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Funding news -
12/05/2010
Birmingham “Best For
Business Start-Ups”
An influential study has named Birmingham as “the most successful city in Europe for promoting
new business start-ups and entrepreneurship”.
The city was judged the top location in the “promotion” category of the third annual European
Cities Entrepreneurship Ranking, an assessment of the business support environment on offer across
37 major cities.
Birmingham was said to have done well in developing skills among potential and recent business
creators, as well as creating an environment within which new businesses could prosper.
Mike Whitby, leader of Birmingham City Council, said:
“This is an award for us collectively across the city and reflects the formidable effort which
the Council and its partners have put into first understanding and then supporting the individual
needs of small businesses in our city.
“I would like to thank all of those involved in promoting and supporting entrepreneurship in the
city for their efforts, and pledge to continue to support this sector of our economy, which
provides the real lifeblood on which our economic stability and future growth must be built.”
Amongst the recent initiatives introduced by the City Council to promote start-up enterprise are
their Business Insight training and support service, the Entrepreneurship of the Future scheme, and
the Loans for Birmingham SMEs programme.
Birmingham came 25th in the overall rankings, which were topped by Frankfurt, followed by Malmo,
Warsaw, Hamburg and Berlin.
Manchester and London were 32nd and 33rd respectively.
Funding news - 05/05/2010
West Midlands Film Fund
Reopens
The 2010-11 application round of Screen West Midlands’ Investment Fund has opened to
applications.
The scheme aims to promote a “vibrant and sustainable film sector” across the region and can
support individual artists or film-related organisations.
Due to a cut in Lottery funding provided to all regional film agencies from the UK Film
Council, Screen West Midlands anticipates it will support fewer projects than in previous
years.
Funding will be targeted in particular at projects that fall under one of the following
themes:
- Film and media education hubs - support for up to four
organisations which have a proven track record in delivering high quality annual programmes
of formal and informal education activity that encourages public participation and
understanding of the film industry. Successful organisations will act as sub regional
'hubs' for film and media education activity and serve as examples of best practice.
- Film festivals - support for organisations that have a proven
track record of delivering high quality, well programmed and marketed public screening
events which lead to an increased and more diverse audience for film throughout the
region.
- Film script development - developing promising feature film
scripts from emerging writing talent with a track record in screenwriting or an associated
discipline (with or without a producer attached).
- Regional film industry support networks - support emerging and
established film sector-specific support networks to help deliver a thriving, vibrant and
sustainable West Midlands film scene.
Expressions of interest must be made by 25 May. Shortlisted applicants will
be invited to complete a more in-depth proposal by 6 July, with the successful organisations
expected to be revealed later that month.
For further information about their Investment Fund, visit the Screen West Midlands website (opens a new window)
Source: Screen West Midlands, 04/05/2010
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