Bristol Media’s Chair, Chris Thurling, has just arrived back from Austin, Texas where he’s been attending SXSW 2019 – the world’s largest annual celebration of the interactive industries. On Tuesday 19 March, Chris will be joined by Ann Hiatt (former Amazon and Google Chief of Staff, SXSW speaker and one of our Keynote speakers last year) for a ‘hot off the press’ lunchtime digest to share their highlights and latest trends emerging from this year’s festival.
Following the 40-minute talk, there’ll be an opportunity to ask questions in a 20-minute Q&A.
The talk starts at 12.30pm on Tuesday 19th March at Zone, The Brew House, Tower Hill, Bristol BS2 0EQ. There’s a small fee of £10+VAT for Bristol Media members (£15+VAT for non-members), light refreshments will be provided.
We have very few places remaining for the talk so book now!
Bristol Media has appointed Kirsty Phillips as Marketing, Events and Operations Manager, bringing a wealth of client service and marketing communications expertise to the South West based creative industries membership organisation.
About Kirsty’s role
A newly-created full time post, Kirsty will be charged with delivering an exciting programme of events for members, developing marketing communications activities to support membership and managing Bristol Media’s day to day operations. A large part of her role is to champion members outside of the city, raising the profile of Bristol’s creative industries above and beyond the South West.
With a background in client services and over 12 years’ experience working for agencies in the South West as well as internationally, Kirsty has worked with brands including the National Trust, GSK, American Express and McDonald’s, planning and delivering direct marketing, events and branding projects.
Chris Thurling, Bristol Media’s Chair, commented: “Kirsty will be a great addition to the team. She has a breadth of experience that will really help drive our activities, support important collaborations between our members and continue to drive creativity, innovation and the fame of the region across the South West and importantly beyond.
Kirsty added: “Living in Bristol I know just how thriving a city it is and the huge potential it offers. I’m really excited to be joining an organisation committed to raising the profile of a sector that I’m passionate about and am looking forward to helping Bristol Media grow from strength to strength.”
Contact Kirsty
Kirsty is based at the new Origin Workspace on Berkeley Square and is interested in hearing from potential speakers and companies who would like to get involved in Bristol Media’s plans for the year ahead. Contact [email protected].
Today is International Women’s Day, an annual day dedicated to celebrating the achievements of women all over the world. To raise awareness against gender-based bias, the theme this year is #BalanceforBetter.
While it may seem like a balanced world at times, with female prime ministers and CEO’s, the truth is women are often under-represented in business and their achievements can go unnoticed. At Bristol Media, we recognise the integral work women do within the creative industries in Bristol and feel it is important to celebrate and show our support. Fortunately for us, we have some inspiring women on our board of directors who want to highlight what International Women’s Day means to them.
For Kate Gorringe, Bristol Media Director and Creative Director at Mr B & Friends it’s about raising women up in opportunity and confidence to achieve the success they deserve:
“Not long ago I met a design director who quizzed me on how to make the leap from senior creative to creative director. I was taken aback that the more I talked to her about ‘putting yourself out there,’ the more she tried to talk herself out of it – ‘What if I can’t do the job?’ This just throws a spotlight on how we habitually doubt our own abilities. Thing is, she almost certainly can do the job already, she’s probably been doing it for years, but she’s shrinking back when we know the guys are pushing themselves forward, even if they’re less experienced.
“If there’s one thing I want women on this day to do, it’s apply for that job. You won’t be able to do everything on the job spec, you won’t get every question right in the interview – but guess what, neither will the men. Let’s redress the imbalance – apply for that job, we are all routing for you.”
Roberta Fuke, Bristol Media Director and CEO of Speed Communications adds: “Balance in all things just makes sense. And gender balance in business makes perfect sense. So why are women so under-represented and under-rewarded so often? Empowering, encouraging and enabling women to both effectively contribute to and benefit from their contributions, is not only good business practice, but critical to shaping a balanced and better world. Making gender balance a matter of fact rather than a matter of ambition must be the goal. I’m delighted to support #IWD2019 and #BalanceforBetter.”
Lis Anderson, Bristol Media Board Director and Director of AMBITIOUS PR: “Promoting gender balance in our business is something that we discuss openly and importantly act upon. The industry is changing, and we support that. At home, one of the challenges / opportunities I think about often is being a mother of a young son. I will never know what it’s like to walk in his shoes, as he’ll never understand what it’s like to walk in mine, but I take responsibility in my role as mum and a woman in helping him experience balance and hopefully playing some role in equipping him for his future.”
It’s not just the females on the board who are working towards achieving a better balance. Chris Thurling, Bristol Media Chair and Executive Chairman of Armadillo CRM, says “I have two daughters and don’t like the idea of them experiencing a gender-biased society. Women need to have the same opportunities as their male counterparts and I will support them at every step, so I pledge to celebrate women’s achievements, not just on International Women’s Day but in the future, too.”
What does International Women’s Day mean to you? Are you or your business promoting a balanced workplace? If so, we’d love to hear how! Connect with us on Twitter @Bristol_Media.
[Image: Roberta Fuke (top left), Kate Gorringe, Chris Thurling (bottom left) and Paul Appleby, Directors of Bristol Media]
According to Business West’s Business Skills and Training Survey 2017, 64.9% of businesses in the West of England have never hired an apprentice, with lack of time cited as the main reason.
Yet with 96% of companies who take on an apprentice reporting benefits to their business (National Apprenticeship Service), organisations who do not consider this option when hiring or developing staff could be missing out.
Read on to find out more about some of the key benefits to employers of hiring an apprentice:
Increased Productivity
An astonishing 72% of businesses report improved productivity as a result of employing an apprentice, according to the National Apprenticeship Service. Having an extra pair of hands on the team means more tasks can get completed and you may even have time to explore projects or carry out research that you would not have previously been able to do. Although there can be time spent assisting an apprentice, the increased overall productivity can outweigh this.
Increased Revenue
On the back of this, increased productivity usually means an upturn in revenue and profit. The National Apprenticeship Service claims that the average person completing an apprenticeship increases productivity by £214 per week, so what’s not to like about that?
Lower Staff Turnover
Apprentices are often loyal to the company in which they gained their training and qualifications, with The National Apprenticeship Service reporting that 71% stay with the same employers once they finish their apprenticeship. They recognise that you have invested time and money into training them up in a particular skill, and at the same time will feel integrated into your organisation so will repay that with loyalty, resulting in a lower staff turnover and in turn, less money spent on recruitment.
Fix Skills Gaps
Taking on an apprentice within your company means that you can teach them the specific skills you need as a business. Working with a training provider, you can also use apprenticeships to upskill your existing staff where you feel it is needed most, so whilst technology advances and different skills are needed, you can protect your company from skills gaps that could have a negative impact in the long run.
Revitalise Your Business
Apprentices often come into an organisation with a fresh perspective, as well as bags of enthusiasm and energy. This can have a positive effect on your existing staff too, who may enjoy having someone with new ideas join the team. A positive workforce are more likely to perform better as well, so really it’s a win-win for you.
Build Your Brand
Apprenticeships are big news and are becoming a more popular recruitment method across all industries. Any organisation that has an apprenticeship scheme is likely to be seen as a business that is forward thinking and likes to invest in their staff, and that is attractive to anyone, whether they’re looking for a new role, or great company to work.
Apprenticeships can benefit any size of business, whether you’re a large corporate, SME or start up. Need more advice and information on where to start? Why not get in touch with the Skills Team at Business West who can let you know the best next steps to take. You can email them or call 0330 124 4446.
Bristol Media Chair, Chris Thurling, is heading off to Austin, Texas this week to attend the world’s largest annual celebration of the interactive industries – SXSW 2019. Whilst at the festival, Chris plans to meet up with Ann Hiatt, former Amazon and Google Chief of Staff and one of the contacts he made at SXSW last year.
Chris has a packed schedule of keynotes, workshops and networking opportunities over the course of the 5-day digital festival and will be joined by Marissa Lewis-Peart, winner of 2018’s Ben Martin Apprentice Award (BMAA). Dubbed as the “premier destination for discovery,” Chris and Marissa will hear the latest news and trends from the world’s leading tech and creative companies at SXSW.
As a seasoned SXSW’er, Chris will be on a mission to make new connections for Bristol Media, as well as absorb all that the event has to offer. Chris and Marissa will be live-tweeting during the event, so follow us on Twitter @Bristol_Media #BristolSXSW to receive the latest updates.
Ann has kindly agreed to come back to Bristol after the festival to join Chris in a ‘hot off the press’ lunchtime digest on 19th March. They’ll share their thoughts and experiences from SXSW plus a roundup of highlights and insights into the latest trends from the festival. Following the talk, there’ll be an opportunity to ask questions in a 20-minute Q&A.
The talk starts at 12.30pm on Tuesday 19th March at Zone, The Brew House, Tower Hill, Bristol BS2 0EQ. There’s a small fee of £10+VAT for Bristol Media members (£15+VAT for non-members), light refreshments will be provided.
Places are very limited so book asap via Eventbrite!
Following the success of our first workshop with Abbas Media Law, we’re delighted to offer a second workshop specifically for Bristol’s TV & Film community in partnership with the RTS.
Hosted by Nigel Abbas this workshop will, in an interesting and accessible way, discuss the key areas of copyright in TV production that Production Managers need to be aware of.
The session will cover the following:
If you have a burning copyright question this is also your chance to grill Nigel who is one of the most experienced TV media lawyers in the country.
This workshop will take place at The Square Club from 3.30-5.30pm on Tuesday 14th May. The ticket price is £30+VAT for Bristol Media, RTS and Square Club members, otherwise £45+VAT.
Booking is via Eventbrite
About Abbas Media Law
Founded by Nigel Abbas, Abbas Media Law is a specialist niche law firm working principally in the television, film, advertising and publishing industries. We are experts in all aspects of the law and regulation affecting these sectors and advise many of the UK’s leading broadcasters, independent production companies and other content producers.
With particular expertise in television and film, we have advised on thousands of hours of programmes and films over the last two decades, across all genres, from comedy and light entertainment to the most legally complex undercover investigations.
Our lawyers and advisors have worked ‘in-house’ in the past at major UK broadcasters, and advised a wide range of independent production companies and other content producers over many years. We have a clear understanding of the editorial process and how production works. This means that we fully understand the needs of our clients.
We are specialists on all aspects of UK law and regulation affecting the television, film, advertising and publishing industries. We advise before publication and broadcast, working with creatives to minimise legal and regulatory risk, and following publication and broadcast, defending content when it and its producers come under attack. We work day-to-day with many of the country’s leading creative content producers. We are known to all the major media insurers and regularly advise on content for media insurance (E&O) purposes.
To find out more about Nigel Abbas, Abbas Media Law and the services offered, visit www.abbasmedialaw.com
Rebecca Steer runs Steer & Co, a small law firm specialising in the creative and tech sectors. Over the last few years Rebecca has run numerous successful workshops for Bristol Media members. This particular workshop is a must attend for Digital Agencies and developers who are involved in pitching for and delivering digital development and services projects. It will cover the traditional development models of agile and waterfall from a legal and commercial perspective and give helpful hints to ensure your pitch and associated contract negotiations are successful and minimise project risks.
The session will also cover other legal considerations around using consultants, freelancers and third party/open source software in your projects and is brought to you by award-winning lawyer, Rebecca Steer, who specialises in IP, IT and media law.
Who should attend?
Aimed at executives at Digital Agencies and individual developers who are involved in pitching for and delivering digital projects and who are responsible for the contractual aspects of projects.
The workshop will cover:
This workshop takes place at The Square Club from 4-6pm on Monday 4th March and costs £30.00+VAT for members and £50.00+VAT for non members.
Booking is via Eventbrite
Rebecca’s sessions are always very popular so book early to avoid disappointment!
Anyone working in the media will relate to the difficulty of selling something that’s intangible. Selling potatoes is easier than selling emotions. The buyer can feel it before they buy it.
Spark Films recently relocated to Bristol, and sought the help of some Bristol Media colleagues to help solve this problem.
Our stated company mission is to make ‘films to believe in’ to drive customer confidence and sales, essentially by making the brand the hero of an inspiring story. Well, that’s easy to say, but what does ‘a film to believe in’ actually look and sound like?
We teamed up with local sound wizards Ben Mason and Ruth Rainey at We Are Audio, and the super-talented Bristol based composer Jim Cornick, to try to capture what we think makes a good story- something authentic, beautiful and meaningful that connects with our hearts and our brains.
Here we present 5 heroes, each on a very different mission, in 2 minutes flat.
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More InformationIf you like what you see (and hear), our small team of video and audio experts are ready to help you make a film your clients can believe in too.
In partnership with the RTS, we’re delighted to offer this legal workshop specifically for people working in Bristol’s thriving TV & Film sector.
Using clips and practical examples this talk from Abbas Media Law looks at the contractual, legal and regulatory issues that can crop up in access docs, including data protection, defamation and top tips for drafting access agreements. The talk will be invaluable for anyone involved in filming with organisations such as the emergency services, hospitals, prisons, bailiffs, RSPCA, schools, corporations and airports.
Issues will be brought to life through a number of thorny questions such as “the police want my rushes can I refuse?”, “what clauses go in an access agreement?”, “how do I obtain CCTV footage from the police?” and “can I feature a contributor in a programme if they withdraw consent?”.
If you have a burning access question this is also your chance to grill the Abbas Media Law legal team who regularly advise on access docs and are some of the most experienced television content lawyers in the country.
This workshop will take place at The Square Club from 3.30-5.30pm on Tuesday 26th February. The ticket price is £30+VAT for Bristol Media, RTS and Square Club members, otherwise £45+VAT.
Booking is via Eventbrite
About Abbas Media Law
Founded by Nigel Abbas, Abbas Media Law is a specialist niche law firm working principally in the television, film, advertising and publishing industries. We are experts in all aspects of the law and regulation affecting these sectors and advise many of the UK’s leading broadcasters, independent production companies and other content producers.
With particular expertise in television and film, we have advised on thousands of hours of programmes and films over the last two decades, across all genres, from comedy and light entertainment to the most legally complex undercover investigations.
Our lawyers and advisors have worked ‘in-house’ in the past at major UK broadcasters, and advised a wide range of independent production companies and other content producers over many years. We have a clear understanding of the editorial process and how production works. This means that we fully understand the needs of our clients.
We are specialists on all aspects of UK law and regulation affecting the television, film, advertising and publishing industries. We advise before publication and broadcast, working with creatives to minimise legal and regulatory risk, and following publication and broadcast, defending content when it and its producers come under attack. We work day-to-day with many of the country’s leading creative content producers. We are known to all the major media insurers and regularly advise on content for media insurance (E&O) purposes.
To help ensure 2019 is your best year yet, we’ve teamed up with The Wow Company to give you the opportunity to benchmark your agency against your peers.
By taking part in this short survey you’ll be able to benchmark your performance against agencies across the country on stats like growth rate, profitability, new business success and how you spend your time.
You’ll also be able to see how agencies in the South West compare to those across the country.
The results are published in March and everyone that takes part will receive a free copy. We can’t wait to see all the interesting stats.
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