News from our Chief Executive, April 2010
I thought that as the recession is now officially over and we are heading towards the 12 month anniversary of AIDC's de-camping it was a good time to share with you some thoughts on developments in the Centre.
We have always kept Floors 1 and 2 for small businesses as incubator, generator and growth spaces and anyone starting a business during the past 18 months certainly deserved all of the support we could offer. The attrition rate over the last year has been high especially amongst the smallest and most vulnerable businesses and the big drive for us this year is to get more start up businesses back and trading from the Centre as the economy eases.
It would be clear to everyone that the sudden vacation of Floors 4, 5 and 6 presented us with some significant difficulties in 2009 but we have worked our way through bit by bit. An immense amount of hard work by directors, trustees, staff and partner organisations has resulted in the Centre now being in a very good position. Quite honestly we are in a much better position that I ever imagined.
West Grove Mill on Floor 4 (the mill on the side of the conference rooms) is now part occupied by Allied Healthcare and part by Calderdale Council's support team for disabled school children. A bonus is that there is some compatibility in the activities of the tenants in West Grove Mill.
Bond Mill on Floor 5 became partly occupied by Simply Paving in early in 2010. The break up of Floor 5 offered the potential for re-configuration into 'medium' sized offices spaces, something we previously didn’t have. This meant that Ink Creations, one of our current tenants, was able to move up a size and occupy a sizable part of that floor. Another existing tenant will shortly be doing the same, leaving the 5th floor virtually full and again it is fortunate there is compatibility amongst these businesses.
When one of our tenants at the Hanson Lane Centre, a local Charity, wanted to expand their operation we took the opportunity of moving our Finance and admin team over here to the remaining empty floor, Floor 6 Bond Mill, and letting them take our own office space at Hanson Lane.
It is great when it all comes right in the end!
We have quite a bit happening over the next 12 months that we hope will add value to your business and improve your day to day experience of the Centre. We plan to open the cafe area in May at long last and after many false starts. Thank you for bearing with us. It has been a tortuous journey but we will get there. It will be a modest affair in the beginning but hopefully the quality of food will be excellent.
Ha and Hannah are working hard on Creative Calderdale which we believe will provide added focus and oxygen for creative businesses hopefully opening up new opportunities as we come out of recession.
Work is also starting on our greenscreen/film studio up at Hanson Lane with Hannah Crank using her film industry background to lead on this.
It is just great looking back to see how it has all come together but it was undoubtedly a tough year all round. Remember what Tupac said, 'That which does not kill me only makes me stronger!' I guess though in his case it didn't really work out that well.
Barbara Harbinson
Chief Executive
Halifax Opportunities Trust
A new boost for creativity: Highlight for local firmsPremium Article !
Published Date: 09 March 2010
By Farhana Haque
WORK to set up a digital networking platform for creative businesses in Calderdale has begun. Halifax-based Digital Consortium has been chosen to implement the Creative Calderdale project, launched by Calderdale Council in partnership with the Elsie Whiteley Innovation Centre.
Focused on digital and creative industries in Calderdale, it aims to develop a creative industry network to encourage the start-up of new businesses, attract investment and improve competitiveness. As part of the project, Creative Calderdale will be establishing a virtual hub for the network which includes an online magazine, map-based business locator system and secure log-in and members' area.
Digital companies from across Calderdale were invited to apply to take on the project. The panel decided on Digital Consortium, based at the Elsie Whiteley Centre. Guy Utley, creative director at Digital Consortium, said: "The concept of a virtual hub for creative companies in our area is something we've been discussing internally for a long time.
"I use similar sites like this on a daily basis, but these all seem to be national websites."
The company's clients include Pirelli, YBS, the Childcare Corporation and the Creative Calderdale Commission.
Client services director Liz Baker said: "Our ideas for the Creative Calderdale site focused on ensuring it had the most interactive and useful features for the creative and digital sector.
"The idea is that the site will target companies like us in the Calderdale area and encourage collaboration.
"It's fantastic that this website will act as a portal for publications and organisations to find out about individuals and groups, and about the great standard of work coming out of Calderdale.
"We've suggested a magazine-style format for the site, which will showcase the work of companies.
"There will also be a facility to enable companies to locate creatives and artisans working in the area."
Hannah Crank has been appointed to support the project as marketing and events co-ordinator.
New network to be boost for creativity: Even home-based firms will benefit
Back-bedroom sites: many creative businesses in Calderdale are hidden away in the Calder Valley in places like Hebden Bridge
Published Date: 22 January 2010
By Farhana Haque at the Halifax Courier
Creative companies across Calderdale are being urged to tender for a major new project which will bring businesses together. Calderdale is the home for some 1,433 creative companies, making up around 20 per cent of all the businesses in the borough. It is the largest creative sector in Yorkshire and Humberside but many of them are hidden away, with a large proportion based in the back bedrooms of homes across Calderdale, particularly in the Calder Valley in places such as Hebden Bridge.
Now Calderdale Council has appointed the Elsie Whiteley Innovation Centre to manage a fund which will allow them all to network online and create more opportunities. Firms are being asked to tender for a contract to create the web portal and also create an image for the project. Established businesses or younger firms with experience are urged to get in touch.
"It will involve people from the creative industry tendering to create the web portal for their own peer group," said Ha Smith, business development manager at the centre.
Barbara Harbinson, the centre's chief executive, said: "This is for the whole of Calderdale.
"The portal will bring people together. The Elsie Whiteley Centre has already shown that companies can go for big contracts if they are working together."
It is hoped that more work will be generated and as a result more people will be employed by these firms.The portal is expected to be ready by June. The council commissioned the Acorn Centre in Todmordon to lead a survey to map all the creative businesses in Calderdale, including those based at home.
Mrs Harbinson said: "Then when we have launched the portal we will be looking for every business to get involved.
"It will give them a chance to access markets and there will be a marketing service available for them too.
"It's like a virtual market place – it's the 21st century version of the Piece Hall.
"For example, if someone wanted to tender a contract they could put it on the website.
"It started with what we are doing at the Elsie Whiteley Centre – we want to extend that across Calderdale.
"It's about capturing work from a much wider market and keeping it here. We have certainly got the talent in Calderdale.
"How many people are hidden away doing all this work?"
Anyone interested in taking on the project can call Ha Smith on 01422 399408.