Bristol based PointZeroGroup has acquired world leading employee experience agency Home.
The acquisition sees Home join a growing network of employee communications and experience agencies in Bristol under the PointZeroGroup banner, further strengthening the city’s reputation as a hotbed for creative brilliance in this field.
The addition of Home to the PointZeroGroup adds employee experience to their service lines for the first time and strengthens their already burgeoning global client portfolio. All group clients now have access to a full suite of employee and candidate propositions.
PointZeroGroup now consist of Home (employee experience and internal comms), RewardPointZero (benefits communications), That Little Agency (social and digital), and BrandPointZero (employer brand). All group agencies are based in Bristol.
PointZeroGroup founder and BrandPointZero Managing Director Andy Bamford said,
“We have admired Home for a long time. Their work in employee experience and internal communications is second to none and a great addition to the PointZeroGroup. They have built an enviable group of experts that we’re now proud to call colleagues. We look forward to collaborating with the team at Home as we grow together in the coming months.”
Home will continue to operate from their office at Unicorn Park, Whitby Road.
In summer 2021 we ran an event discussing funding for creative businesses with the south west team at Innovate UK EDGE and a group of Bristol Creative Industries members.
During the discussion, attendees said it would be useful if we could provide regular updates on the finance schemes that are available for creative companies in the south west and beyond. This guide is our response.
The guide is one of Bristol Creative Industries’ most popular ever blog posts. We keep it updated with the latest funding schemes for creative businesses so check it regularly. We also include the post in our monthy email newsletter, BCI Bulletin. To sign up, go here.
The British Business Bank, the government-owned business development bank, has launched the £200m South West Investment Fund (SWIF) “to help address market failures by increasing the supply and diversity of early-stage finance for UK smaller businesses, providing funds to firms that might otherwise not receive investment”.
Aimed at businesses in Bristol, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire, the fund provides:
SWIF is managed by four fund managers:
The region is split as follows:
North of the region:
South of the region:
The funding is split as follows:
Businesses can apply for funding directly to the relevant fund managers here.
Bristol Council is offering grants of between £2,500 and £10,000 to organisations taking on a new city centre or local high street commercial property.
The funding is open to businesses, charities, CICs, sole traders and arts and culture groups for both long term and temporary/meanwhile use.
Organisations must employ fewer than 50 people, have a turnover of £10.2m or less, and a balance sheet showing £5.1m or less.
Funding can be used for structural works to a property or equipment to be used in the property (capital expenditure). The funding needs to be matched by 20%.
Applications are open until 11.59pm on Monday 30 September 2024.
Successful applicants must start trading from the funded property by Friday 31 January 2025.
UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £25m for “game-changing and commercially viable R&D innovations that can significantly impact the UK economy”.
Applications for the latest round of funding close at 11am on 23 October.
As part of a National Heritage Lottery-funded project on protest, Bristol museum M Shed has commissioned Curiosity UnLtd, run by Bristol Creative Industries board director Julian Davis, to lead the delivery of an artistic intervention to be displayed in its transatlantic traffic in enslaved Africans (TTEA) gallery.
The intervention will be co-produced with the support of six paid “Rebel Curators” from Bristol’s African Caribbean communities.
To be a Rebel Curator, apply here by midnight on Friday 13 September.
This £35m Creative UK and Triodos Bank investment fund provides loans of £100,000 to £1m.
Finance is directed to post-revenue creative businesses presenting promising growth potential and who:
Grants of £50,000 – £150,000 are available for UK registered small and medium sized enterprises with PAYE employees engaged in games development work in the UK.
Established UK-based companies with a game development project at an early stage in the pipeline can apply for grants of up to £30,000.
Applications are open for this government fund which supports rehearsal and recording studios, promoters, festivals, and venues for live and electronic music performance.
Grants of £1,000 and £40,000 are available for projects up to three years in length. The fund runs until March 2025.
This fund from Arts Council England supports individual cultural and creative practitioners in England thinking of taking their practice to the next stage through things such as: research, time to create new work, travel, training, developing ideas, networking or mentoring.
Grants of up to £12,000 are available.
The next round of funding opens for applications at12pm on 14 November 2024, and closes for applications at 12pm on 12 December 2024. Funding decisions will be announced on 6 March 2025.
Travelwest provides match-funded grants for initiatives that improve sustainable travel provision in a business.
The aim is to provide financial support and incentives to employers to enable them to encourage sustainable modes of commuting or in-work travel (including site visits and meetings) amongst their staff.
The grants can be used for the implementation of physical measures, promotional events or any other measure that will encourage mode change amongst staff.
Grants are currently availables for businesses in Bristol and North Somerset.
Innovate UK’s £100m BridgeAI programme aims “to help businesses in high growth potential sectors such as creative industries, agriculture, construction, and transport to harness the power of AI and unlock their full potential”.
The programme offers funding and support to help innovators assess and implement trusted AI solutions, connect with AI experts, and elevate their AI leadership skills.
This fund supports organisations who work at the intersection of art and social change. It offers grants between £90,000 and £300,000 over three years.
The fund is open for applications from 14 August until 14 October.
This new £23m social impact investment fund is for socially driven arts, culture and heritage organisations registered and operating in the UK. It offers loans between £150,000 and £1m repayable until May 2030.
The Elephant Trust says its mission is to “make it possible for artists and those presenting their work to undertake and complete projects when frustrated by lack of funds. It is committed to helping artists and art institutions/galleries that depart from the routine and signal new, distinct and imaginative sets of possibilities.”
Grants of up to £5,000 are available.
Grants of up to £100,000 are available for arts, libraries and museums projects.
The grants support a broad range of creative and cultural projects that benefit people living in England. Projects can range from directly creating and delivering creative and cultural activity to projects which have a longer term positive impact, such as organisational development, research and development, and sector support and development.
A Start Up Loan is a government-backed unsecured personal loan for individuals looking to start or grow a business in the UK. Successful applicants also receive 12 months of free mentoring and exclusive business offers.
All owners or partners in a business can individually apply for up to £25,000 each, with a maximum of £100,000 per business.
The loans have a fixed interest rate of 6% p.a. and a one to five year repayment term. Entrepreneurs starting a business or running one that has been trading for up to three years can apply. Businesses trading for between three and five years can apply for a second loan.
If you’re running a creative social enterprise you may be able to access funding from UnLtd.
Finance of up to £5,000 is available for starting a social enterprise and up to £15,000 for growing a social enterprise.
Successful applicants also get up to 12 tailored business support plus access to access to expert mentors and workshops.
Businesses can apply for up to £3,500 to cover the costs of installing gigabit broadband.
Check if the scheme is available in your area here.
If you know of another scheme that we haven’t listed and you’d like to share it with other creative businesses, email Dan to let us know.
You may have a website already, in which case, this article is for you, if you don’t have a website yet, kudos to you for doing some research ahead of time!
Sometimes decisions are solely based on budget alone and that’s okay, so sometimes, it’s great to be able to do things yourself before bringing in the professionals.
The website hacks we’re going to outline below won’t suddenly launch you to the very top of Google, nor suddenly land you thousands of sales. But they will contribute and will get you into the mindset of your audience.
So, get that coffee and let’s begin!
Think from your user’s perspective
This sounds like an obvious one but don’t scroll past this one, here us out. What are your users looking for when visiting your website? Is it your value? Your contact information? Your pricing?
When you get a phone call from a new prospect, what are they typically asking for? Can you find this information on your website?
You need to make sure that information is easy to find on your website and not hidden away – even if it’s content further down the page, you can still link them to it to speed their journey up.
If you’re paying less than £5 a month or less than £60 per year for your website’s hosting – you need to invest more if you want results.
Now, we’re not talking bank breaking amounts here. A good website hosting provider is essentially your website’s foundations. It’s a pointless exercise to invest in improving your website’s user experience when it’s your hosting provider slowing you down.
If you check your current website over at https://pagespeed.web.dev/– what does it score?
If you’re scoring low, it may be that your current hosting provider has you on a shared platform. Whilst simple brochure sites aren’t necessarily demanding, you could be being hosted on an underperforming server to save cost.
Don’t slow your visitors down
To put things into perspective, we pay a little extra for our web server to bundle LiteSpeed Cache (amongst other improvements) – the result? Performance.
If you’re considering putting a pop up on your website, even if it’s just a one-off. I’d like you to visit this website first: https://how-i-experience-web-today.com/
Don’t be mad at me – that’s what your users have to face whilst they’re looking for someone to solve a problem. Stand out by NOT bombarding them with pop ups.
When users visit a website, they’re on a journey following you designed path. By introducing a pop up, you’re actually interupting them and distracting them.
It’s akin to whilst I’ve been writing this article, my phone has pinged several times – 4/5 of the notifications have been absolute nonsense. Go away! The same frustrations apply to your website.
There are so many free tools at your disposal, so before you get your wallet out from from within the sofa, consider some of these handy free tools:
Stop cluttering up your website and embrace whitespace. By reducing clutter and ensuring a good whitespace ratio, you maximise user focus. White space can also make your website feel ‘fresh’, modern and professional.
If you have a lot of content and not a lot of space, consider alternative solutions like accordions or modal pop ups (not to be confused by the earlier intrusive pop ups above).
If you utilise the above guidance of using white space, your calls to action are suddenly going to have a lot more attention on them. Don’t waste this undivided attention with a button that says “Click here”.
Instead, crack open the dictionary and throw down some terminology that’ll get the user clicking. Wording like “Get started now” or “Sign up for free”. Wording like this implies time-sensitivity and/or the value.
There you have it! Some quick website hacks to improve your website, you’re now a pro! Of course these are just 6 quick ‘hacks’, there’s plenty of other improvements that can often be easily applied but they usually depend on your audience and your website’s goal(s).
If you need a hand or would like anything clarified/expanded on, please do feel free to reach out. 👇
saintnicks has been appointed by Ascot Racecourse following a successful competitive pitch process. The win bolsters the agency’s strong start to 2024 alongside retained client growth.
Founded in 1711 by Queen Anne, Ascot Racecourse is arguably the nation’s most revered racing venue, welcoming just shy of 600,000 visitors annually across its 26 race day events. Royal Ascot which takes place 18th – 22nd June, is the most prestigious horse racing event in the UK calendar with more than 300,000 visitors over the 5 day period. Steeped in heritage, Ascot Racecourse is a true British institution and revered national brand.
The two-year contract, which starts with immediate effect, will see saintnicks responsible for Ascot’s overall social content strategy as the brand looks to enhance its reputation further as a global ‘lifestyle’ brand.
Retained as the brand’s lead social partner, saintnicks will work closely with Ascot’s brand, social and content teams supporting with content strategy, content creation and social media management.
Fraser Bradshaw, Founder and CEO of saintnicks says: “We couldn’t be more delighted to partner with Ascot Racecourse and help support their business growth strategy. It’s a brand and business we’ve come to know well over the last few years and we’re invested wholeheartedly in supporting such an iconic national brand as their long term partner.”
Alexandra Bertram, Brand & Creative Lead at Ascot says: “We’re thrilled to embark on this exciting journey with saintnicks as our Social Media Marketing agency. With their expertise and dedication, we look forward to elevating Ascot’s presence in the digital realm. Here’s to a fruitful partnership ahead!”
The appointment follows the re-positioning of the Ascot Racecourse brand and subsequent brand voice development undertaken by saintnicks in 2022.
In an era where businesses are increasingly expected to prioritise social and environmental impact alongside profit, Disruptive Thinking has taken a bold step forward by achieving B Corp certification. This certification marks a significant milestone for team Disruptive, reinforcing their commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace, minimising their environmental footprint and dedicating themselves to ongoing improvement.
Disruptive Thinking’s Founder, Yiuwin Tsang said “When founding Disruptive Thinking, I knew I wanted the business to be a force for good. Our company motto is “Good work for good people” and it’s really nice to join the ranks of other businesses who share the same vision, under such a well-regarded standard.”
“The decision to pursue B Corp certification was driven by a deep-seated belief in the power of business to drive positive change. As a team who pride ourselves on being forward-thinking, becoming a B Corp aligns so well with our core values of empathy, integrity, and sustainability.”
“One of the key benefits of being a B Corp is the opportunity to collaborate with like-minded businesses and organisations. We can’t wait to meet other B Corp organisations at local meetups – come over and say ‘Hi’ if you spot any of the team!”
About Disruptive Thinking
Disruptive Thinking is a small team with deep expertise in Marketing, Business Growth and CRM. Our team take on a variety of projects, from designing marketing strategies and executing delivery, to establishing sales processes, to delivering workshops and events.
We’ve worked with accountancy firms, agencies, startups, law firms, publishers, universities, the creative industries and healthcare providers – supporting them on strategic planning and execution across their sales, marketing and delivery efforts.
We work with any size of organisation, from large corporates through to startups, plus public bodies and not-for-profits. Our motto is doing good work for good people. We’re proud of the quality of work we deliver, and ultimately want to work with clients who are also passionate and driven about what they do.
Got any questions? Just want to connect? Reach out to the team at [email protected]
Carnsight Communications, a boutique PR and social media agency based near Bath, has welcomed Laura Witte as its new Social Media Manager. Alexandra Johansen, who joined the business in 2023, also celebrates a promotion to PR Account Manager. Carnsight specialises in working with agencies and founder-led businesses.
Laura Witte builds on Carnsight’s global perspective having relocated to the UK from Germany in 2019, and brings with her extensive experience in content creation, e-commerce and social media. Johansen, who joined the business in 2023 having made the move from Australia, quickly worked her way up the ranks, proving herself an invaluable asset to the company.
Founder Jessica Morgan comments, “Laura has already proven herself an asset to our company and it’s been a joy to see her gel with the team and our clients. Her dynamic skills and extensive online and SEO expertise bring an exciting new string to our bow. Alexandra’s promotion is a testament to her talent and competence, not to mention her brilliant attitude.”
Having moved into digital marketing following a career as an equine midwife, Witte’s skillset is diverse, as she holds a bachelor’s degree in equine science and business management. Most recently she worked in digital roles for equine business, Le Mieux.
She comments, “It’s great to be joining such a dynamic team and real-world agency like Carnsight. I’m excited to expand on the company’s capabilities and deliver results for a compelling roster of clients.”
Johansen adds, “Working with Carnsight has been a dream. The opportunity to share clients’ compelling journeys with the world and elevate their success has been incredibly rewarding.”
Continued growth and expansion are also on the horizon for Carnsight, which recently joined the Living Wage Foundation. Two additional positions, a work experience placement and an internship, are slated for the summer.
Founder Morgan, who has been shortlisted in the Business Desk South West Leadership Awards this year for her mentoring, continues to support and nurture new talent. She is a big proponent of supporting young professionals and creating opportunities for them to get a foothold in the industry.
Carnsight has worked with a wide range of businesses across the country including Air Landline, Sulis Hospital, The Treatment Rooms London, The Flexible Space Association, and UNLIMITED Group.
The team recently launched Practically Powerful PR, an eBook and accessible guide to the art of communications aimed at helping small businesses take on this key business function with confidence.
Since 2019, Square Works has become the byword for luxurious serviced offices and co-working in Bristol. We started with the aim of building a community where professionals could work, network, relax and socialise in an environment that offered the very best – from an exciting events calendar to a light and airy workspace that members can truly enjoy.
Situated on the beautiful Berkeley Square, a ten-minute walk from the city centre, Square Works is spacious, airy and filled with contemporary art and natural light. This unique workspace is spread across three elegant Georgian townhouses, with a range of conference and meeting rooms, communal spaces, kitchens and a fitness suite.
As a BCI member you can get 10% off memberships and meeting rooms at Square Works, contact our reception at [email protected] to take advantage of this offer.
Professional Apprenticeships are thrilled to unveil ApprenTech, our latest leap forward in cultivating the next generation of technology professionals through comprehensive apprenticeships. We have always strived to bridge the gap between aspiring tech talents and the industry’s evolving needs. Today, we’re excited to announce an initiative that not only continues this legacy but also takes it to new heights.
A New Era of Apprenticeships
ApprenTech is designed to be more than just a program; it’s a movement towards creating a sustainable, skilled workforce that can navigate the complexities of the technology landscape and solve the skills gap!
With our Ofsted Outstanding rating as our backbone, we’ve crafted two new distinct pathways: Software Developer Level 3 and Level 4 Apprenticeships. These programs are tailored to meet the industry’s demands – whether it’s nurturing new entrants with foundational skills or elevating existing employees to software savants. This is in addition to our existing offering of Marketing, IT and other apprenticeships.
Why ApprenTech?
Our initiative stands out for several reasons:
For Companies: ApprenTech offers a unique opportunity to cultivate your in-house talent, reducing recruitment costs and fostering a culture of loyalty and innovation. It’s not just an investment in skills but in the future of your organisation.
For Aspiring Tech Professionals: Embark on a journey that promises not just skill development but a clear path to career advancement. With ApprenTech, your ambitions to progress are a reality.
Join Us in Shaping the Future
As we launch ApprenTech, we extend an invitation to tech companies and aspiring professionals to join us in this transformative journey. Together, we can redefine what it means to be equipped for the future of technology.
For more information on how to get involved, pop our team a message at [email protected]
Together, let’s build a future where technology and talent converge to create endless possibilities.
To celebrate International Women’s Day, we are officially funding a second round of creative and marketing support to businesses dedicated to levelling the playing field for women.
Last year we offered creative support to a local business dedicated to making a positive impact for women in the South-West. The Women’s Work Lab based in Bristol, addresses the motherhood career gap by providing skills-based training to mums on benefits, enhancing their employability. Headed up by an all-female team here at Oakwood, we reviewed their brand identity and created evolved messaging and a new visual look.
Once again, we are interested in hearing from individuals, organisations or businesses who are led or owned by women who are committed to celebrating women’s achievements, championing women empowerment, calling for positive change to advance women, taking action to educate and raise awareness of women’s equality and those who are actively fostering and creating more inclusive workplaces, communities, or practices for women; to help drive forward the important message of this year’s International Women’s Day around inspiring inclusion.
If you think this sounds like you, please apply here: https://oakwoodagency.com/insights/iwd-2024
And don’t forget to spread the word!
We’re excited to announce the launch of our new website for Nebula Design (www.nebula.design)! This brand refresh serves as a comprehensive resource for businesses and other agencies. Whether you’re looking to fortify your online presence or exploring service packages for your clients, we’ve got you and/or your clients covered.
Compared to the old website, the newly launched website focuses more on content delivery that reflects our new services and enables us to showcase our expertise in various services, including:
Web Design, Development, Digital Marketing, Website Security, Maintenance & Website Hosting
“We are thrilled to launch our new website, which reflects our commitment to providing our clients with the best possible digital solutions,” David Pottrell, Head of Digital. “The new website is designed to be informative and user-friendly, allowing potential clients to learn more about our services and how we can help them achieve their online goals.”
Over the years, we’ve also seen an increase in other agencies requesting support around website security and maintenance for their clients. This is one of the reasons we’ve began marketing our WordPress maintenance packages towards other agencies as well as clients.
We invite businesses and fellow agencies in Bristol to explore our new website. Contact us for a free consultation to discuss any digital or website needs you may have.