3 minute read
Growth Hub
Support to Kickstart Innovation for the Creative Industries, Film and TV Supply Chain with Herts Camera Action
Herts Camera Action, a project
funded by the UK Community Renewal Fund, aims to capitalise on the world-leading hub of film and TV studios located in Hertfordshire by enabling eligible SMEs to tap into the growing film and TV sector.
Led by Visit Herts, Hertfordshire’s official destination management organisation, and supported by delivery partners Hertfordshire Growth Hub and the University of Hertfordshire, the programme aims to kickstart innovation across the county by supporting the growth of the local Film and TV supply chain, including creative industries, investing in creative skills and knowledge exchange, and developing a series of brandnew screen tourism products to support the rebuild of Hertfordshire’s visitor economy. Available to Hertfordshire-based SMEs operating in the film and TV supply chain, as well as those looking to expand their operations and/or diversify into this sector, Herts Camera Action provides the following support:
Eligible SMEs in Hertfordshire can receive up to £5,000 (with a 20% match fund contribution) in grant funding, to support with the purchase of capital equipment, professional fees, consultancy and much more, with the aim of helping businesses to tap into this growing sector. As part of the grant programme, SMEs will undergo an in-depth business diagnostic with a sector specialist adviser, focusing on their capabilities to exploit new opportunities related to the film and television sector. They will also benefit from up to 12 hours of mentoring support delivered by University of Hertfordshire experts. Mentor expertise includes business strategy, branding, creative entrepreneurship, IP and more.
Targeted CPD Programme
Delivered by experts at the University of Hertfordshire, eligible SMEs can benefit from training to upskill the creative industries, TV and film supply chain workforce. The training aims to meet the skills gaps identified as part of the grant programme. Eligible SMEs who have benefitted from the grant programme will be automatically referred to the CPD programme. The free of charge structured training will support employees to upskill as well as foster knowledge exchange between industry and academia, increase innovation, and build links within the sector. The modules include Media Strategies and Communication (Level 7),
Marketing Opportunities in the Creative
Industries (Level 7) and Operating in the Media Industry (Level 6).
Herts Camera Action is open for applications until 30th June 2022. To find out more and express your interest visit https://bit.ly/HertsCameraAction
This project is funded by the UK Government through the UK Community Renewal Fund.
How digital transformation
can streamline your workflow
n Faye Thompson
Head of Cloud Accounting at Wilder Coe Chartered Accountants
Pointing to his head, the Finance Manager explains how his company were approving supplier invoices. Before the 2020 UK lockdown, invoices were sent around the office in envelopes, eventually making their way back to the bookkeeper for processing. The pandemic leads to a data capture tool for processing supplier invoices and linking to accounting software. Although invoices were emailed out for signature and payments were run monthly, the Finance Manager was unaware of which invoices were ready for approval. The bookkeeper and Finance Manager would spend time each month discussing outstanding invoices. However, the lack of visibility and dependency on one individual is a concern. Utilising a cloud approval tool can streamline processes and take away the time-consuming task of email chasing for approvals. These tools are inexpensive, easy to set up and have multiple benefits that help managers gain back control when paying invoices. • Create automated workflows tailored to your organisation. You can add any number of steps and select approvers for each step. • Review and approval bills or purchase orders on the go. Keep updated in real-time. • Get automated audit trails and reporting.
Find out who approved invoices and run reports to see outstanding invoices.
