Welcome to the October 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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Sony has announced that it has acquired Firesprite, with the UK developer becoming the fourteenth to come under the PlayStation Studios umbrella. Read more here.
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Congratulations to personal safety app, Busby, and its sister technology RoadRadar which have secured a seven-figure investment, including funds from a syndicate of angel investors through the Liverpool City Region Angel Network’s introductions. Read more here.
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Technology specialists Tahdah Verified Limited have secured a £1 million equity investment for their multi-tenant software platform with £750,000 coming from AFM as part of MSIF’s Merseyside Loan and Equity Fund) and £250,000 from the Development Bank of Wales. Read more here.
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Ripstone wins GamesIndustry.biz ‘Best places to work’ award - the result of a continued team effort to improve their culture, wellbeing and commitment to diversity. Read more here.
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Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram has officially launched LCR Connect – a 212km full-fibre, ultrafast, gigabit-capable network spanning the Liverpool City Region. The post Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram officially launches LCR Connect – delivering ultrafast digital infrastructure to the Liverpool City Region. Read more here.
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Liverpool has taken a huge step towards being the UK’s premier production hub, as its new film & high-end TV drama shoot space opened this month. The Depot comprises two purpose-built, 20,000 sq ft film & TV production units, giving Liverpool the complete package for film producers and providing a multi-million pound boost to its economy. Read more here.
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BIMA’s Digital Day is more that just an event, it has the potential to change lives
The only digital initiative of its kind, Digital Day is aimed at 13-16 year olds and sees digital professionals head to schools for a day to inspire students and give them an insight into a world of digital careers. If your company is able to take part, there are a number of Liverpool City Region schools looking to be matched. All collateral is provided, you just facilitate the session and add your insight. Please contact louisefinch@bima.co.uk if you can help. Digital Day is on 10th November
Liverpool City Region Skills Show – 18th& 19th January
Is welcoming business from the sector to host an interactive stand and talk to students about careers in the sector. This is a FREE opportunity for apprenticeship providers, employers and colleges and universities to represent their industry sector, showcase their opportunities and inspire the next generation. Contact craig.cahill@prospects.co.uk to express your interest.
LCR Grad Scheme
Do you have a graduate level vacancy in your business? If you’re an SME based in Liverpool City Region, the bespoke 6 month LCR Grad Scheme may be the ideal way to upscale your business with talented final year graduates from Edge Hill University, Hope University, Liverpool John Moores University and the University of Liverpool. 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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Specialist support for Liverpool City Region Digital, Creative and Tech businesses
It’s hard to make time to work on your business, rather than in it. You want a way to consistently win new clients. You want to spend more time doing work that matters. You want to be less reactive. You need to keep your team motivated and connected. Shift has been designed to carve out the time you need. Apply by 31st October. Find out more here.
Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram committed to improving mental health at work
Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, is championing a campaign to promote good mental health and wellbeing at work, in support of World Mental Health Day. Employers can access discounted Mental Health First Aid Training via the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s Be More Skills Funding programme. Information is available from Growth Platform’s Skills Brokerage Service. Find out more here.
Looking to reach a manufacturing audience?
Digital Manufacturing Week is back in Liverpool in November and there are opportunities for Digital & Creative businesses to get involved in Innovation Alley or talks at Smart Factory Expo. The event brings together expert speakers, industry-shaping influencers, delegates from the best manufacturers and the brightest emerging talent to help businesses at all stages of their Industry 4.0 development. Find out more here.
Edge Hill’s Productivity and Innovation Centre to help Liverpool City Region SMEs scale-up
Edge Hill University has teamed up with The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, to help dozens of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the region to scale-up. The University’s Productivity and Innovation Centre (PIC) has expanded its popular Innovation Sprint Programme to enable 39 SMEs in the region to access its service. Find out more here.
LCR Culture & Creativity Awards
Liverpool City Region is a thriving place for culture and creativity and we want to celebrate this. The Liverpool City Region Cultural Partnership designed a set of awards to recognise and celebrate excellence and innovation in art, culture and creativity within the region. Apply by 12th November. Find out more here.
Cyber Accelerator programme
techUK welcomes a fantastic new cyber accelerator programme that fast tracks the growth of the most promising entrepreneurs, startups and scaleups: Cyber Runway. A new, DCMS-backed accelerator from Plexal that will help entrepreneurs, startups, SMEs and scaleups across the UK grow their cyber businesses. Find out more here.
Business & IP centre expansion
The Business & IP Centre Liverpool (based in Central Library) and the British Library have announced the roll out of several new local Business & IP Centres (BIPCs) across the Liverpool City Region of which budding entrepreneurs can take advantage. Find out more here.
UK Games Industry Census
Ukie are running the second ever UK Games Industry Census to authoritatively assess workforce diversity in the sector and they want you to participate by 19th November. The census provides invaluable data about the UK games industry workforce. Launched in 2019, with over 3,200 responses from games industry workers, it provided industry specific insights and helped form the basis of the most in-depth analysis of the UK games workforce ever conducted. Find out more here.
Pledging to tackle climate change
Can your business sign up to the SME Climate Commitment? This recognises that climate change poses a threat to the economy, nature and society-at-large, and that you will take action to: Halve your greenhouse gas emissions before 2030; Achieve net zero emissions before 2050; Disclose your progress on a yearly basis. Sign up here.
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Funding & National Bodies
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Investing in creative industry diversity
Creative Growth Finance, the specialist lender for the creative industries, has today announced that £2 million of its landmark £24 million Debt Fund will be ring fenced to support talent and businesses from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds. The initiative aims to address the imbalance of diversity among business leaders within the creative industries and support the promotion of diversity and inclusion throughout the sector. Find out more here.
Innovate UK smart grants: October 2021
UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £25 million for game-changing and commercially viable research and development (R&D) innovation that can significantly impact the UK economy. This funding is from Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation. Find out more here.
Nearly £2 million to be given to tech start-ups to power up the transport revolution
Creative start-ups to be given a share of £1.95 million to see ideas to revolutionise transport brought to life. Past projects include a purifying system to lower virus transmission on trains and a portable car charger for use at remote locations including festivals. Find out more here.
Crowdfunding blog
Is your business right for equity crowdfunding? In SciTech Daresbury's latest blog post, they spoke with Hannah Forbes, crowdfunding consultant at The Funding Crowd to outline the key questions she asks clients to help them decide whether equity crowdfunding is a viable funding route for them. 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 7 December.
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Nicola Triscott, CEO, FACT
FACT is Liverpool's home to all things creative and digital. As a place where people, art and technology meet, we are always excited to bring together local and international talent to present ground-breaking artworks and projects that embrace new technology and explore digital culture. As an organisation that puts artists and audiences at its centre, I look forward to working and collaborating with the board, to identify and offer guidance on key opportunities for growth within the Digital and Creative sectors.
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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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Fund Her North: Exit Readiness: What you need to consider, 21st Oct 12pm – 1.30pm
Fund Her North provides a unique opportunity to learn about the key stages of funding for your business. Register here.
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LCR Finance Hub Meet the Advisor 27 October 10am-12pm
Advisors are on hand to discuss your finance needs and business support. Meetings can be booked for up to 30 mins and are strictly confidential. Register here.
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Access previous Growth Platform events via our YouTube channel
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