Digital Media Centre

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Enterprising Barnsley is a new programme to support the growth of businesses in Barnsley. The Digital Media Centre has been awarded Enterprise Hub status and has 6 fully equipped desks for digital media businesses to work from in a lively shared office.

As the economic climate remains uncertain for many businesses in the Barnsley area, the programme offers support through three integrated delivery channels:

  • Providing Affordable Office Accommodation in Barnsley
  • Free Networking Events throughout the Borough
  • Enterprise Coaches

The programme provides businesses with, free simple and easy access to expert coaching and support, free networking events throughout the borough and dedicated shared working environments with excellent facilities in key geographic areas of Barnsley.

The £4.7 million programme is funded by £2.89m from the European Regional Development Fund, £739,000 from Yorkshire Forward, and other sources account for the remaining funding.

Enterprise Hubs

Enterprising Barnsley offers business support through flexible, affordable shared office accommodation units (Enterprise Hubs) throughout the borough.

The Enterprise Hubs provide fully serviced ICT facilities including PC, business software, colour printer, broadband, telephone and modern office furniture. The fundamental objective of the programme is to make the offices accessible and affordable to all businesses and will be made available at the following locations, BBIC Wilthorpe, BBIC Cudworth, Longfields Court, Digital Media Centre, The Civic, Acorn Centre Grimethrope, Thurnscoe Business Centre and Mount Osborne.

Although the office facilities will remain in keeping with the programme the office environments and their locations are quite diverse in terms of their outlook. A good example would be the case in which a business is more creative driven then they maybe suited to a location within the DMC or The Civic which will house design and photographic studios.

Above all each Enterprise Hub is flexible and affordable with ‘easy in and easy out’ terms.

Free Networking Events throughout the Borough

Businesses can also take full advantage of the Enterprising Barnsley Network Events which are free, open to all businesses and will primarily be hosted within the Enterprise Hubs through out the borough.

Networking Events will support businesses and give them the opportunity to create and discuss both local and wider business interests/issues. Enterprise Coaches will also be on hand to provide further support and conduct business assists after the event.

The event programme will be flexible and will be designed to minimise disruption to the daily business routine and will mainly take the form of a breakfast or lunchtime event. All events will be advertised locally and through the Chamber.

The events will include:

  • Programme Introduction and Programme Awareness
  • BPFS
  • Creative and Digital
  • Finance Management
  • Sales and Marketing
  • Innovation

with sector specific events for the Creative and Digital Industries

Enterprise Coaches

A team of 14 Enterprise Coaches all of whom are fully SFEDI accredited are available as and when a business requires support, either at the Enterprise Hubs or at other access points throughout Barnsley. As an indication, in addition to all general business development areas, some of the specialist areas where the highly qualified team can offer support are:

  • Innovation: IP, trademarks, patents, concept and technical design, R & D, Prototype development, pre-production, trials and bid writing.
  • Marketing/PR: Market definition and research, branding, design, packaging, development of marketing strategy and planning, PR, promotions, exhibitions, video development, e-business, website set-up and review.
  • Fulfilment: Production/service facilities, distribution and delivery.
  • Management Staff Development: Change management, personnel development, sales and marketing, and management accounts.
  • Systems/Procedures: Accounting systems, stock control, procurement, CRM systems, Lean manufacturing, and business improvement techniques.
  • HR: Employment contracts, recruitment and employment law.
  • IT: Computerised accounts, spreadsheet development, Web development, one -one IT coaching.

For more information on Enterprising Barnsley call 01226 215 730 or visit www.enterprisingbarnsley.co.uk