Creative Herts
Full case study
Creative Herts was established to help creative professional people and firms in Hertfordshire benefit from each other’s knowledge skills and contacts.
Nigel Culkin, Head of Enterprise and Entrepreneurship for the university spotted the potential for such a network.
With its natural link to many creative people and industries, the university was ideally placed to support the needs, ambitions and economic performance of these people as part of a network.
The challenge
One major obstacle that Herts 'creatives' tend to face is the feeling of isolation.
The freelancers, sole traders, musicians, songwriters, film and media people involved in Hertfordshire’s creative industries rarely have opportunities to meet each other.
A lack of management training or know-how in essential areas, such as sales and marketing, PR, and financial literacy were additional hurdles.
The ideal solution
The Creative Herts network provides the ideal solution.
Established in 2005 with 10 members, and originally supported by the East of England Development Agency (EEDA), the network has grown to serve 80 local businesses and individuals involved in the creative industries.
By holding monthly networking evenings and regular Skills Training Events the network has helped alleviate and overcome some of the challenges faced by members in the creative industries.
Members also receive a direct link through the Creative Herts website to chat and show their work, are given the opportunity to take part in regular crafts fairs, receive monthly newsletters, and are offered the chance to speak at meetings.
Helen Blockley, Creative Herts project manager says: “The strength of the network is its ability to bring people with similar interest together. Artists can talk to designers, designers can talk to filmmakers and so on. It’s a burgeoning membership – we keep attracting more and more people.”
The results
- Creation of a beneficial network. Providing the opportunity for creative individuals and companies with obvious synergy to meet and share ideas
- A rapidly expanding membership. From 10 members on its launch in 2005, the network currently supports a membership of 80.
- A much visited and helpful website. By employing a PR tool the website has established a high Google ranking and receives many inquiries – and new members – as a result.
Find out more
The Faculty for the Creative and Cultural Industries
Our Faculty for the Creative and Cultural Industries provides some of the best facilities in the UK for studying art and design and helps to produce creative work.
It offers many different study and work spaces, as well as up-to-date equipment.
The emphasis is on the creative benefits of sharing resources and expertise across the Faculty.
Contact us
For further information please contact our Press Office
tel +44 (0)1707 284022