Welcome to the September LCR Digital, Creative & Tech round up
Here we share some of the fantastic businesses we are home to; the good work being done in nurturing our talent pipeline; all important funding and opportunities relevant to your business; and helpful events happening for you. Please contact our Digital & Creative Champion for details on any of the below at helen.cross@growthplatform.org
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In the twelve months since scripted dramas first embarked on shooting under rigorous new production guidelines, Liverpool has hosted thousands of film crew, and some of the biggest film stars on the planet – and now we get to wait – and watch. Here’s a list of (most) of the productions to have been made in Liverpool City Region between 2020 and 2021 that will be coming to your screens – and cinemas soon. Read more here.
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In just under 15 years, Liverpool City Region's Baltic Creative has led the remarkable revival of the Baltic Triangle district in Liverpool and now the model is set to be replicated at a second Liverpool City Region location. Read more here.
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Scientists from Liverpool Hope University have created a sophisticated device to counter the cyber threat posed by malicious USB drives. The team are currently liaising with manufacturers to make the ‘external scanning device’ a reality. Read more here.
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Work on LCR Connect – a 212km full-fibre, ultrafast, gigabit-capable network infrastructure, covering the whole city region – has started in St Helens, as part of plans to provide an ultrafast broadband boost for the whole of the Liverpool City Region. LCR Connect is a joint venture half-owned by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority in partnership with North West-based ITS Technology Group. Read more here.
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A group of music students from Liverpool Hope University have told of their pride after their works were performed and recorded at the world-famous Parr Street Studios. The Grammy Award-winning studio complex in Liverpool has welcomed some of the greatest names in the industry - from artists like Rihanna, Justin Bieber and Drake, to bands such as Coldplay, Doves and Black Sabbath. Read more here.
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LCR Grad Scheme Skills Survey
LCR Grad Scheme are asking local SMEs to complete a short survey to help identify the most important graduate skills and competencies in order to inform the content of the bespoke six month learning and development programme. Complete the survey here.
Hugh Baird ‘Showcase College’
Hugh Baird College has once again been chosen by technology titan Microsoft as the only college in Merseyside, and one of only 17 colleges in the UK, to become a ‘Showcase College’. Microsoft Showcase Colleges are a global network of colleges ‘engaged in innovative change to improve teaching and learning and support the economic vitality of the locality they serve’. Find out more here.
Peer Networks - sector specific cohort
Last few spaces to be filled on the September peer-to-peer support programme designed for Liverpool City Region-based SMEs. This fully funded programme includes 18 hours of interactive group sessions which will be delivered by trained facilitators using action learning techniques. Each participating business can also access a further 3.5 hours of one-to-one support with an expert business adviser scheduled to suit their needs. Find out more here.
Skills Brokerage Service
Our team of impartial Skills Brokers can help you to access funding, local grants and government incentive schemes to help up-skill or re-skill your employees. We can also look at how apprenticeships can up-skill your current team. Access up to 70% of funding towards training costs. Find out more here.
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Freelance workers needed
The eHealth Cluster is providing support to the Liverpool 5G Create Connecting Health and Social Care Project. This trailblazing project is creating a stand-alone, private 5G network in the Kensington area of Liverpool to provide reliable, affordable connectivity in people’s homes, GP surgeries, Care Homes and for mobile workers. The network will be used to deliver Health, Social Care and Education services. Find out more here.
Business resilience support
Growth Platform’s Business Resilience Programme is providing SME leaders with the opportunity to step back from the day-to-day and rethink their approach to challenges so they can turn them into opportunities. This is fantastic resource for ambitious businesses to take advantage of in this financial year. Find out more here.
Northern Tech Awards - entry deadline 20 September
Once a year the Northern Tech Awards shine a light upon the technology ecosystem in the North of the UK, celebrating innovative technologies and leading businesses developed in the region and recognise those who have contributed to their success. Deadline to enter 20th September. Find out more here.
Go:Tech Awards – entry deadline 1 October
From the CleanTech pioneers and tech start-ups, to the advanced engineering giants – these awards have been carefully structured to showcase businesses of all sizes across the whole of the UK. The close collaboration with the UK’s leading business incubators, universities and technology associations makes the Go:Tech Awards a must-attend event for professionals, investors and entrepreneurs operating in the innovation space. Find out more here.
Digital Manufacturing Week back in Liverpool this November
There are profile raising and networking opportunities at this year’s Digital Manufacturing Week with SMEs encouraged to join the Innovation Alley showcase. If you’ve got an innovative young business that you’re marketing to the manufacturing industry then there may be funding towards your stand but places are limited. Find out more here.
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Funding & National Bodies
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£450m fund to unlock innovation in gas and electricity networks
The new Ofgem Strategic Innovation Fund, delivered through a partnership with Innovate UK, is seeking innovative, ambitious ideas to transform energy networks. A new fund will unlock greener ways to travel and to heat and power homes and businesses, by harnessing a new approach to energy network innovation. Find out more here.
Are you a UK-based cyber security company looking for investment?
Join the UK delegation to Slush! This is a unique opportunity to look for investment, expose your company to a global tech ecosystem, promote your brand, network with top-tier investors and other stakeholders, and look out for export opportunities especially in the Nordics. Find out more here.
Last chance for funding towards commercial advice
Our New Markets 2 ERDF programme helps Liverpool City Region businesses find and fund high value commercial advice. Our Commercial Brokers team will help you competitively procure the commercial advice you need to grow your business from the most appropriate commercial providers available according to the needs of your business. The program is ending soon, so get in touch to apply now. Find out more here.
Women In Innovation – application deadline 13 October
The Women in Innovation Awards 2021/22 will support at least 20 women with a £50,000 grant and bespoke business support package. Winners from the 2020/21 cohort share their advice on how to submit an application that delivers impact and enables your passion to shine through. Find out more here.
Five ways tech businesses can help tackle climate change
New advice for the technology sector has been created by government and industry experts to help businesses cut their carbon footprint and help to save the planet. Find out more here.
Tech Nation's Rising Stars 4.0 open until 20 October
This programme is the UK’s most exciting competition for innovative, early-stage tech companies, designed to showcase the best the country has to offer. You’ll benefit from significant profile raising on both a national and international level, as well as the opportunity to put your business in front of leading investors, influencers and corporates. They’ll even work with you to ensure your business is investor ready. Find out more here.
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Spotlight the Digital & Creative Board
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The LCR Digital & Creative Board is the voice of the city region’s digital, creative and tech businesses. It is driving improvements for the sector through business growth initiatives, skills and talent retention and developing the space, place and infrastructure to help the sector flourish.
You can read about who is in on the LCR Digital & Creative Board here and we welcome your views via helen.cross@growthplatform.org. The next meeting is the 21 September, and we will be following this up with a community update in early November to reflect on the challenges and success of the sector and the work the board has been doing to support businesses in the City Region.
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Zero Carbon Tour, 1 October 9am - 1pm, Floral Pavilion New Brighton
The Zero Carbon Tour comes to Liverpool City Region, sharing the net zero message with the business community. Register here.
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Hartree National Centre for Digital Innovation EXPLAIN courses, various dates September 2021 - May 2022
Accessible supercomputing, data analytics and AI training with industry context. Register here.
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Green Games Summit 20-21 October
Bringing the international games sector together to share knowledge, discuss and shape the industry’s approach to the climate crisis and sustainability ahead of this year’s, UK-hosted, COP26. Register here.
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Access previous Growth Platform events via our YouTube channel
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