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Pin-ups for creativity in city unveiled

Advertising slots on bus stops around the city feature images of the owners and directors of firms who have developed everything from messaging technology to avant garde clothes.

The posters are part of a push by an organisation that promotes the growth of the city economy to put the spotlight on its creative and knowledge- based industries.

Earlier this year, the Invest in Nottingham Club, a partnership of 165 city businesses and Nottingham City Council, brought together a group of firms and unveiled them as the Creative Class of 2011.

They are being held up as success stories in parts of the economy which have the capacity to generate significant value - and examples of Nottingham's own success as a place where they can thrive.

The Invest in Nottingham Club says that the poster campaign will allow millions of people from all walks of life to see role models for the future of the city economy.

Councillor Graham Chapman, deputy leader of the city council, who fronts the authority's economic development activities, said: "Entrepreneurs and companies creating new technologies, products, services and markets are essential for the growth of the city's economy.

"These innovative businesses succeeding in Nottingham will put the city on the global map and create opportunities for the future.

"But most of all they create the quality jobs that the city needs."

The Invest in Nottingham Club says that the city's creative and technology economy ranges from the talent nurtured in large employers like Experian and Alliance Boots through to the small but fast-growing firms which form part of the Creative Class group.

A group of firms, all under six years old, were selected to become part of the 2011 class, with a further group selected for 2012. Among them is Jonathan Richards, chief executive of Medibord, which has developed patient-positioning boards that help achieve clearer images when people are being scanned in hospitals.

He said: "One of the main benefits of being part of the Creative Class is learning about the breadth and depth of the innovation and technology that is in Nottingham.

"Understanding what else is happening in the scene helps you develop partnerships and creates opportunities for small businesses such as myself."

Sir John Peace, chairman of Experian, has been involved in the process of developing the Creative Class firms, introducing them at an event at the Nottingham Contemporary.

He said: "The quality of the people that create the businesses within the Creative Class is hugely impressive.

"Nottingham as a city is a great place to be based for many reasons.

"The social environment of the city provides links with our world-class universities, and there is the ability to access facilities like BioCity and even cheap accommodation. All of these things make Nottingham the place to create a business."

The 2011 Creative Class businesses are: Aware Monitoring, Esendex, Eternal Spirits, Medibord, Monica Healthcare, Lockwood Publishing, Plumtree Group and Skeleton Productions.

The 2012 Creative Class businesses are Full Blown Media, Haemostatix, Legendary Games, Prime Principle, Promethean Particles and The Stone Soup Project.

To find out more about them, visit www.investinnottinghamclub.com

Source:www.thisisnottingham.co.uk|

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