1. Cherie Federico of Aesthetica Magazine is the winner of The Young Business Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2006.
The 2006 Press Business Awards were announced Thursday 16 November at York Racecourse. Cherie Federico, cofounder of Aesthetica Magazine and Aesthetica Arts Organisation was successful in winning the prestigious Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. There were three finalists.
Cherie won the award due to her commitment to the arts in the UK through her national cultural arts publication, Aesthetica Magazine, which currently has 10,000 readers and 1,500 subscribers. The magazine has grown from strength to strength and its circulation is now reaching England, Scotland and Wales through Borders Bookstore.
Aesthetica Magazine is the UK?s cultural arts magazine that covers art, literature, music and film. Aesthetica Magazine has boasted some excellent features including: Muse, Juliette Lewis, Maximo Park, Arctic Monkeys, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Lambchop, Harrap & Kissell, Tony Briggs, Ngugi wa Thiong?o, Wendy Cope, Ali Smith, John Agard, and Benjamin Zephaniah.
Cherie Federico says, ''Winning the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award is a great achievement not only for Aesthetica Magazine but for the arts in general. I couldn?t be more proud that an arts business was nominated, became a finalist and a winner.''
Currently, Aesthetica Magazine is planning on expanding their subscriptions to colleges and universities across the United Kingdom. Their growth is exponential and gives new life to arts publishing in the UK. The Aesthetica Arts Organisation is planning on expanding their Little A Magazine for young people and working with local schools.
Pick up a copy of Aesthetica Magazine at your local Borders Store or order online at www.aestheticamagazine.com
2. Skillset and Film London launch joint bursary
Skillset and Film London have launched a new joint bursary scheme to support the skills development of people working across the media industries.
Screen bursaries provide up to 80 per cent of the cost of short courses for TV, film, animation and computer games professionals across the UK. The bursaries are available for people wanting to access training in business skills, technical and craft skills and health and safety. These areas have been identified as priorities for support by the industry in Skillset's Sector Skills Agreement which outlines the skills challenges facing the sector and what action is needed to address them.
Earlier this month, the Leitch Review of Skills endorsed the industry-led approach to the tackling the skills agenda and recommended to Government that Skillset and other Sector Skills Councils be given more influence and resources to achieve this.
Dinah Caine, Chief Executive of Skillset, said: "Skillset's partnership with Film London, on this and many other projects to support the skills and talent of the workforce, is an example of the increased impact and effectiveness that can be achieved when resources are combined and effort focused through working together. This bursary scheme provides a much needed support mechanism for people working in the industry. Their skills and talent are crucial to the industry's future success and so must be a top priority."
Adrian Wootton, CEO of Film London, said: "We are delighted to be working closely with Skillset to increase the opportunities available to talent in the capital. This new bursary scheme will help individuals further develop their expertise, and will go towards ensuring London retains its world-class workforce with some of the most highly-skilled personnel in the industry."
The bursaries are funded by Skillset's Film Skills Fund, which is supported by the National Lottery through the UK Film Council and the film industry through the Skills Investment Fund; the TV Freelance Fund, made up of contributions from all UK broadcasters and the independent television production sector; and Film London through the London Development Agency.
For more information on how to apply please visit: www.skillset.org/film
3. Skillset appoints industry figure to lead new skills strategy
Estelle Hughes is working with Skillset and its Animation Forum to write a new strategy and action plan outlining the skills issues within the animation sector and the solutions needed to address them. Ms Hughes, a leading industry figure with over 15 years experience including Deputy Head of Acquisitions and Animation at CBBC and most recently Controller of CITV, will begin by hosting a series of workshops across the UK to consult with the industry.
Estelle Hughes said: "Skillset and I want the strategy to reflect what the whole industry really needs and wants. The UK wide workshops are open to anyone connected with animation and I hope a diverse range of people from the industry take advantage of this opportunity to join in the discussion. The more input we have the more successful a plan of action we'll bring together."
The workshops will be taking place in six cities throughout the UK from January to March. For further details or to book a place please email chrisc@skillset.org or visit www.skillset.org/animation
The strategy will become part of Skillset's Sector Skills Agreement (SSA) which already covers the film, television, interactive media and computer games sectors. SSA's outlines the skills challenges facing the sectors and what action is needed to address them. This industry-led approach to tackling the skills agenda was endorsed by the recently published Leitch Review of skills, commissioned by the Treasury, which recommended to Government that Skillset and other Sector Skills Councils be given more influence and resources.
4. Government funding package clears obstacles to staff training
Local businesses stand to gain up to £165,000 a year trough a national training programme which provides FREE consultancy, funding support and a contribution to wage costs.
Business Link recently launched the Train to Gain service which provides impartial advice to businesses. The service helps to identify staff training needs, and matches employers to potential funding sources with the aim of helping employers choose the best way to pay for training and how to get the best value for money from their investment.
Business Link advisers will provide impartial assistance in identifying the best potential training companies for clients' specific requirements. Train to Gain also includes a contribution to wage costs for companies with fewer than 50 full time employees.
Alison Bradley, a regional manager says, ' Improving staff skills in critical business areas has a direct effect on a business' bottom line. Improved customer service skills for example, leads directly to increased sales and customer loyalty. An effective training programme improves staff retention by increasing their motivation and job satisfaction.'
The LSC-funded initiative helps companies to overcome the key barriers to workforce development, such as the cost associated with people taking time off work to study adn learn. Business Link provide practical solutions to problems such as these, ensuring that the company's training programme is tailored to meet their needs and schedules exactly.
Businesses with two to 5,000 employees are eligible to apply for this service.
Alison says, 'Skills shortages in businesses today, threaten productivity and reduce competiveness. According to a National Audit Office report, skills gaps cost £10 billion in lost revenue every year. That’s the equivalent of £165,000 for a typical business with 50 employees. The Train to Gain programme is aimed at helping businesses to ensure that their staff have the right skills to do their work effectively. This will ultimately contribute to the growth and the development of any organisation employing them.'
For details on Business Links new Train to Gain Programme, please contact 0845 833 7000
5. Train to Gain- Helping you business get the training it needs to succeed
Train to Gain gives your business a completely impartial, FREE and independent skills needs analysis to identify what skills your business needs now and in the future.
How do you make sure your staff have the right skills to do the best job?
This is one of the key challenges for businesses today when skills shortages threaten productivity, reduce competitiveness and demotivate staff.
Everyone recognises the value of training in overcoming skills shortages but, when it comes to your business, how do you make sure you choose the right training and support for your business at the right place.
Train to Gain is a service to help your business get the training it needs to succeed. It can improve your productivity and competitiveness by making sure your staff have the right skills to do the job.
Effective training brings:
- increased productivity
- increased competitiveness
- greater staff satisfaction and motivation leading to improved staff retention
You will Work closely with a highly experienced Train to Gain Skills Broker, you can then provide quality, affordable training for your employees. Together you can quickly:
- Identify the skills your business needs
- Pinpoint the right training
- Agree a tailored training package
- Find available funding
- Review the progress you're making
To contact a Skills Broker in your area please call 08000 15 55 45.
Find out more at www.traintogain.gov.uk
6. Business Link - FREE advice and training
Business Link West Yorkshire offers a wide range of FREE information, advice and training for pre-start up and established businesses.
In order to provide events that are more specific to clients, we will now be producing two separate Events Guides every quarter; Events Guides for Pre-start and Start Up businesses i.e. from 0-12 months and Events Guides for Established Businesses i.e. trading from 12 months or more.
The FREE Training courses include:
- Business Planning
- Finance
- HR and Legal
- International Trade
- IT
- Marketing and Sales
- Networking
- Social Enterprise
- Book Keeping
- Fast Track
- An Introduction to Social Enterprise
- Starting in Business
- Is Self Employment right for you?
Please visit http://www.blwy.co.uk/newsite/events/index.php
If you would like copies or require further information, please contact the Business Gateway on 0845 833 6000.
News in brief