NorthernNet launch to connect Northern creative and digital companies
The Drum looks at NorthernNet, the newly launched digital platform for creative and digital agencies from the North of England.
NorthernNet has been created as the region welcomes more and more media companies with the development of MediaCity in Salford, which will house a significant percentage of the BBC, as well as many other creative and media companies.
According to Fay Shannon, marketing and events manager for NorthernNet, once launched, NorthernNet will connect digital and creative companies from Carlisle to Scarborough as it inspires collaboration and innovation between companies.
“We need a more innovative and collaborative approach to deal with what is happening in the north and we need to have a more robust and competitive sector in the Northwest,” says Shannon as she explains what the project will ultimately aim to achieve. “If you think about when we do finally have Media City here it will be such a fantastic place for anyone within the creative media/digital industries. Our aim is to get our industry ready for 2011 so that when it happens we’re there and we’re in place and ready to go.”
Mercedes Clark-Smith, project director for NorthernNet Innovation and Collaboration, adds: “This is an exciting time for the North of England. The opportunity is there for the region to take; for us to really focus on strengthening our supply chain, positioning the North to be a leading force in the European digital, creative and media industry”
Shannon went on to reveal that there will be three focal services provided by the programme to the creative and digital industry, the first being that it will connect companies in the north to one another.
“They will be able to hold and transfer a massive amount of data so there will no longer be any data storage or travel issues. It is a completely secure digital network which will be able to take out any problems of transferring information. So if working on a film edit, the person no longer has to send out a DVD as they can send it around through NothernNet in real time.”
The second offering will be the creation of an "interactive bureau" which will feature editing and video conferencing facilities. These facilities will not be a full video editing suite but will allow people to "top and tail" their work. This too will allow companies to work together from different locations and look to encourage partnerships between companies from varying cities and towns across the region with differing skillsets.
“This will connect the industry through relationship building, looking at standards and encouraging innovation and collaboration,” adds Shannon, who also says that a series of free events will be held in order to showcase the technology.
“We’re not looking for people to compete against each other, it’s about working together to create a collaborative product and create new opportunities and fresh ideas in the industry.”
The third focus for NothernNet will be to provide a showcase of work and services from companies in the area and act as a "matchmaker" and afford "buyers" the opportunity to search through the available portfolio of work from large organizations, SMEs and freelancers while not only finding the correct service providers but also verifying their credentials.
NorthenNet has already gone live, although Northern Knowledge, which will be the showcase area, will launch in the next 4-6 months.