Bristol Media Board Director, Paul Appleby, has been appointed an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List, announced on 8 June. The award is for services to the Creative Industries in Bristol & Bath.
A BAFTA award winning producer, Paul worked at the BBC Natural History Unit in Bristol for 30 years and has spent the last decade promoting the wider creative industries that Bristol and the surrounding area has to offer.
Paul is a founding member of Bristol Media and has been on the Board since 2005, where he took up the role as Chair in April 2009 for several years.
Commenting on the award, Paul says: “It’s amazing to receive a national honour like this. But although it’s a personal award, I can’t do anything on my own, so it’s also a recognition of the strength of the creativity of the region.
“Our place alongside London and Manchester is testament to the concentration of brilliant people in a relatively small region. It’s great that Nick Sturge, who runs Engine Shed, also has the MBE – we’ve been on the journey together for the last decade, developing “CreaTech” as the region’s USP.”
Paul spearheads a number of projects at Bristol Media, including Visualiser, an apprenticeship programme designed to build connections between the best creative talent from our community and Bristol Media member companies.
As part of Bristol’s UNESCO’s City of Film project, Paul also leads ‘Our City’, an annual short film competition for young people to celebrate Bristol by making short films about life in the city.
Chairman of Bristol Media, Chris Thurling, says, “I’m delighted for Paul, he works tirelessly behind the scenes to celebrate the creative industries, raising the profile of the region and spreading the word about the achievements, both in and outside of Bristol. An MBE is truly deserved.”
Paul was heavily involved in the launch of Digital Bristol (now Digital Cities), an initiative now run by the BBC Academy. He is also chair of the creative industries sector group of the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).
“We’ve still got a lot to do in developing the Industrial Strategy,” Paul adds, “I’m looking forward to what the future holds and continuing to celebrate and recognise our region.”
Paul will receive his MBE at a later date to be announced.
(Image: Paul Appleby talking at Vision Bristol)
Agents of Change: Think, Create, Play in partnership with UWE Bristol Equity – making its debut right here in Bristol – represents new and unheard voices. Join influencers from different disciplines who are making moves as agents of change to spark inspiration, debate and share best practice.
Keynote speaker Jide Adetunji, co-founder of GUAP MAG, followed by a panel discussion on curating your brand and creative practice, networking opportunities, and new artists showcase.
GUAP is the UKs first video magazine, allowing you to watch all the amazing content rather than read it. The aim is to ‘Inspire’ and ‘Entertain’ young people across the nation by delivering rich and quality video articles each month. The inspirational articles are designed to open young people’s eyes to the opportunities that exist within society and show them individuals who are living out their dreams in the hopes that they will learn and be inspired to greater things in life.
Abbi Bayliss, Adibah Iqbal, Parys Gardener
Panelists discuss their own creative journeys, developing their brands and creating opportunities.
Sponsored by UWE Equity, University of Bristol Student Union and Get Set for Growth
13:00 – 13:10 – Introduction video by Mayor Marvin Reeves
13:10 – 14:00 – Keynote address: Jide Adetunji (Co-Founder GUAP MAG)
14:00 – 15:00 – Panel Discussion
15:00 – 16:00 – Networking and Artist Exhibitors
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].
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.
January is traditionally the busiest time of the year when it comes to looking for a new job and with the continued strength of the creative sector, there’s no reason for 2019 to be any different. Why not get ahead and treat yourself to membership of Bristol Media? If you’re a freelancer and you join before 5pm on Wednesday 9th January 2019 we will even give you 3 months FREE so you’ll get 15 months membership for the price of 12.
Creative companies regularly search our online directory and freelance database on SW Creative Jobs to find their next pair of hands for both freelance and permanent roles so give them a chance to find you with an online profile in our member directory. Your online profile is just one of the many ways that Bristol Media can help you connect with creative employers across the region. In addition we hold a variety of networking events and training workshops throughout the year to help inspire you and keep your knowledge and skills up-to-date. And if your CV is looking a little tired and in need of a revamp we can point you in the direction of our recruitment partners who will be more than happy to advise and help get you that all-important interview.
Here’s what some of our freelance members have to say…
“As an independent creative, membership of Bristol Media is a ‘no-brainer’ for me. A valuable asset in terms of the events and support they facilitate, but also a number of clients have found me through the website directory” ~ Carys Tait
“Sometimes being a freelancer can feel a little isolating, Bristol Media does a great job at connecting creative freelancers in the city, it’s a great platform to meet like-minded people” ~ Mark Sharman
“A number of businesses have contacted me after finding my freelance profile through Bristol Media. Happily, most of them are now regular clients” ~ Sam Tarbuck
At just £40+VAT, freelance membership will make you part of one of the UK’s biggest creative networks and could potentially open up limitless opportunities. It could be the best £40 you’ll spend this year! If you’d like to take advantage of this offer just sign up online here and we’ll add on your additional 3 free months and email you confirmation.
We’re delighted that Blair Enns will be back in Bristol in January 2019 to deliver a one-day workshop.
About the Workshop
‘Mastering The Value Conversation: Making Value-Based Pricing Real’ is a one-day workshop designed to help creative professionals increase their prices and their impact on their clients’ businesses through a shift to value-based engagements and pricing. The hands-on, exercise-driven workshop combines pricing theory with facilitator Blair Enns’ Win Without Pitching approach to new business development to deliver a unique learning experience designed to lead to immediate pricing wins.
“You cannot be an effective pricer if you study pricing alone and eschew some of the complementary skills of selling and negotiating,” says Enns, author of Pricing Creativity: A Guide to Profit Beyond the Billable Hour. The barrier to pricing success in the creative professions, he says, is not knowledge but skill. “You can intake most of what you need to know about pricing in about 90 minutes,” says Enns. “Then you need to apply it firsthand and practice having the conversations.”
Pricing Knowledge + Selling Skills = Value-Based Pricing Success
This workshop is relevant to any creative or marketing firm professional with P&L responsibility or the authority to set or negotiate price.
You will learn:
What better way to kick off 2019 than by mastering the value conversation within the first couple of weeks of the year!
This workshop will take place on Tuesday 15th January in the beautiful new offices of one of our Approved Legal Suppliers, Foot Anstey, 2 Glass Wharf, Bristol BS2 0FR and is priced at £595+VAT for Bristol Media members and £795+VAT for non-members. Email [email protected] to book your place. A 50% deposit will be taken at the time of booking with the balance payable by 8th January 2019.
About Blair Enns
Blair Enns is on a mission to change the way creative services are bought and sold the world over. He is the founder and CEO of Win Without Pitching, the sales training and coaching organisation for creative professionals, and the author of two books on selling and pricing for creative professionals. He is the cohost, along with David C. Baker, of 2Bobs, the podcast on creative entrepreneurship.
Blair lives in Kaslo, British Columbia, Canada and lectures throughout the world. He has spoken to dozens of conferences and organisations on five continents.
Bristol based communications agency Wonderland has collaborated with letterpress design god Anthony Burrill to produce a limited edition set of prints in time for the festive season, with 100% of proceeds going to Kindly Collective, a charity set up by Wonderland’s founder Alison.
Kindly’s mission is to help create a kinder world. The charity funds and supports grassroots projects with huge hearts, but little voices, focusing on three areas: women, kids, and creatures.
The Wonderland X Anthony Burrill collaboration – done in his signature bold letterpress style – aims to encourage a wave of kindness to sweep across the country, both in its message and its fundraising.
Anthony says: “There’s always room for people to be kinder to each other in the world. I hope this print helps people recognise the power of kindness, while raising money for Kindly and all the incredible grassroots charitable projects it supports.”
Wonderland founder Alison says: “We’re massive fans of Anthony’s work so we’re humbled and beyond happy to be collaborating with him on this piece – and supporting Kindly in the process. We hope that the print serves a beautiful reminder that it’s cool to be kind to your fellow humans and creatures, and it also makes the perfect present for people who want to do some good with their giving this Christmas.”
The Wonderland X Anthony Burrill prints cost £100 + P&P (UK only) and are available from www.wonderlandcomms.com/shop
Only 200 are available in total. And when they’re gone, they’re gone.
All profits raised from the partnership will go to fund grassroots projects via The Kindly Collective, helping vulnerable women, kinds and creatures across the globe. For more information please go to www.kindlycollective.co
#LIVEKINDLY
#WONDERLANDXAB
Digital Cities is returning to Bristol with a week-long programme of free, inspirational learning and networking opportunities aimed at developing the skills of both the current and next generation of staff working in the creative industries. The project has run successfully in Bristol for five years, bringing industry partners together to boost their region’s digital and production skills and acting as a catalyst for exciting collaborations within the creative sector.
Starting on Monday 26 November, Skills West, a project delivered by Business West and Bristol Media are coordinating a series of free events designed to help your business face a competitive digital future, called Open Doors.
Open Doors
Open Doors is a brilliant opportunity to see behind the scenes of this buzzing industry. Companies from around Bristol will be opening their doors to small groups of guests and sharing an insight into their business which is not normally on show.
This year we have 20 businesses on board who are offering various opportunities, from tours of their workspace and career advice workshops, to question and answer sessions with experts in their field.
All of the Open Doors events are listed here: https://www.businesswest.co.uk/grow/digital-cities-bristol-2018
The beautifully shot three minute film www.uwe.ac.uk/aboutus/realworldfilm uses real students to tell an emotive story of what life is like at UWE Bristol and takes a new approach to promoting a university. The people of Bristol are being called on to support the film and vote for the film by clicking the ‘Like’ button beside the work. The winner will then be featured in the next issue of The Drum (23 July) in the Creative Showcase spread. The next two week’s are particularly special as work shown here will also be displayed at The Drum Live on Wednesday 9 July in a special Blippable Creative Showcase gallery.
Taking a new approach to promoting a university, the film entitled “The University for the Real World”, moves away from the usual factual, prospectus style brand films which often focus on facilities and courses. This film is designed to prompt an emotional connection in viewers and the resulting piece is a powerful representation of life at UWE Bristol, with an emphasis on preparing students for life and careers in the real world as well as access to the great range of social, leisure and lifestyle features of the city of Bristol. The stars of the film, 25 UWE Bristol students, are shown studying and gaining practical experience for their chosen careers in a range of UWE’s excellent facilities alongside their wide ranging leisure interests.
The film aims to highlight to prospective students that UWE Bristol is a top university for passionate people who want to succeed in their chosen career. It has been developed to show what makes UWE Bristol distinctive as a university and raise awareness and the reputation of the University both in the UK and internationally.
UWE Bristol is in the top six English universities for graduate employment and was placed 8th by The Telegraph in its list of top universities for getting a job in 2013.
Commenting on her role in the film, business and management student Ellen Riis-White said: “The film made me feel emotional as I’m proud of the university and everything it has to offer…I truly believe this film is going to attract many to look further into all the incredible opportunities UWE, and the city of Bristol has to offer.”
Vice-chancellor, Steve West said: “UWE Bristol is an ambitious University with a real passion and commitment to transforming futures. We are engaged in ground-breaking projects that are inspiring people and improving lives across the globe. This film showcases some of the advances we are making in high-tech/advanced engineering, for example, the film features one of our business students who through her involvement with the UWE Motor Racing Society did her work placement with the Bloodhound Super Sonic Car project .
“Our top priority is to nurture the confident, agile and enterprising graduates that our society and economy needs – the individuals who will go on to shape our future. That is why it is so important that our students are part of these and many other innovative projects, and that we focus on real world experiences for all our students.”