North East's next generation of entrepreneurs get a head start

14/03/2007

"Taking part in Insight Out has been hugely valuable and I move forward with the support, capital and determination to succeed."

Ten creative industries graduates took part in Insight Out North East, part of a nationwide initiative designed to help promising entrepreneurs set up businesses across the creative spectrum. At the end of the seven week training programme on Friday, the graduates pitched for financial support.

The successful candidates included Jeremiah Alexander, who received £5,000 for his company, Babel Digital, which aims to use innovative computer games as educational tools; and Stuart Varrall of Fluid Pixel Studios, who received £5,000 to continue developing new content for mobile phone using Adobe Flash Lite.

Other awards were as follows:

• £1,000 to Rachel Powell for her distinctive, tailored womenswear designed with organic fabrics and manufactured in the North East;
• £2,000 to Desiree Hope of Inspired Glass who uses an innovative technique to make glassware objects in a studio space at the National Glass Centre in Sunderland;
• £2,000 to Jessamy Kelly - one half of glassware design duo, 'Juo', who use an innovative fusing technique to create tableware and design objects.

The panel of Dragons included Janice Webster, the Director of DigitalCity, which was jointly responsible for Insight Out North East; Catherine Kearney, Enterprise Manager, University of Teesside; Claire Arbon, Consultancy Support Officer, University of Teesside; and Mark Elliott, Business Support Manager at NESTA.

All 10 participants in Insight Out benefited from seven weeks of training, which saw them assess their ideas in terms of their target audience and the relationships they need to build in order to make their business happen; the steps they need to take to bring the idea to market; and the level of success the business could be expected to enjoy.

Jeremiah Alexander said:

"It's exciting to have been awarded the £5,000 and received validation for my business concept from the judges. Taking part in Insight Out has been hugely valuable and I move forward with the support, capital and determination to succeed."

Helen Gresty, Executive Director of Innovation Programmes at NESTA commented:

"We saw some excellent ideas come through Insight Out North East this year and I am in no doubt that, armed with the business skills and networks the programme provides, these individuals will go on to run creative businesses that have much to offer to their local economies and the UK as a whole."

Anyone who'd like to find out about the next Insight Out programme and programmes in other regions - should register their interest at: www.nesta.org.uk/programmes/insight_out/getting_involved.aspx

NESTA spokespeople and some of the participants are available for comment and interview, so please contact our press office on 020 74382608.

NESTA
NESTA is the National Endowment for Science, Technology & the Arts. With endowed funds of over £300 million, our mission is to transform the UK's capacity for innovation. We do this in three main ways: by working to build a more pervasive culture of innovation in this country; by providing innovators with access to early stage capital; and by driving forward research into innovation, with a view to influencing policy.