Last year Creative Shift undertook a major piece of research into how creative businesses can access finance and what alternative routes to funding and support might exist in the future for arts organisations. We didn’t find any magic wands or instant solutions – but there are some interesting case studies, inspiring individuals and different thinking that we would like to share.

With the support of Birmingham City Council, who commissioned RE:Position, the roadshow event is a chance to take a look at where you are in your business or arts organisation, where you want to get to and more importantly – what might fuel that journey.

In order to survive and thrive both creative and cultural organisations need to consider exploring new ways of working which can generate revenue and potential new market places.

This FREE event will:

• give you some tools and techniques to grow the vision for your company whilst considering the practical implications;
• equip you with information to overcome current challenges to your future business growth;
• enable you to realise the importance of financial health and necessary steps to becoming investment ready;
• help you articulate the impact of your work or the potential of your proposition in a meaningful way to potential partners, stakeholders or investors in order to frame a compelling return on investment.

Helga Henry, Director of Creative Shift will run the workshops with the help of two inspiring speakers:

Andy Wilson - Founder and CEO of WAA

WAA is the largest advertising agency in the city.

Andy founded WAA in 1986 straight from university. With venture capital backing, he has grown the company through acquisition, and organically by investing in the very best talent. Along the journey he’s seen out three recessions and has attracted and retained great clients to create a top UK award-winning agency. Andy is also the IPA City Head for Birmingham. Andy wants to share the most important lessons he has learned along the way about growing a business.

Ben Robinson - MD of ISISMedia and FomatZone

Ben will share his insights into working for large corporations, business that supported his lifestyle needs and now, with Format Zone - the excitement of a high growth company with significant external investment from venture capitalists.

Entertainment format production, broadcast and distribution company Formatzone, has just successfully closed a £400,000 seed round to take Birmingham’s media talent to the forefront of mainstream television in the UK and abroad. Midven’s Early Advantage fund invested £125,000 alongside investment from Finance Birmingham and Ascension Ventures.

Formatzone specialises in fast-tracking production, broadcast and distribution of high quality TV formats- working in partnership with leading national and international creative talents.MD Ben Robinson - who will be speaking at RE:Position said: “Based in such a young and diverse city, this is a fantastic opportunity to disrupt the conventional TV commissioning model, and we are looking forward to exciting creative collaborations in the year ahead”.

We know how precious your time is so we will ensure that every aspect of the events will maximise the impact of your participation.

Is this event for me?

Is it time for you to work on transforming your mindset? In the current financial climate creative industries are increasingly feeling the pinch in the fight to win new business. Talent and resources are not scarce, but meaningful business opportunities can be.

These events are targeted at businesses with a “for profit” structure – advertising, graphic designers, makers, digital agencies, jewellers, photographers, PR companies, film and animation and any other business whose primary business is in the generation of IP and associated revenues.