Creative businesses selected for Nesta's mentoring programme

25 businesses from across the creative industries have been selected to join Nesta's Creative Business Mentor Network, which is now in its third year. The businesses from film, TV, advertising, digital media and gaming sectors will receive one-to-one mentoring from leading industry mentors over the next six-12 months. 

The Creative Business Mentor Network is designed to nurture the UK's most exciting creative businesses with an appetite for growth. From helping improve business and financial planning to identifying new markets and encouraging better communication, the mentors will work together with the individual businesses on the specific needs of their organisation.

Companies:

• Star dot Star
• Hurricane Films
• Screenburn
• Brandwave Marketing
• The Connected Set
• The Operators
• Do Tank Studios
• Fold 7
• The Skinny
• Tern TV
• The House London
• This is Paper
• Less Rain
• Shoot Media
• Cwmni Da
• Angel Eye
• Icon Films
• Switch
• Obergine
• Caper
• Oliver's Island
• Playniac
• Onimobi
• Catalyst Outsouring
• Legendary Games

Lambros Atteshlis from Glasshead, which in year one of the programme received mentoring from Alex Graham, Wall to Wall, says: "Being part of the Creative Business Mentor Network had a huge impact on our company. Our mentor, Alex Graham, helped us with setting targets, company structure and financial matters, getting new business and planning our way through what has become a serious financial situation for the whole country. We are now much better placed to deal with the economic downturn.

"Nesta helped hugely with advice and support and I can honestly say that this was by far the most important and influential business programme I've ever attended. It was focused, influential and fun. I've come out of it feeling much more informed about how to deal with the challenges ahead. I wish this programme had existed 15 years ago!"

A poll for Nesta showed that two thirds (66 per cent) of the creative industry's leaders recognise mentoring as a way of helping them deal with the business challenges they face; 42 per cent said they would like to work with a mentor and 25 per cent said they have worked with a mentor before - over half of which would like to again.

The poll also found that 59 per cent of creative executives say they excel at idea generation - but just 20 pent at business and financial forecasting.

Alex Connock, director of new business at Shine UK and mentor for the programme, commented, "Everyone agrees, from Treasury officials in Whitehall, to the everyday people in the queue outside Greggs that creative businesses are going to be one of the keys to us getting out of recession and staying competitive in this murderous global economy.

And each creative endeavour has its own unique set of utopian ambitions and fiendish challenges.

"Having been part of creative businesses myself, I know that a mentor or chairman can play a key role in helping a company deal with those growth pains, and help structure its proposition. Frankly it is often easier to spot opportunities and threats from the outside, than if you are the person immersed in the day-to-day of a business challenge. Nesta is doing great work with this programme and I have myself learned a lot from participating."

There is no charge for participants to join the Creative Business Mentor Network. The programme includes:

• One-to-one business mentoring in the form of ten, two-hour sessions over a 6-12 month period
• An induction workshop at the start of the programme to help mentees get the most out of their mentoring sessions
• Workshops and events designed to meet other members of  the Network
• Coaching support - in addition to mentoring support mentees will have access to an executive coach

Jon Kingsbury, director of Nesta's creative economy programmes, said, "The mentors are passionate about the creative sector and volunteer their time as a way of giving something back. They share practical advice on overcoming the challenges of running a creative business and have helped a variety of creative companies build business success.

"Over the next year, the mentors will work with the successful businesses to provide an outside view and guidance on taking an idea or issue and turning into a success. Mentoring can make a real impact on a business and its future triumphs."

The Creative Business Mentor Network is run by Nesta in partnership with PACT, IPA, UKIE, Hospital Club and Skillset.The programme will reopen for applications in spring 2013. For more information or to please register interest for 2013 please visit www.nesta.org.uk/cbmn.

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Notes to Editor

• For media information, please contact Sarah Reardon or Guy Bilgorri 020 7438 2606 / 2611 or email sarah.reardon@nesta.org.uk /guy.bilgorri@nesta.org.uk
• The independent industry survey was undertaken by Opinion Matters in August 2012. 100 creative industry executives were interviewed from the advertising, digital, film, gaming and TV industries.
• The Creative Business Mentor Network will include ten, two hour sessions over the course of 6 - 12 months as well as networking and in-house support from Nesta.

About Nesta

Nesta is the UK's innovation foundation. We help people and organisations bring great ideas to life. We do this by providing investments and grants and mobilising research, networks and skills. We are an independent charity and our work is enabled by an endowment from the National Lottery.

Nesta Operating Company is a registered charity in England and Wales with a company number 7706036 and charity number 1144091. Registered as a charity in Scotland number SC042833. Registered office: 1 Plough Place, London, EC4A 1DE

www.nesta.org.uk