia's largest marketing consultancy. More recently she has focused on working with SME's and sole traders – primarily within the performing arts and designer maker sector – to help them develop profitable businesses.

People thinking of starting up a creative business will be able to work with Lucy on specially designed programmes of support tailored to their needs. She will help new enterprises develop business plans, promote themselves to local markets and build up their profile. Lucy’s work is part of CIDA’s latest project ‘Creative Routes - East London’.

Creative Routes – East London supports pre-start-up and new start-up enterprises including sole traders, freelancers, partnerships, and small businesses.  Black and ethnic minority communities, women, the disabled, the unemployed and young people are prioritised through this project.

This practical project aims to develop sustainable creative enterprises in Tower Hamlets, Hackney and Newham, through the provision of one-to-one business support, mentoring, business skills training, marketing support, showcasing opportunities and local market and supply chain development. Creative Routes – East London is co-ordinated by CIDA and part-funded by ERDF, the London boroughs of Tower Hamlets, Hackney and Newham, and Prevista, who are also key partners in delivery.

With support like this, more minority-led digital outfits with a creative focus could soon be flourishing eastside beyond the confines of Shoreditch.

To find out more about CIDA’s services, Tel: 020 7247 4710 email: info@cida.co.uk or visit www.cida.co.uk

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