Five creative industries graduates from the North East have been awarded support from NESTA (the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts) to develop their own businesses and become entrepreneurs...

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Insight Out is open to graduates who have completed a higher education course in a creative industries subject (for example, art or design) since 2002 and who want to set up a new creative business. The programme in the North East is funded by NESTA and hosted by the University of Teesside.

It aims to combine graduates’ creative abilities with strong business skills to maximise their entrepreneurial potential through specially designed seminars and training in developing and presenting a business proposal.

Those who attend also have the opportunity to apply for up to £5,000 in start-up funding to get their business off the ground.

Creative industries generate 8% of GDP...

Mark Fenwick, Director of the Creative Pioneer Programme at NESTA said: “Our mission is to increase the UK capacity for innovation by investing in all stages of the innovation process. "The creative industries are a key driver of the UK economy," he continued "they now account for 8% of GDP and this is growing. It is vital that we support the next generation of innovative entrepreneurs, who can contribute to this burgeoning industry and the strength of the UK’s future wealth creation.”

NESTA’s support of Insight Out aims to do just that. By encouraging an enterprising spirit in creative graduates and providing not just financial support but also business advice, Insight Out is giving graduates the best chance of success in this market.”

First five receipts entrepreneurs announced

The first investments made to Insight Out, North East England will enable five talented individuals to lay the foundations of some highly original new businesses. They are:

Hannah Campion
Hannah is a contemporary artist using highly innovative painting techniques. She will now set up a business selling her work as a commercial enterprise.

Emma Dyson
Emma is an illustrator who specialises in digital art for children. Her business, Strawberry Chalk, produces and publishes exciting and stimulating interactive children’s books using Information and Communication Technology. The books are accompanied by online educational activities related to the subjects and/or characters in the stories.

Louise Hepworth
Louise’s business produces bespoke photographic artworks for corporate environments; particularly targeting places with can often feel sterile but which need to mark themselves out from their competitors and inspire their users.

Graeme Patrick
Ego Studios, is a creative design house that deals in self branded products and character design based on their very own personas – their Egos.

Joanne Riddle
Fuzzy Bridge is a new and innovative business working in the field of surface design. Fuzzy Bridge’s main product is its unique process for printing onto synthetic surfaces, enabling Joanne to infuse colour and pattern into the surface of many man-made surfaces, including acrylic and PVC. This infusion of colour is light fast for several years and barely effected by outdoor conditions.

About NESTA:
NESTA, the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts, is working to increase the UK’s capacity for innovation. We invest in all stages of the innovation process, backing new ideas and funding new ventures that stimulate entrepreneurship. www.nesta.org.uk