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Surviving The Downturn

Are you being affected by the downturn? Need some practical advice? For those of you who need some extra support, we've put together a range of ideas and contacts. Read on...

HELP FOR COMPANIES

Practical help

  • Real Help for small businesses: Access information about support quickly and easily through Business Link's Real Help Now pages. For information on finance schemes and initial diagnosis of eligibility click here.
  • European Funding: For the latest on extra funding for indies, including some limited funding for development, click here.
  • Accessing New Markets 1: You can get help from UK Trade and Investment to get your products to international markets and festivals, particularly through their Passport to Export Scheme. Click here for details . It's hard work, but putting together a roster of co-production money and strong international contacts to make your production a reality can pay off.
  • Accessing New Markets 2: South West Screen is offering two UKT&I sponsored trips to Annecy International Animation Festival (June 09) - details coming soon. 
  • Support from your Cluster: Your local creative media cluster group will be able to offer the best local advice and contacts. Click here to find your local cluster to find out what events they are holding to help you beat the downturn. 
  • Brave Enterprise: This not for profit organisation has helped thousands of entrepreneurs start and run successful and profitable businesses in Bristol. Click here or call 0117 9445330.

Recession-beating Ideas

  • Maximise Your Rights: Learn to exploit your existing rights by talking to distributors; look at your back catalogue to find buried treasure; think about possible online/multiplatform uses for your work. To see more advice about exploiting your rights click here.
  • Find New Funders: Try to think about funding outside of the norm: can you get corporate sponsorship or would an NGO be interested in funding your idea?
  • Keep Selling: The classic mistake creative companies make is to stop selling while they're focused on producing something new. Make sure you keep pitching, closing and getting contracts signed to ensure your business survives. Employ someone else to get the production done. It's less fun, but you'll end up with a strong business once the downturn ends.
  • Be Business Minded: This is a business, so make sure you've got a business plan! Set yourself targets, keep your accounts / VAT up to date and watch your cash flow. 
  • Team Up: Got a great idea with fantastic access but can't get it commissioned because you lack the expertise? Don't be afraid to team up with a fellow company who might have complementary skills to your own. Your local cluster may be able to advise you about this on a case by case basis. 

Essential Reading

  • Surviving the Recession: thousands of people have already downloaded notes from Bristol Media's guide for creative companies - you can read it here.
  • How Indies Can Survive: Eight top tips from the Survivor Indie seminar at Realscreen on how independent TV production companies can weather the storm - download it here.
  • Brainfood for the Creative Industries: NESTA has produced a useful paper Attacking the Recession: How Innovation Can Fight the Downturn. Download it here.
  • Research and Industry Awareness: During a recession it's more important than ever to keep on top of what's in the trade press and what your competitors are doing so you can spot opportunities and respond proactively. Try the following websites: www.broadcastnow.co.uk; www.newmediaage.co.uk; www.screeninternational.com; www.imagineanimation.net.

SOUTH WEST SCREEN TRAINING

Over the coming months, we will be offering an integrated programme of training activities to help support the region's creative media companies and freelancers through uncertain economic times. With the distinct needs of creative teams and the south west region in mind, we'll focus on helping you to identify and achieve new ways of working, and manage change within your organization. This will include:

  • Creative Mentors Bank: We're in the process of establishing a creative mentors bank, linking you with high-level expertise from national and international creative industries. The Bank will offer one-to-one guidance on all elements in the lifecycle of a growing creative business. In particular we'll be looking at finding new markets and international trade; forging partnerships and collaborations; making structural and directional change.
  • Seminar Series: Giving you access to key industry practitioners, this series of seminars will allow you to hear first-hand how major players are tackling key issues facing the management and leadership of creative companies.
  • Intensive Workshops: Helping you get the most from South West Screen's business support activities, such as international trade visits and events, we'll be running intensive workshops to make sure you're prepared for the opportunities ahead.
  • Professional Development: Turning your training into qualifications. South West Screen had validated a suite of short courses with Bath Spa University, to be delivered by industry professionals and offered exclusively to experienced creative media practitioners. The first course 'Managing Creative Teams' will run in May and could lead you to a Diploma in Professional Creative Media Practice. We are also working with the Skillset Film and Media Academies to deliver post-graduate short courses later in the year.

For more information on our training, please click here.

OTHER HELP WITH TRAINING or RETRAINING

  • Skillset: get your training funded. Skillset may be able to support you by offering bursaries towards the cost of training and through subsidising training courses to reduce the course fees. In addition, Skillset Careers offers a wealth of specialist careers information, advice and guidance service for the creative media industries.
  • Train Your Staff: The Train to Gain service, delivered by the Learning and Skills Council, offers employers of all sizes the chance to improve the skills of their employees. The service will help you access high-quality vocational skills training and you can get up to 100% funding for training in the workplace. Click here to find out more.
  • Need a career change? There are retraining resources out there for you - look at www.careershifters.org or www.acareerchange.co.uk; read Po Bronson's What Should I Do With My Life? (Vintage). 
  • City of Bristol College: Free two week Employability Course in Retail, Care and Hospitality + help securing interviews and on the job training. Click here or call  0117 312 5354
  • Short Courses: The Learning Communities Team provide FREE, short informal courses in community venues across the city. Click here or call 0117 9039750

HELP WITH REDUNDANCY / INSOLVENCY

Surviving The Downturn