Category archive for: Support

BCU have revamped their Media Talent Bank. Probably simpler if I just repost the press release.

With finding work becoming more important than ever, Birmingham City University’s Media Content Lab have recently re-launched Media Talent Bank, a supportive new website to help businesses in the creative industries source talent and freelancers to find work.

The freshly revamped website allows businesses and creatives to upload a profile, CV and portfolio onto an online directory which can easily be browsed by potential employers or collaborators. This intuitive search is accompanied by a dedicated ‘Jobs’ page with sector-specific job feeds and an ‘Out There’ page, featuring work opportunities posted to info@mediatalentbank.com.

“Media Talent Bank has been designed to help break-down some of the barriers to the creative and media industries,” says administrator David Allen. “Although run from Birmingham, the site acts as a platform for creative workers from across the UK to actively promote themselves, as well as allowing businesses both within and outside the sector to efficiently find skilled freelancers to work with.”

In addition, the site is currently on the look-out for creative industry professionals interested in contributing to the Media Talent Bank blog. Those interested in becoming a voluntary blogger should contact info@mediatalentbank.com.

“Whether looking for work in the creative industries, searching for people to collaborate with, or on the hunt for the best professionals to employ in your local area, Media Talent Bank will form an essential online tool for the creative industries,” says David.

Lots and lots of stuff came out of 4ip last weekend when the fund was officially launched at Hello Digital and keeping track of it all has been a bit of a nightmare. What’s beyond dispute is that there are many opportunities for creative and digital businesses here, many of which are or will be based in the Custard Factory quarter (hence why the Hello World after party took place at Fazeley Studios) so keeping tabs on what’s going on is essential.

Thankfully, as well as the 4ip blog a new social network has been created for the West Midlands: Who Needs The Sea.

It’s run on the Ning platform so it has all the features you’d expect (and is free, should you like it and want to set up your own) and while it doesn’t want to replace any networks out there it should compliment the more distributed conversations happening rather well. Nice one.

(Of interest: Tom @ Substrakt’s notes from the 4ip launch.)

A couple of weeks ago Dave Peebles and myself were at a brainstorming meeting chaired by Lara Ratnaraja of Business link about the possibility of developing a “Creative Marketplace” in the region. It’s still very much in the consultation / planning stage and they’re doing a survey. If you’re working here it’s probably in your interests to get your opinions else it turn into a government funded turkey.

Here’s the blurb:

The East Birmingham & North Solihull Regeneration Zone (ebns Ltd) with our funders Advantage West Midlands have been investing in the development of Digbeth and Eastside as a Learning and Leisure Quarter and a centre for the creative industries, particularly the digital media sector. We have worked with a range of partners including Birmingham City Council, the Custard Factory, the Bond, Vivid, Groundwork, the Learning & Skills Council and others to develop a range of projects, create new workspace and provide new learning opportunities.

One of the project ideas now under discussion is the establishment of a Creative Marketplace, and we would like your input to help decide whether there is the demand for this, and if so what it should be. We therefore want to take this opportunity to canvass your views. We would welcome your responses to the following questions.

And here’s the survey.

If, like me, you hate filling out these things (though it is a very short survey, to be fair), feel free to blog your ideas and link to them in the comments here.