A competition to create a unique piece of jewellery inspired by the Great Yorkshire Show and rural life is being launched by the organisers of England’s premier agricultural event.

In what is a “first”, the Yorkshire Agricultural Society is inviting budding designers to submit their ideas for a charm to be made from silver and Whitby jet, and the winners may see their designs put into production and available to buy.

The competition is being run in conjunction with W Hamond, The Original Whitby Jet Shop and builds on their partnership with the Great Yorkshire organisers.

Two years ago the company launched their popular Great Yorkshire Show collection, which included three charms - a rosette, a tractor and a Yorkshire rose.

Bill Cowling, Show Director said: “The Great Yorkshire Show appeals to so many different interests but this is something new and exciting for us.

"It is an amazing opportunity to see an idea through from concept to production and create something beautiful and iconic which potentially could last for generations.“

The competition has two categories – for 18 years and under, and for over 19 years, and both winners will see their designs become reality. In addition they will receive tickets for this year’s Great Yorkshire Show and have the opportunity to tour the W Hamond workshop. The deadline for entries is 4pm, Friday 28 March.

For details of the competition please visit www.greatyorkshireshow.co.uk or email Charlotte Russell on charlotter@yas.co.uk or by post Charlotte Russell, W Hamond Whitby Jet Competition, Regional Agricultural Centre, Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate, HG2 8NZ.

The Great Yorkshire Show is England’s premier agricultural show, attracting over 135,000 visitors. Dates for this year’s event are Tuesday 8 – Thursday 10 July. Tickets go on sale on Monday 3 March.

The Sharp Project, Manchester’s pioneering production facility has been chosen by Endor Productions to serve as the central production hub for Tubby And Enid, a new one off BBC musical drama written and directed by Victoria Wood and starring Imelda Staunton and Michael Ball.

With production and set builds underway at the site, producer Paul Frift and executive producer Hilary Bevan Jones will make extensive use of stage space and support services at The Sharp Project for filming, while also taking out office space from which to coordinate production on location in Manchester and Liverpool, as well as at stages with Dock10 at MediaCity.

Combining four purpose built stages from 3,700 sq. ft. up to 29,800 sq. ft. alongside four green screen studios and flexible office work spaces ranging from 500 sq. ft. to 1,300 sq. ft., The Sharp Project was also chosen due to its potential to provide Endor Productions with access to a range of ancillary services accessible via the broad range of tenants based at the facility able to support TV productions.

And with the new 360,000 sq. ft. drama hub set to open its doors in May 2014, the opportunities for production companies to benefit from The Sharp Project’s unique philosophy will only continue to grow.

Hilary Bevan Jones, CEO at Endor Productions, said of the decision to work with The Sharp Project: “With Manchester and the surrounding regions contributing so much to Victoria’s wonderful tale, it just wouldn’t have been right to see this production come together anywhere else in the country.

“We’ve already received an extremely warm welcome from everyone at The Sharp Project and we’re excited about working with the team here to make the most of everything Manchester and the North West has to offer.“

Sue Woodward, Project Director at The Sharp Project, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Tubby And Enid to The Sharp Project, and are excited about playing our part in helping to make Manchester a vibrant part of this production.

“TV drama in the North is in great shape and we’re all looking forward to seeing what is sure to be another stellar piece of television emerge from the region.“

‘Tubby and Enid’ is based on the stage show ‘That Day We Sang’ which premiered at the Manchester International  Festival in 2011 and has just completed a run at the Royal Exchange Theatre. The show will air on BBC 2 at Christmas.

Liverpool is set to show leaders from the world of commerce and industry that culture is big business in the city.

An eclectic cultural programme featuring 27 new commissions will run throughout the International Festival for Business (IFB) in June and July. 

The new events are a mixture of original initiatives and enhancements to existing projects and include everything from unique concerts and street performances, right through to virtual book fairs and even a special caravan where businesses can create their own jingles.

The aim of the programme is to showcase to delegates and visitors, Liverpool’s ability to host high quality, cultural events which attracts renowned artists, and at the same time, makes the city a global leader in arts and culture.

Some of the programme highlights include:

§  Mondrian And His Music – a collaboration between Tate Liverpool and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra with free concerts on 7 and 8 June 

§  The Sample-ist – A team of creative scientists will use human voice samples to construct a bespoke jingle for businesses.

§  One World Festival – Centred on bringing together the community, this event will showcase diverse musical and dance performances.

§  Working Lives – Here and There – DaDaFest plan to curate a high quality photography exhibition capturing positive images of disabled people at work. The exhibition will be held in a pop-up gallery within Liverpool’s Commercial District.

§  Virtual Book Fair – Writing on the Wall will bring together publishers, writers and readers.

§  Gianni Russo – Static Gallery present an evening with the singer, known for his role in The Godfather, who will perform a Frank Sinatra set.

§  Infecting the City – This large scale event will take place in a city centre location on Friday 11 July and will see 200 dancers, musicians, carnivalists, acrobats and circus performers come together in a performance never before seen in the UK.  Brought to the city by Brouhaha, it will mark the beginning of their carnival weekend which aims to bring the sights and the sounds of Rio to Liverpool.  

§  Summer Music at St George’s Hall – The Concert Room at St George’s Hall will be the setting for performances by Liverpool Philharmonic throughout June and early July, which will climax in a full production of Mozart’s opera Cosi fan tutte.

§  The orchestra will be joined by the Liverpool based European Opera Centre. The Orchestra will also perform a concert under the baton of Vasily Petrenko in Liverpool Cathedral.

§  Brazilica – Working in partnership with Liverpool Sound City they aim to ‘Brazilify’ the city centre with pop-up carnivals and costume showcases in unexpected locations.

Liverpool City Council’s Assistant Mayor and cabinet member for culture and tourism, Councillor Wendy Simon, said: “This will be the most extensive cultural programme, and the most significant cohesive collaboration between cultural, creative, business and visitor economy organisations and agencies, since we were Capital of Culture in 2008.

“Once again our arts organisations have done us proud in helping create a series of events and activities which are high quality, diverse, thought-provoking and entertaining.

“It is all about giving our home-grown talent the opportunity to reach their full artistic potential and produce things which are exceptional.

“Tens of thousands of business people will be arriving in the city during June and July and it’s a prime opportunity for the city to showcase why we have an exceptional reputation when it comes to culture and events.

“And of course the climax of the programme will be the return of the giants, which just goes to show the gigantic scale of the city’s ambitions and the value we put on culture and the economic benefits it brings to Liverpool.“

Nick Birkinshaw, the IFB Cultural Programme Co-Ordinator, said: “The programme is a real feast of festivals, exhibitions, art events, theatre shows, music in all genres, dance, film, new media, street art, flash mobs and creative conversations.

“It’s the perfect opportunity to encourage delegates and visitors to experience the melting-pot that is Liverpool’s cultural scene, and see first-hand the exciting, dynamic creativity which thrives in this city.“

Max Steinberg CBE, chair of IFB 2014 said:  “The International Festival for Business provides a unique platform to showcase Liverpool’s diverse cultural offering as well as attracting international talent.

“Tens of thousands of delegates are expected in the city region during the festival and the backdrop of outstanding art, music and theatre will enhance the experience for those who attend IFB as well as attracting thousands of others. It’s another opportunity to drive the city region’s reputation as a cultural capital and a must-visit destination.“

The International Festival for Business is a 50-day business festival hosted in Liverpool city region during June-July 2014. It will be an ambitious global showcase for great British industry across multiple sectors and will champion UK businesses to new markets, new products and new partners.

Comprising over 100 world-class events, the festival is a key part of the Government’s ambition to promote economic growth, rebalance the economy and double UK exports by 2020.

Backed by UK Government, IFB 2014 will cast a light on the spheres of commercial endeavour that are transforming the new economies and business landscapes of Britain and beyond.

East based PR and marketing agency, Harvey & Hugo has added two local graduates to its team and acquired more office space to deal with increasing demand for its services.

The firm, which also has an office in Newcastle, has appointed Erin Walden as PR executive and Samuel Elliott as graduate intern, to add to its Darlington team.

The agency has also expanded into a second office in its Darlington headquarters which allows even more space for future growth.

Erin, who graduated from Newcastle University with a master’s degree in International Multimedia Journalism, initially started as an intern but was rewarded with a permanent role for her effort and commitment.

Speaking about her new role, she said: “I love working with Harvey & Hugo, the team are lovely and there is a great sense of spirit in the office."

Sam joins the team from Teesside University through its funded internship scheme on a 3 month contract. Fresh out of university, with a degree in Multimedia Journalism, he is looking to pursue a career in public relations.

Sam said: “I’m hoping to use this internship as a chance to demonstrate my abilities and hopefully gain employment at the end of it.

“It’s fantastic when businesses like Harvey & Hugo sign up to these schemes and give graduates like myself an opportunity to grasp with both hands.“

Managing director, Charlotte Nichols, said: “We had such a fantastic end to 2013 and wanted to make an impact in the New Year.

“We’ve strengthened our team to deal with an increased demand in our services and this has also led to acquiring further office space to accommodate the new members."

Looking ahead, Charlotte is confident the business is heading in the right direction, she said: “I am really happy at how quickly things are progressing, we’ve come such a long way in just under five years.

“I would like to thank my team for the hard work they put in and wish the new members a very warm welcome.“

Harvey & Hugo specialises in social media management, blogging and press releases, offering a range of bespoke Pay-as-Hugo packages.

Award winning Manchester agency, Refresh PR, has scooped its fourth new client win of the New Year.

Following a competitive pitch, the Northern Quarter based agency has secured a retained account with Liverpool-based facilities management company and social enterprise, Vivark, part of the First Ark Group.

Refresh PR has been challenged with raising awareness of Vivark and its services in the Liverpool City Region and wider North West, as well as building a national profile for the company across its key sectors including commercial property, healthcare and education.

Tony Cahill, executive director of business and service development at Vivark, said: “As a social enterprise, we are committed to making a difference to the communities in which we operate.

“We were impressed by Refresh PR’s passion and understanding of our industry, as well as the ideas the team put forward and its approach to creating a solid strategy. “

Sophie Smith, account director at Refresh PR, said: “The first time we met the Vivark team, we knew that they were a great fit with us. The team shares many of the same values as us and we’re very much looking forward to working in partnership with them to deliver a successful PR campaign.“

Following a number of new client wins, including health and wellbeing brand, Arbonne, and Lloyd Piggott Chartered Accountants, as well as ambition to continuing expanding throughout 2014, Refresh PR is currently recruiting for new team members. For more information visit www.refreshpr.co.uk.

Tall Ltd, the Leeds based firm who are specialists in taking brands online, has been appointed by Yorkshire Building Society as its digital agency.

Tall was chosen by YBS to provide all digital communications across its whole brand portfolio – which also includes Chelsea Building Society and Barnsley Building Society – following a competitive pitch.

Tall’s understanding of the brief and Yorkshire Building Society’s business needs and goals were instrumental in their success, as was the calibre of work that Tall has delivered to the Society for two previous campaigns.

Guy Utley, Creative Director at Tall Ltd said, “Having worked with Yorkshire Building Society in the past we know how committed they are to using digital communication to support all of their products and services to deliver truly integrated promotions that will drive growth.

"We are extremely proud that YBS recognised our passion for creativity and our ability to devise engaging and creative digital communications that make brands stand out.

"We are looking forward to working with the Society’s other roster agencies over the coming year and providing everything from banner ads and rich media to social sharing content and offline digital media.”

Anna Higgins, Customer Acquisition Managerat Yorkshire Building Society, added: “Tall responded to our brief with a compelling and creative tender that we instantly knew would help us to cut through the digital noise and clutter in our marketplace and deliver results.

"The team at Tallare easy to work with and have clearly invested a significant amount of time in understanding both our business and our goals.

We have ambitious growth plans for the future and are aware that elevating our digital presence will be key to achieving this. Engaging creative will be of paramount importance and unlike many digital agencies this is something that Tall are able to consistently deliver. The fact that Tall are located near our new Leeds base is an added advantage.”

Chartered surveyors Sanderson Weatherall have cemented their commitment to Newcastle city centre with the refurbishment of the firm’s offices.

The firm has signed a new lease. The landlords employed Sanderson Weatherall to remodel the reception area of the Grey Street office, which they have occupied since 2002.

Gavin Black, acting for the landlord, said “We were delighted with the design and project management Sanderson Weatherall provided and the end result is excellent”.

As well as refurbishing the ground floor reception area, work has been carried out to create new meeting space on the first floor, along with other internal reshaping. A Sanderson Weatherall’s in-house architectural team, led by Gillian Smith and Lee Sanderson, project managed the reception refurbishment.

The changes will also help Sanderson Weatherall move towards a paperless office and create increased operational efficiency for staff, as well as establishing quieter working areas.

Chris Dixon, a Partner at Sanderson Weatherall, said: “We have worked very closely with Gavin Black, our landlord’s agent, to cement our future in the centre of Newcastle. It is important to us that we operate at the heart of one of the most vibrant commercial property markets in the country, and our passion for property extends as much to the space we occupy as that which we handle for our clients.

“We have been here for 12 years and the work which has been done to change the layout of the office will keep us here for years to come by ensuring it meets the needs of our business for the future.“

Live Theatre announces its plan to develop LiveWorks, a proposed new £10 million capital development scheme on Newcastle’s Quayside.

Live Theatre have purchased the last remaining prime Quayside plot of land and buildings alongside the theatre and plan to create new commercial office space, a new public park and a children and young people’s writing centre.

Once complete, LiveWorks will create new revenue streams for the core creative and educational work of Live Theatre, building resilience for the Theatre for the future, and transforming this part of the Quayside.

The purchase of the land and buildings and the development of the site has been supported by a prudential loan of £6 million from Newcastle City Council and a £1.73 million grant confirmed from the North East European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Programme 2007 to 2013.

£8 million has already been secured to allow Live Theatre to purchase the land and buildings next to the Theatre, and for the development of additional office space on the Quayside, with other statutory and private sector fundraising being sought.

Jim Beirne, chief executive, Live Theatre said: “We are delighted that the support from ERDF and Newcastle City Council has allowed us to purchase the site for LiveWorks. We are excited to move the project into the next phase of design and build.

"And having just completed a wonderful 40th anniversary year, we are even more excited at the prospect of the thousands of artists, children and young people that will enjoy all these opportunities for the next 40 years.”

Additional fundraising is taking place to realise a children’s a young people’s writing centre, to inspire young people through creative writing and literacy projects.

Paul Callaghan, chair, Live Theatre and Chair of Newcastle Gateshead Initiative, said: "This wonderful project is not just significant for Live Theatre but also for Newcastle and Gateshead as a whole.

"It will be an amazing place for people of all ages, but particularly for children and young people. This key site has stood empty for too long and we are delighted that we are going to be able to transform it into something so special."

Nick Forbes, Leader, Newcastle City Council said: "I’m really glad that the City Council has helped Live Theatre to make this exciting new project a reality. It demonstrates our continuing commitment to Newcastle’s cultural scene despite the ravages of austerity and underlines our shared belief that culture creates investment and jobs, as well as a great quality of life."

Live Theatre is a national leader in developing new strategies for developing income and assets for the charity.

LiveWorks will join The Broad Chare pub, online playwriting course www.beaplaywright.com and The Schoolhouse, office space for creative and digital businesses, as one of Live Theatre’s capital and digital creative enterprises, increasing its future income through additional new unrestricted funds.

Peter Bazalgette, chair of Arts Council England, described Live Theatre’s creative enterprises an example of ‘intelligent capital spending’, creating additional commercial income streams enabling it to grow and sustain its work in the production of new plays, developing creative talent and learning and participation. 

The land being acquired is probably the last remaining prime riverside site on the Newcastle Quayside and the commercial properties immediately adjacent. The acquisition of the Quayside frontage offers Live Theatre the opportunity to have visibility on the Quayside itself. 

LiveWorks development will create:

• A new landmark building on Newcastle’s Quayside with approximately 1500sqm net of highly desirable premium office space with river views
• New commercial opportunities and visibility on the busy Quayside thoroughfare for Live Theatre
• Refurbishment of a Grade II listed Almshouse into a new children and young people’s writing centre
• A landscaped green space, a new pocket park at the centre of the site with public pedestrian access from the Quayside and a public and performance space managed and programmed by Live Theatre in daily use by tenants, neighbours and the public and transforming this part of the Quayside.
• An additional revenue for the core creative and education work of Live Theatre, and a social, cultural and commercial return to build resilience for Live Theatre for the future.

NewcastleGateshead’s buzzing creative and digital sector was the focus of an international audience this week, welcoming a 20-strong delegation of inward investment specialists from global tech hotspots including, San Francisco, Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo and New York. 

The Creative and Digital Briefing tour - jointly organised by NewcastleGateshead Initiative’s inward investment team and UKTI (UK Trade & Investment) – took place on Monday February 3 to help spread the message that NewcastleGateshead is the place to be for international companies looking for a UK base.

The visit was secured after bidding against other UK cities to host the group. 

Innovators and talented leaders from NewcastleGateshead’s tech community supported the tour and played a key role in demonstrating the area’s key strengths in the sector; everything from AAA games and graphic art to coding and cloud computing as well as film, video and smart mobile applications. 

Catherine Walker, inward investment director at NewcastleGateshead Initiative, said: “The creative and digital sector is a key area where we know there is huge scope to secure investment. Almost 8,000 people are employed here by 1,775 creative and digital businesses, which are worth £866m to our local economy. \

"We have a thriving tech community which is a mix of successful start-ups and global companies that work with some of the biggest international names around. 

“Our universities and colleges are world leaders in research and development, and are widely recognised as providers of the UK’s strongest graduates in computer science and other creative and digital disciplines.

"We have an attractive offer for potential investors and events like these are vital to helping us raise awareness of the opportunities available for businesses to grow and prosper here.“ 

The visit also showcased strategic employment sites such as Northern Design Centre, Science Central, Hoults Yard and the Toffee Factory, as well as providing the opportunity to experience first-hand the innovative work that happens here through demos from the Ignite100 Accelerator Programme teams and the impressive ZeroLight Virtual Showroom, developed by Gateshead-based Eutechnyx.

Darren Jobling, CEO at Eutechnyx, said: “North East England has the biggest cluster of games companies outside of London and the South East. Thanks to the low operating costs and enviable skills base it is known throughout the world for excellence in games development.

"We’re achieving great things as a company and we’re proud to be able to share that today while helping to reinforce the region’s reputation as a home of innovation.

Cindy Fabian, vice consul for Creative and Media at UKTI San Francisco, added: “The event has been very interesting. I’m particularly impressed with the vibrancy and community feel of the gaming sector here – they’re passionate people who have shown a strong affinity with the area and a real commitment to staying here and growing their businesses.“

If you haven’t heard of Darren Baker, you may have been living under a rock for the past decade.

The Huddersfield born-and-bred artist has painted the Queen, became the official artist of the London Olympics 2012 and found his niche as a portrait painter to Premier League footballers including Rio Ferdinand, Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerard, and other sports stars such as Amir Khan and Lewis Hamilton.

On top of his day job, Darren is ambassador to the Princes Trust and one portrait alone donated in 2011 raised over £25k at auction.

Here Darren talks to Yorkshire Editor Clare Burnett about his successes and how to mix business and creativity into a winning formula.

Is there a secret to setting up a successful creative business?

Well what I say to young students is that you’ve just got to keep practicing on your main artistic practice. Always be out there promoting yourself, meeting people. Even when you’ve had a bad exhibition or rejected from a gallery just keep believing in yourself. I think that’s true for any business. Persistence really is key.

On your bio it says you have a bit of a flair for identifying interesting people and making contacts, do you find networking beneficial when it comes to the business side of things?

Definitely. I was lucky enough to be introduced to The Princes Trust when I left art college and they were a big help, and that started me networking. Now I’ve become an ambassador for the Princes Trust, donating artwork for fundraising and putting on workshops for young people, just putting something back in.

Thats what its all about. I’m a true believer in making connections in business. I’ve got collectors who have been collecting for a decade now, who still collect my work and have become friends.

So do you think it’s important to stay grounded in Yorkshire then, as so many people go off and try and make it in London?

Yeah I’ve got loads of Yorkshire customers, I’ve got an exhibition coming up in Huddersfield in March and although I think its the first thing I’ve done in yorkshire for 7 years, my framers and printers are still in Huddersfield, my friends and family are still in Huddersfield so there’s always that connection.

You also definitely found a niche in the sports sector, do you think that helped you on your way to success?

I think definitely in the early days I got in with a lot of top clubs and players and it was something that no other artists were really doing at the time so I cut out a niche for myself there and became more established in the art world. Then I got to do exhibitions in London galleries and so it snowballed into other sectors of the art world.

Who was the hardest person you’ve ever had to paint?

I suppose in terms of pressure it was the definitely the Queen, getting the lighting right, getting it in before the deadline for the unveiling. I only had 2 sittings at Buckingham Palace which can be quite unusual, most artists do more than that. That’s probably why they hired me; I wasn’t too demanding on their time! And then another 4 hours in the studio after that for the finished piece.

Footballers on the other hand aren’t used to sitting still, it was more of a meet and greet and then do their portrait from a photograph, then go away and paint them. I’ve painted John Terry, Steven gerrard, Ryan Giggs, Daglish, I’ve even painted Joe Hart’s pug dogs! He’s a nice chap, was very impressed with the finished piece.

Is there a creative business person who’s work you really appreciate?

My fellow Yorkshireman David Hockney, in terms of marketing himself he’s done really well and coming from nothing but using his talent and always following his passion.

Marketing has changed now, it’s not necessarily about who you know but how to get yourself out there using and becoming engaged with digital and social media, have you found this in the art world as well?

Yeah you really have to be on the ball with everything digital, social media, websites; the whole lot. Just embrace all the new forms of marketing and promoting yourself. All the stuff I do with the galleries and charities out there, they all need recognition and people want to promote themselves which also helps me as well.

Is it more difficult being a born Yorkshireman and trying to make it in London and the wider world do you think?

Yeah I think it would have been far easier if I’d have been an originally London based artist, to get anywhere in any industry as it is the focal point for the arts. But coming from Yorkshire I was able to build a strong base there. Yorkshire people like to stick together as well, it meant I had a lot of strong support when I moved down to London.

Where are you going from here, what sort of direction do you want to take now you’ve already achieved so much?

Im off to paint one of the presidents of america, I’ve been invited to Afghanistan to record the army one of the regiments, get introduced to the US army and you never know where that might lead. I want to do more with the Royal Academy, get more of my artwork into museums so theres still a long way to go.

My aims are to become more established in the art word and have my art collected by museums. At that point your work reaches a new level and enters the auction houses. Thats where I want to be.

I’ve got my childrens book launch this year in London on the 6th March, (details at www.darrenbakerfineart.co.uk) and the gallery hosting the event M1 Fine Art of Greenwich. The event is in aid of my charity The Princes Trust which is then coming up to Yorkshire. I’ve also been commissioned to do a mural for Lourdes so I’ve got a lot going on this year!

A Newcastle-based film-maker who has worked on the Game of Thrones TV series and major feature films has secured £7k funding to market her company.

Malta-born Maria Caruana Galizia, who runs Candle and Bell Limited from Clavering House in the centre of Newcastle, will use the loan from Gateshead-based Transmit Start-Ups to market her film, animation and video production services.

Maria said: "I shopped around to find the best place to get business support and decided Transmit Start-Ups was ideal for me as the directors are all so experienced in the creative industries.  

"They are really pro-active with me.  I know they have been in some of the situations I need help with and always nudge me in the right direction."

Maria’s studied Digital Filmmaking at the SAE Institute in Glasgow and worked as an assistant film editor on Scottish detective drama Taggart.

Her big break came with work on the €50 million film Agora, by Academy Award winning director, Alejandro Amenabar - starring Rachel Weisz.

She lated worked as digital imaging technician on the hit show Game of Thrones, which was also filmed in Malta.

Candle and Bell has recently produced its first pop video for the UK rapper Example

Damian Baetens, director and mentor, Transmit Start-Ups said: "Maria is set for great success as she has all the essential skills you need to be self-employed.  

"She has drive and determination as well as first class creativity and professionalism. We are delighted to have been able to help her achieve her dream of running her own business."

Maria now represents the 250th client for Transmit Start-Ups who have now provided £1.5 million in loans to companies since setting up just under a year ago. 

One of the most hotly anticipated tactical shooter video games is being developed in the North East, creating at least 12 jobs.

Newcastle-based game developers Reflections, a Ubisoft studio, are currently working ‘The Division’ - a third-person shooter game for the Playstation 4 and Xbox.

The game will be released under the author Tom Clancy’s brand and is being developed in conjunction with Ubisoft’s Swedish studio.

Set in a New York City on the verge of collapse, The Division is one of the most high-anticipated ‘next-gen’ titles slated for release later in the year.

Pauline Jacquey, managing director of Reflections since 2012, said: “The Reflections team love working on The Division, it’s very exciting for the studio to go from working on Watch Dogs to another such high profile project.  

“We have been working on the game for a couple of months and throughout the studio we are working of the biggest IP’s in the world. This is a really creative time for us and energy is really high in the studio.

“The Division is a great opportunity for us to attract new talent to Reflections; we are looking for super smart experts with an entrepreneurial spirit, who wants to make the best games in the world.

“We always planned to ramp up recruitment at this stage in the project, and we’re looking in particular for experienced programmers and online experts who are ready to join the Reflections team here in Newcastle.“

The firm are now looking for the best independent thinkers to join their team which is currently celebrating its 30th year in business.

Reflections are also behind the popular Just Dance game, and recently reported turnover of £7.9 million turnover in its 2013 financial year.

For those interested in applying to Reflections - visit the website here.

Manchester PR agency Brazen has been appointed by iconic sweets brand Chewits to handle its consumer and trade PR accounts.

Brazen won the contract after coming out top in a ‘competitive’ four-way pitch. The account will see the agency handle four key new product launches and target bloggers.

Chewits consumer marketing manager Hollie Kozakiewicz said: "It was very clear that Brazen naturally understood the memories that the Chewits brand evokes in both children and parents.

“Everyone loves Chewits whether young or old, and we have some major plans in place for 2014, with Brazen being the perfect choice to help communicate them.“

Brazen founder Nina Webb said: “Chewits is an amazing, iconic brand that has been satisfying the nation’s sweet tooth for almost half a century.

“We’re going to have some great fun in 2014, re-engaging both media and consumers with this best-loved of brands.“

Brazen aims to target bloggers throughout 2014 with campaigns under the strapline: “Unleash the Taste Adventure.“

Image source: br1dotcom

A Newcastle-based organisation that supports designers in the early stages of their careers is looking to take a group of northern designers to a showcase event in London.

In September the group will travel to designjunction, part of the London Design Festival, to demonstrate their products including furniture, wall coverings, textiles, lighting and homeware.

The team are looking for applications from product designers based in the North East, North West, Yorkshire and Humber.

During the 2010 and 2012 event, exhibiting designers recieved corporate and private sales and commissions over £70k.

The event will be attended by major retailers, manufacturers and stockists.

In total, 18 designers have been part of our previous showcase exhibitions at London Design Festival, showing a diverse range of products including furniture, wall coverings, textiles, lighting and homeware.

Interested designers can visit the Design Event website here. The deadline for applications is 5pm on March 10. 

Sunderland-based creative agency MCC Media have been commissioned to work on a children’s docummentary series for CBBC.

‘My Life’ follows the lives of children with incredible stories to tell, and MCC Media’s episode will be broadcase on February 18 at 5.30 pm. 

The half-hour film, ‘My Life: The Floating Hospital’, follows a 15-year-old British girl who sails with her family on a hospital ship, and Gracem a Congolese teenager who has suffered by the growth of a tumour on her face.

MCC were helped by Gateshead-based creative development agency Northern Film & Media to create a taster tape for an episode in Tenerife, which won them the commission.

The final film was shot in Pointe Noire in the Republic of Congo last September.

Paul McCoy, producer and director, said: “This was a fantastic experience for everyone who worked on the film. It was a great story that just had to be told. None of this would have been possible without the help and hard work from Mercy Ships and the team at MCC Media.“

Kez Margrie, CBBC’s executive producer for the My Life films, said: “This latest series features some truly incredible young people and they all have very different stories to tell.

"At CBBC we try to encourage our viewers to see the world in a new and interesting way and we hope that the extraordinary personal stories told by the children in My Life will inspire them to do just that.“

Firms across Merseyside have the opportunity to find the perfect solution to their social media marketing needs - and offer a young person a career kick-start.

Some of the North West’s leading companies have come together to launch the UK’s first industry-led social media apprenticeship. The programme is not only creating much-needed jobs for young people but is helping to fill an industry-wide skills gap by training young professionals in the practical application of social media.

The Juice Academy, run by Tangerine PR in Manchester, has already successfully recruited apprentices at its first ‘boot camp’ session in Manchester.

Now the Academy is hosting a similar recruitment day in Liverpool on Tuesday 25th February at Paver Smith PR, at their headquarters in The Plaza, 100 Old Hall St, Liverpool, Merseyside L3 9QJ. 

Lucy Adams, Project Co-ordinator at the Juice Acacdemy, said: "This is the perfect chance to find out more about the apprenticeship and meet the person who could be the newest member of your team.

"If you have an office in the North West and you have a minimum of five full-time staff and a line manager with social media knowledge, we could have just the person for you. It’s a great opportunity to extend your social media offer, and to enhance a young person’s career prospects."

The Apprenticeship is delivered through a mixture of theoretical and work-place learning, covering all elements of social media management.

Modules covered include Social Media Management, Developing Content for Social Sharing, Developing a Digital Strategy, Keyword Analysis and SEO, and Social Media for Mobile. The core programme is delivered by practising social media specialists at Tangerine PR, ‘gurus’ from the wider industry, as well as guest lecturers. Not content with ‘just ticking boxes’, the course covers a range of professional skills and techniques, delivered by a leading professional coach, ensuring The Juice Academy apprentices are not only equipped with essential social media expertise but also life and professional skills to make them well-rounded employees. 

Image source: mojo-jo-jo

One of the first design agencies established on Tyneside has launched a new website to reflect over 21 years’ of creative work.

Gateshead-based Solution Group’s new online home is inspired by a visual portfolio created through working with hundreds of brands spanning over the last two decades.

Celebrating its 21st birthday, the agency’s impressive showcase covers its traditional offline work and multi-media projects for a range of organisations including the National Trust, energy giant Utilitywise and the Sage.

Pete McGlynn, director at Solution Group, said: “This is a really exciting time for the business so we wanted to launch a new website that reflected the breadth and depth of creative work we have done over the years.

“At the same time, it was also important for us to visually reflect not only our traditional capabilities in brand design and print, but also the digital, animation and video work that we have created over more recent years.

“Ultimately, we design and develop brands and hope our new website reflects this. Based on feedback we have received to date, it seems to have hit the spot.”

As part of its new online visual identity, Solution Group is also looking to increase its social media activity to help generate a stronger online presence.

Solution Group is a full service agency providing its customers with branding, web design, illustration and art direction. The multi-media design company works with high profile clients in the UK and abroad covering a range of sectors.

From humble beginnings, the creative firm has gone on to become one of the most established agencies in the North East attracting clients such as Barclays, B&Q, Shell, Sony and Universal Music Group.

For more information visit www.solutiongroup.co.uk, find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/solutiongroupuk or follow them on Twitter @solutiongroupuk. 

For further information, images and interview opportunities, please contact Raman Sehgal  at ramarketing | raman@ramarketingpr.com | 07808 796 300 | www.ramarketingpr.com | www.twitter.com/ramarketingpr

Leeds-based digital marketing agency, Zeal Media, has been selected to take Wilson Field’s digital marketing activity to the next level following a four-way pitch.

Zeal Media’s clients include Leeds Bradford Airport, Costcutter Supermarkets, Page and Cooper,  MKM building supplies and Gekko Global.

Wilson Field initially approached Zeal for Pay Per Click (PPC) advice but following the pitch is now engaged in a multi-channel digital strategy including video, content, PPC, social, blogger outreach and creative.

Wilson Field operates throughout the UK across various disciplines including business recovery, insolvency, personal debt solutions and corporate finance. 

The 13-year old company now has around 90 staff in its national network of offices from its headquarters in Sheffield.

Kat Richardson-Green, project manager for Wilson Field, said: “Due to the continued expansion of the business, we sought to find a dynamic marketing agency that would complement our already established online marketing team to deliver cutting edge digital marketing and to further our web presence."

The agency will deliver a series of integrated campaigns to raise awareness of the brand which will tie in with Wilson Field’s existing marketing activity.

Jane Slimming, managing director of Zeal Media said: ‘’Zeal is over the moon to be working with a company like Wilson Field.

"They are forward thinking, flexible and truly committed to use the digital landscape as it should be; with the customer in mind.

"We are already shooting video content, deciding on a social strategy and ensuring we can reduce their PPC costs whilst still increasing traffic.’’

Zeal Media is a digital full service agency based at Tower Works. It has seen a rapid growth in its first four years of business, having been founded in 2010. Each year has more than double turnover and members of staff. Zeal employs 13 members of staff and offers a range of services to its clients

A group of young artists are using a disused Middlesbrough office block to develop their careers and turn their art into commercial enterprise.

The group have been taking part in an innovative programme called NICE (Next Steps in Creative Experience), designed by two directors of Navigator North who have been supporting young artists for more than a decade. 

One of these new artists is starting to make money out of his art and hopes to be able to give up his job in a supermarket.

Until 2006 Dundas House, an eight-storey building above a popular shopping centre and one of the town’s most recognisable landmarks, housed a BT call centre. 

Artist Vicky Holbrough and designer Nicola Parkin are two of the founders of Navigator North which was set up three years ago to create opportunities for local artists.

Vicky, 37, said: “Young artists face particular problems in finding and affording studio space to develop their skills.  And even though they might have talent, they are often not equipped to pursue a career which uses that talent.“

The problem of a lack of affordable studios has been solved by finding disused buildings like Dundas House, negotiating leases with the owners or landlords and creating so-called Pop Up or Meanwhile spaces.

Nicola, 30, said: “A lot of the time they are happy that there is a presence on site.  It’s better than it staying empty.“

At Dundas House Navigator North has created studios for artists, fashion designers, illustrators and animators.  The vast open-plan office floors also provide ideal space for exhibitions. 

And Vicky and Nicola’s search for empty buildings has not ended with Dundas House. They have secured space for artists in former office blocks in Middlesbrough’s Riverside Park, Thornaby and Bishop Auckland.

Vicky added: “Once we’d got the space, we then thought of how we could use it to help young artists. 

“We’ve both worked with young people all our careers and were very conscious that there was something missing – even after university – to help those who wanted to turn their talent into a career.“

Both Vicky and Nicola are advisers for Arts Award – aimed at young people between seven and 25 - and decided to use the Gold Award framework as a basis for NICE. 

Nicola said: “The Gold Award is all about developing your talent – whether you’re a painter, dancer or writer.  But it’s also about the other things that go with being an artist: setting budgets, knowing where to go to apply to funding, preparing an invoice, even writing a CV.

“Starting out is difficult and some young artists have a very lonely and isolated existence, so through NICE we were also able to provide support and mentoring.“

For the first programme, which ended in 2013, six young artists were selected to be NICERs.  All were graduates, although a degree was not a criteria, and the majority were working part time in hospitality, retail or supermarkets whilst trying to build their chosen careers.

Fine artist Paul Murray, 25, from Stockton, graduated from Leeds University in 2009 with a degree in Visual Communication. 

He had worked part-time for Morrisons since 2005 and went back there after finishing his studies. 

He is now also working part-time at the Cleveland College of Art and Design, and getting paid work as an artist.

Paul says NICE gave him the confidence he previously lacked: “I knew that I wanted to pursue a career in arts but didn’t know how to do it. When we started none of us called ourselves artists: we made art but we weren’t artists.  Now I am confident to call myself an artist.“

Vicky and Nicola are planning to continue running The NICE Programme, if further funding can be secured.

Helen Green, who heads Bridge North East - which manages and supports Arts Award in the region - said: “Silver and Gold Arts Awards are usually being completed when young people are also preparing for their GCSEs or A’ Levels. They are Level 2 and 3 qualifications and really valuable for young people moving onto employment or further and higher education. But by working with people like Paul through NICE, Vicky and Nicola have identified a new role for the Gold Arts Award.

“At a time when the Government and various agencies are looking for routes, like apprenticeships, to bridge the gap between education and work, I believe NICE should be looked at very seriously as a blueprint to ensure talented and creative young people are given similar opportunities.“

Image source: Paolo Camera

A North West digital startup is celebrating a recession-busting first year in business, after generating a 20-strong client base.

SNAP Design Studio, of Blackpool, founded in january 2013 by web entrepreneur Phil Storey, and now boasts clients including a London-based theatre producer, a property management company and independent financial advisors.

The full service digital agency was accepted in December by the Recommended Agency Register, an online directory of creative and digital businesses voted outstanding by their own clients. This should help generate more work during 2014.

Phil said: “I started my business in the doom and gloom of the triple-dip recession, where one in five startup businesses fail in their first year, so I’ve had the odds stacked against me. What SNAP Design Studio has achieved in its first year of business is even more remarkable because of that.

“It goes to show that old school business tactics – outstanding customer service for clients and great quality yet value for money work – hasn’t gone out of fashion and in fact has brought in work month after month. I can’t wait to see what the next 12 months brings.”

SNAP offers a full range of digital services, from website design and search engine optimization, to graphic design and social media.

Over the past year Phil has re-launched an estate agent’s website so it now ranks consistently highly on Google, set up a chartered accountancy firm’s social media platforms and rebranded a worldwide-touring musical quartet’s business online.

Phil says his seven days-a-week support to clients sets him apart from his competitors.

Networking has been fundamental to SNAP’s success so far with 35% of turnover attributed to referrals generated by groups such as BNI, 4Networking and SHOUT.

Phil said: “I realised from the outset how important it would be for generating sales, to keep meeting as many business owners and decision makers as often as possible. I once heard the phrase ‘Want more sales? See more people.’ That is so true.

“I joined BNI, early on and that immediately opened me up to a room full of local businesses who were ready to recommend their clients, to me. Alongside this, I continue to network on a regular basis – people buy from people – and this has brought great success in the first year.”