Out with the old and in with the new

Danny Meaney, Managing Director of New Media Partners, provides an insight into new models in distribution and the future of film festivals ahead of his appearance as a panellist at EIFF.

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Digital 2011 - Videos of Conference

Digital 2011, held last week in Glasgow, was a national event designed to extend the connections and opportunities in Scotland’s digital and creative sectors. It was the first annual event from partners Interactive Scotland, AmbITion Scotland and the Scottish Centre for Enabling Technology.  This year, the theme was ‘Monetising Content’. This very well attended, free event provided a comprehensive, yet varied programme of workshops, showcases, collaboration brokering, and networking. Participants were drawn from a diversity of origins including SMEs, micro-organisations and individuals from across the digital and creative industries. Mairi Robertson from New Media Partners facilitated the main speaker programme and the webcasts can be seen here...

twofour54 and nmp

twofour54 is setting out to be the globally recognised centre for Arabic content creation. nmp recently completed a complex assignment in this rapidly emerging global media centre. This further enhances nmp’s reputation as global experts in thedevelopment of media cities.

 

Manchester Corridor Connections

We are delighted that Danny Meaney has been appointed as the Project Director of Manchester Corridor Connections.

 

The project has the objective of stimulating commercial innovation resulting from cross-sector collaboration from the academic, health, cultural, creative and commercial assets physically clustered in Manchester’s city centre along the Oxford Road Corridor. The long term vision is that globally, and locally, the Corridor will be recognized as a place that is original, creative and smart.

heraldscotland.com Digital Business Awards 2010

heraldscotland.com Digital Business Awards 2010

Mairi Robertson has been invited to participate on the judging panel for the heraldscotland.com Digital Business Awards 2010. 

The judging session is scheduled to take place on Friday, October 1, 2010 from 9am – 4pm at the newly refurbished Grand Central Hotel, 99 Gordon Street, Glasgow, G1 3SF.

These dynamic industry awards will recognise businesses of all sizes, and from all sectors, that have seized the opportunities offered by digital technologies to drive success and competitive advantage.

All forms of digital innovation are eligible, from simple but effective websites to advanced e-commerce systems, and from online marketing campaigns to mobile apps.

These awards are not just about the technology, they are about how your business has grown and benefitted by harnessing digital opportunities.

The judging panel - comprised of experts in marketing, design, technology and usability - will consider every aspect of your submission. A simple but demonstrably effective social media campaign has as much chance of winning as an inventive, breakthrough technology that hasn't yet come to market.

The gala awards dinner in October promises to be a great celebration of digital achievement and a fantastic opportunity for networking.

For more info on these awards, please click on the following link www.heraldscotland.com/go/digitalawards10.

Digital Inspirations - Investing in Creative Ideas

Digital Inspirations - Investing in Creative Ideas

Wednesday 27th October, Scottish Youth Theatre, The Old Sheriff Court, Glasgow

Danny Meaney has been invited to join a panel of industry experts from Creative Scotland, Interactive Scotland, Channel 4 and FirstPort to discuss, assess and invest in the early stage development of digital media projects. The panel is looking for the most ambitious and bold ideas which are brand new, unique, leading edge and disruptive. Ideas may include (but not limited to) mobile applications, service innovation, web services, music apps, social innovation, software services or games.

Play for Your Life – How Gaming can Transform Health Event

Look out for Mairi Robertson in June as she will be talking at an event in Abertay University.

This exciting event will raise awareness of the potential of gaming – whether physical or digital – with regard to its possible utilisation in areas of lifestyle management and wellness promotion.  Building on the strong games-development expertise in the Dundee area, the event will explore the key themes and future projections of market leaders, such as Adidas and Nintendo, as well as looking, in depth, at some real Scottish business case studies and cutting edge university expertise.

Register for the event ... http://www.wellnesshealthinnovation.org/Events/WHI-Events/Play-for-Your-Life-How-Gaming-can-Transform-Health-Event/?d=236

MediaCity creative hub secures funding

Broadband Mapping Study - Liverpool

SCOTLAND GOES INTERACTIVE

A new project has been launched to support the growth of Scotland's burgeoning hi-tech digital media industry.

The new programme will run for three years delivering, sector specific advisory services to the Interactive Scotland initiative and will be delivered by New Media Partners (nmp) and our partners Innovation Centres Scotland Ltd (ICS) on behalf of Scottish Enterprise. The project also has the support of ERDF funding.

It is a national initiative supporting Scottish SME's engaged in developing solutions, services, products and applications across the digital media sectors.

It will play a central part in delivering the Scottish Government's economic development strategy which identifies the creative industries, including digital content and technologies, as one of six key sectors offering substantial potential for future economic growth.

Danny Meaney, Managing Director, of nmp, said:" We see our role in Interactive Scotland as an excellent opportunity to meet the sector's demanding requirements of increasing companies' international presence, competitiveness, depth of skills, growth prospects, quality of ideas and commercialisation. Digital Media is the growth sector for Scotland and one that will enhance its global reputation for innovation. We are delighted to partner with ICS in delivering the Interactive Scotland programme."

Tom Ogilvie, CEO, of ICS said:"This is the age of digital media which is transforming the way we work and live at a phenomenal pace. Interactive Scotland is an exciting initiative and I am delighted we have been given this tremendous opportunity to build upon what we achieved in delivering the national Wireless Innovation project. Together with nmp we will make our considerable expertise in market knowledge and practical business support available to the sector across Scotland to help it achieve its growth potential. The initiative is a key plank in the Scottish Government's strategy for sustainable economic growth, an aim we share and are committed to helping deliver."

 

nmp continue their work in West Midlands

Continuing from nmp’s success in the region we have been appointed by Screen West Midlands to produce a study to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the production offer within the region. This will be used to inform the best actions to proactively develop and market the region’s talent-base and to fill any identified gaps. This will be done through identifying the scale and scope of labour force, facilities and locations across the region. There will be a particular focus on feature films and television production organisations, whether they are reside permanently in the region or operate on a temporary basis.   At the same time, a “credibility gap” in the production sector will be evaluated. Another important aspect to this study is to evaluate the demand for a dedicated film and television studios in the region.

Media Enterprise Centre

nmp are delighted to be working with Salford City Council on behalf of the MediaCityUK Public Sector Partners (PSP) on the Media Enterprise Centre Business Case Development.

MediaCityUK is now taking shape as a key node in the UK’s media network and has strong ambitions to become positioned on an international stage. BBC is committed to the site along with a range of other media businesses and academic faculties.

nmp’s key objective in this project is to prepare a detailed Business Case which will provide a basis for future design, management and operational of the Media Enterprise Centre (MEC) building and associated services. The MEC will provide affordable business accommodation over an area of 55,000 ft in the heart of MediaCityUK for SMEs within the digital media industries. 

Yorkshire Forward Interim and Project Managers Panel

nmp has been successfully selected to be a member of an interim and project manager's panel for Yorkshire Forward. Over the next 3 years nmp can be called upon to undertake project management work for Yorkshire Forward.

Digital Media Quarter Vision at Pacific Quay

nmp are delighted to be working with Scottish Enterprise to refresh assumptions, review market conditions and adjust strategies for Digital Media Quarter Vision at Pacific Quay. The DMQ project is intended to grow the DM sector in Scotland at a time when the industry is growing globally, maximise the economic opportunity from the proximity of BBC Scotland and to develop Pacific Quay as a whole-of-Scotland asset. Through an extensive stakeholder consultation activity, nmp are developing the DMQ concept in business development and property terms. This will include near-term implementation steps to propel the project forward. This project will not only provide expert analysis and recommendations but create the forward momentum sought.

One North East The BUILD Project

nmp are delighted to have been chosen as a member of the panel that will deliver the One North East BUILD project "Coaching for High Growth" services.

Velocity Bradford

nmp are delighted to renew their management contract with Yorkshire Forward for Velocity Bradford. We believe that this underlines nmp's commitment to Yorkshire and our understanding of both place making and cluster development

ScotlandIS

Polly Purvis from ScotlandIS explains why they chose nmp to work with.

"We chose nmp to work with us as they demonstrated a clear understanding of the topic, and have considerable domain expertise in the information technology industries. This was important as it enabled them to hit the deck running, bringing their experience of technology issues internationally to inform the research they undertook for us." - Polly Purvis, Executive Director, ScotlandIS

Bristol Vision Document

nmp are delighted to have been commissioned by Bristol City Council.

nmp will conduct research and consultation in order to create a document outlining the "vision" for the Creative and Digital Media industry in Bristol.

City South Partnership Incubation Space

nmp are delighted to have been commissioned by Manchester City South Partnership to review the case for incubation/managed work space for creative and digital companies along the Oxford Road corridor.

nmp Endorsed Again

nmp have received another very positive endorsement from one of the countries leading post production houses, Films@59.

"We were very lucky to be teamed with nmp for the Bristol Accelerate programme. Inviting consultants into your business is not easy, but nmp were aware of our reservations and made it their business to get to know us. Danny Meaney knows a lot about our industry and was very willing to share thoughts and views. At a time when our industry is facing great change, it was important for us to have an outside viewpoint. His wide-ranging experience in the communications industry helped to bring a fresh perspective to our company and helped to focus our business plan going forward." -Gina Fucci, MD

South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA), Bristol Digital Media Skills Mapping

Scottish Enterprise Digital Markets Research

nmp was commissioned to undertake a key piece of research on the Scottish Digital Media markets. The programme of quantitative and qualitative research helped to form a solid base of knowledge and to inform the future development and operation of SE’s activities in this area.

KAEC Media City

nmp has been commissioned to consult on a proposed Media City in Saudi Arabia by one of the Middle East’s major property development and project management companies, Emaar (based in Dubai). nmp will produce a feasibility study that covers research, analysis and advice on the vision, focus, technology and regulatory environment.

The proposed Media City will be located in the King Abdulla Economic City (KAEC), a new business area that is envisioned to be one of the primary drivers of the Saudi Arabian economy. The fully integrated Media City Zone will anchor KAEC as the Middle East’s leading media marketplace, where media services, products and projects are created, developed, traded and distributed to the regional and the international market.

South West Regional Development Agancy (SWRDA), Horizon Scanning

nmp is conducting both desk based and primary research to provide a research and analysis of the Digital Media industry in the South West.  The output of this research will be two reports to provide strategic guidance to SWRDA in the changing digital media industry.

Market Demand Research – Media Access Bureaus across the Northern Way

nmp conducted market analysis for the Northern Way Partnership to provide an enhanced understanding of current and potential future customer/market demand for the services that will be provided via NorthernNet and the Media Enterprise Centre Access Bureau facilities which are aimed at providing high speed connectivity across the north of England to MediaCityUK in Salford.

NorthernNet: Innovation and Knowledge Transfer

nmp undertook a body of research to establish the baseline position and develop a proposed programme of work to support the long term delivery of innovation and knowledge transfer across the Northern Way (i.e NWDA, Yorkshire Forward and ONE). This is designed to facilitate innovation across distance by capitalising on the full range of benefits offered by NorthernNet; a high speed fibre optic telecommunications network linking the proposed chain of Media Access Bureaus across the north of England to MediaCityUK in Salford.

Southwest Accelerate Programme

nmp is managing and delivering a Skills Development and Mentoring programme to assist high growth digital media businesses in the South West of England to achieve their commercial potential. For any ambitious digital media business, the skills needed to control the essential areas of the business make the difference between failure and success and may certainly have the effect of suppressing growth if absent. nmp is addressing these problems through three main activities:

• Mentoring programme for high growth businesses;
• Skills training on creative-industry specific issues;
• Management and leadership training.

B-MEX Broadband connectivity assessment

nmp were commissioned to undertake an initial feasibility study to develop options for enhancing the high-speed connectivity in the South West of England. This included a review of examples of other UK broadband initiatives, consultation with industry and evaluation of options.

Digital Innovation Network Service Mapping

nmp undertook a review of three initiatives for One NorthEast who were developing a digital strategy that had identified a number of key areas for focus. One NorthEast commissioned reviews of a
number of projects to ensure strategic fit, value for money, appropriate delivery models.This project provided an independent detailed project review of the following projects/organisations:

• Sunderland Software City (focusing on enterprise and innovation strands);
• Digital City (both Digital City Business and Digital City Innovation;
• Codeworks, focusing on the Digital Media Technology Project.

These reviews were not intended to be a formal evaluation. They provided the information required for One NorthEast to easily compare and contrast each of these projects in a fair and impartial way.

BBC Bristol

nmp has a key role in the development of Bristol’s emerging “media city.” nmp are leading the consultations with the BBC on behalf of SWRDA and the City Council in order to help the BBC relocate onto a site that is fit for purpose for 21st century multi-platform content creation and distribution. This has included a site review, the development of the Bristol Creative Vision output as an animated visualisation and advising on connectivity and infrastructure.

ScotlandIS innovation and ICT research

Films @ 59

Market Validation - Software Integrity Engineering (SIE) Programme

NorthernNET: Innovation & Knowledge Transfer

NorthernNET / Media Enterprise Centre market demand survey

Scottish Enterprise: Digital Markets Research

Greater Cambridge: The Cluster, Creativity and towards an Economic Masterplan

SWRDA Creative Industries Programme Framework

Management structure for Digital Media Quarter at Pacific Quay

Danny joins the Speakeasy board

Creative Industries Knowledge Transfer Network

nmp have been shortlisted, along with some major partners, in the bidding process to run the Creative Industries Knowledge Transfer Network. 

The Technology Strategy Board, sponsored by the Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS), is looking for consultants to manage the KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER NETWORK on behalf of and for the betterment and advantage of the wider creative industry community.

The specific, overall aims of Knowledge Transfer Networks include the following:

• To deliver improved industrial performance through innovation and new collaborations by driving the flow of people, knowledge and experience between business and the science-base, between businesses and across sectors;
• To drive knowledge transfer between the supply and demand sides of technology enabled markets through a high-quality, easy to use service;
• To facilitate innovation and knowledge transfer, by providing UK businesses with the opportunity to meet and network with individuals and organisations, in the UK and internationally and;
• To provide a forum for a coherent business voice to inform government of its technology needs and about issues, such as regulation, which are enhancing or inhibiting innovation in the UK.

Keep an eye on the website for further updates. 

NBA collaboration

We are pleased to announce a collaboration between nmp Ltd and the National Business Advisors Consortium (NBAC). NBAC, headed up by Ray Hanks, is a UK-wide network of top business advisors drawn from all industry sector, who each have many years business experience behind them. The collaboration between the two organisations strengthens nmp’s core team in an effort to provide a comprehensive solution for clients and enhance a growing need for business advice and specialist knowledge for individual projects.  

New CCA board member

nmp Ltd. Managing Director Danny Meaney is pleased to annouce that he has been accepted as a new board member for the Centre for Contemporary Arts, Glasgow.

The CCA is committed to presenting a challenging and diverse artistic and educational programme across art forms. The programme focuses on three key areas: visual arts, contemporary music and film, while also remaining committed to presenting dance, performance and spoken word through ongoing partnerships with other organisations in Glasgow and beyond.

Scottish Enterprise contract win for nmp

nmp are pleased to announce that they have been awarded the Scottish Enterprise contract to provide a baseline study of Regional Investment in Independent Media Production. SE Glasgow supports the Digital Media and Creative Industries in Glasgow through bespoke business development packages for businesses and through the funding and management of a number of projects that support the sector. Our methodology is based on a rigorous assessment of the quality, supply, demand, performance and potential of the DMCIs in Glasgow.

Welsh Music Foundation

nmp proudly announce commissioning by the Welsh Music Foundation to evaluate their scheme, which aimed to develop key management skills in the Welsh music industry.  

AmbITion Programme

nmp are currently producing case studies as part of the AmbITion programme. We are looking at 15 examples of arts organizations who are successfully using digital technologies to develop their organization and enhance the user experience. 

South West Regional Development Agency

South West Regional Development Agency have commissioned nmp to undertake a study of creative industries workspace in Bristol. We will carry out a workspace audit, demand and supply analysis and look at the options for growth, using comparator case studies to produce a development framework for creative workspace in the city.

Games commission nmp as key consultant

nmp are delighted to announce that they have been commissioned by a leading games development company to undertake a detailed feasibility study that will involve quantifying the market opportunity for a new technology application. 

Another win for nmp

nmp have been commissioned to source content for over 20 territories for a new content distribution platform for a global technology company.  nmp are delighted to have secured this project as further evidence of our growing reputation in the private sector. 

Commercial Creative win for nmp

nmp have been commissioned by the regional development agency One North East to undertake a major piece of research to map and profile the commercial creative industries in the North East of England. The project will provide One North East with detailed information that will enable them to focus investment into business support for the sector to facilitate growth.

The Loop Academy - Growing Creative Businesses

Digital Futures - Second Life Island

Digital Futures