Education and Skills
Celebrating four years of the University of Warwick’s Creative Futures programme Connecting, supporting and acting as a gateway between the University and the region’s creative cluster, Creative Futures delivers impact through a creative industries network: 500 companies, an incubator based at 1 Mill Street that has supported 35 start-ups with 420 hours of business coaching, 250 referrals, seen 35 new jobs created and raised £2.6 million worth of investment. Creative Futures marked a significant milestone at an event held at the Glasshouse in Jephson Gardens,
Leamington Spa, and hosted by Professor Stuart Croft, Vice Chancellor, University of Warwick. The event launched a compelling new video celebrating the successes of Leamington Spa’s creative cluster and University of Warwick’s partnerships over the past four years, working with Warwickshire County Council and 1 Mill Street to foster collaboration with the diverse creative industries in Coventry and Warwickshire. Clare Green, Associate Director, said: “We are so proud to work with and
support the UK's most creative minds with strengths in design, software consulting, games development, digital marketing, VR & AR, film & TV. It is amazing to be part of a globally significant creative and digital cluster, which is the UK’s largest outside Greater London – and growing.”
and partnerships that lead to future funding opportunities. http:// warwickinnovationdistrict.com/ creative-futures/research •
Mill Street Exchange. Drop in and gain access to business support specifically around space, finance and talent and securing student placements and interns.
•
Become part of the incubator. Benefit from a six-month intensive support programme and one-year membership at Mill Street.
If you’re a creative and digital business, here are some of the ways you can engage: •
Unlock R&D funds and encourages new ideas and industry-academic collaborations. Projects are industryled, short term collaborations that spark innovative ideas, new products
Find out more about Creative Futures at http://warwickinnovationdistrict.com/creative-futures)
Joint venture launches £50,000 community fund A year after it was formed, a joint venture has launched a new community fund to support projects in North Warwickshire and Nuneaton.
Brookmill Meadows is the first development from the joint venture and the first homes are expected to be completed in early 2024.
Develop Warwickshire has opened its new £50,000 community fund and it has now supported its inaugural project in Warton.
The on-site team has been working with schools in the area for educational visits to the site, providing an insight into health and safety, the benefits of apprenticeships and
The annual grant fund comprises £25,000 in cash and £25,000 work in kind from the joint venture partners. It will support a range of projects in the area, the first being the installation of five new park benches at Warton Recreation Ground. Develop Warwickshire was formed in December 2022 and is a joint venture between Countryside Partnerships, Warwickshire Property and Development Group (WPDG) and Warwickshire County Council.
Organisations and community groups from across North Warwickshire and Nuneaton will be able to apply for grants from the Develop Warwickshire Community Fund. Stuart Buckley, Managing Director of WDPG, said: “We are proud to be launching this new fund which Julie Holden, on behalf of the Warton Picnic Bench Group, said: “We have needed an upgrade of benches in the park for a couple of years, and the support from Develop Warwickshire is the final piece of the puzzle to enable this to happen.
we hope will make a real difference to communities in
The benches have been funded through a combination of grant funding from Warwickshire County Council and community fundraising, with the top five donors recognised in commemorative plaques.
“The work to install the benches is very valuable for a small community like Warton. We would also like to thank Develop Warwickshire for the generous donation which will support our forthcoming carnival in June.”
Countryside, added: “Creating great places means
Develop Warwickshire’s Community Fund has funded the installation of the five large benches.
Develop Warwickshire is developing 71 new homes in Warton, including 40 per cent affordable housing.
can make a real difference and leave a lasting legacy for
The fund has also made a £1,000 donation to support the 2024 Warton Carnival as the joint venture continues its commitment to support the community in the village.
42
career opportunities in construction.
Nuneaton and North Warwickshire. Every year we will be supporting a range of projects through this fund.” Phil McHugh, Managing Director, North West Midlands, integrating new communities with those already established. We want to positively impact those living around our schemes, and through this community fund we local communities.”
www.cw-chamber.co.uk
