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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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