Background

This innovative programme is aimed at graphic, multi-media, web or interactive designers, based in Hackney, Tower Hamlets or Newham that have been in business between 18 months and 5 years. We are particularly interested to hear from those who have set up in partnership, have an interest in music or have an Asian cultural background. To ensure the quality of the learning experience a maximum of 15 businesses will be selected for the programme.

The programme

This workshop programme has been specifically designed to provide relevant and professional information and challenging exercises that will improve your business. It will also be a great opportunity to network with other local businesses. There will be 7 regular sessions between May and September 2004, which will lead you towards a potential re-launch for your company in the autumn. Each session will include follow-up work and preparation exercises from one session to the next, and you will need to participate in all 7 sessions. There will also be a joint session with local music producers to discuss collaborative work and to review key issues concerning music production such as web-based distribution.

The End Result

By the end of the programme you will have:

• A clear business and marketing strategy (instead of day-to-day firefighting).
• A better understanding of your business, your existing and potential clients and how to present and communicate what you do in the best possible way.
• Better project management skills to juggle your time, costs and budgets.
• Improved client management procedures, including terms and conditions, design briefs, contracts, fee agreements and time records.
• Identified barriers to your growth and how growth will impact on you and your stakeholders; and how best to manage this.
• A greater understanding of finance and tools to control and analyse projects in order to increase profit margins.

The Trainers

Your trainer will be Rachel Smart, a creative industry management consultant with extensive experience in managing and growing design businesses. She has provided business training to the Crafts Council, Clerkenwell Green Association and Interior Design Association. Patricia van den Akker, CIDA�s Creative Industries Business Adviser, will manage this project. She trained as a graphic designer in Belgium, and has worked in business development and marketing at the Crafts Council, The Design Trust/Design Nation and product design consultancy Studio Levien.

Dates and Location

The 7 workshops will be held on Tuesday evenings and Saturdays to minimise your time away from your business (there is also a summer break). All sessions will be held at the arts conference centre Oxford House, which is 5 minutes from Bethnal Green tube.

The dates are as follows:

• Tuesday 25 May from 6-9pm
• Tuesday 1 June from 6-9pm
• Saturday 5 June from 10am-3.30pm
• Tuesday 6 July from 6-9pm
• Saturday 24 July from 10am-3.30pm
• Saturday 4 September from 10am-3.30pm
• Tuesday 14 September from 6-9pm

Cost

This business development programme is free, however, to ensure that selected businesses are committed we ask you to provide a deposit of £150, which will be returned to you if you are not selected initially or after you participate in all 7 sessions. If you only attend 5 sessions or less we will retain the deposit.

How to Get Selected for this Programme

You can register your interest by filling in a registration form, together with a cheque for £150 (which will be returned if you are not selected), three examples of recent work (colour prints or real print), and proof of your home or business address in Hackney, Tower Hamlets or Newham (i.e. a copy of a recent utilities bill or bank statement).

Contact Patricia van den Akker for an application form via email Patricia@cida.co.uk (Please put in Designing your Future in the subject heading of your email) Deadline for the return of your application (including all the necessary documents) is Monday 17 May 2004.

Please post or deliver to: Patricia van den Akker, Creative Industries Business Adviser, CIDA, BDC, 7-15 Greatorex Street, London E1 5NF.

We will select 15 businesses to participate who will be informed on 18 or 19 May 2004.

We cannot enter into correspondence with unsuccessful applicants.

For More Information

If you have got any questions please contact Patricia van den Akker, CIDA�s Creative Industries Business Adviser on t: 020 7392 7314 or e: Patricia@cida.co.uk