The results of Prolific North’s research study into international investment in and by the creative services industries in the North of England, will be announced at a unique conference on the morning of Thursday 28 November in Manchester. The research study has been supported by our four partners: the BBC, MIDAS, Creative England and UKFast and the conference itself is being hosted by Bruntwood. It is believed that this is the first time that a research project of this nature has ever been undertaken at this level in the North.
Prolific North – The Global Reach Conference 2013
Thursday 28 November 2013, Bridgewater House, Whitworth St, Manchester
9.30am for 10am start, 12.30pm Q&A, 1pm lunch, 2pm close
The research has identified over 250 creative and media companies in the North that either have an overseas operation or are owned by a global organisation. The range and scale of companies represented in the North will surprise most observers.
Media and broadcasting companies include some obvious organisations such as the BBC with now over 2,500 staff in Salford, ITV with several hundred staff and a major new Corrie set, all3media with 400 staff at Lime Pictures in Liverpool, the Press Association with 500 staff in East Yorkshire, News UK’s Merseyside print operations and the Bauer Radio stations.
Marketing services companies include several Interpublic operations with two in Cheshire with 300 plus staff, WPP plc with 11 operating brands in the North, Google, Aegis/Dentsu and numerous independent companies who have themselves established overseas bases. And the North is also home to a growing number of digital and digital entertainment companies such as the Grand Theft Auto games maker Rockstar in Leeds and also in Leeds, Sky’s UK main digital development base while Trader Media Group runs its global digital development operation out of Newton-le-Willows.
The full research findings will be released at the Conference.
The conference will bring together companies, large and small, from across the North who have an interest in global creative services activities and as such the conference will offer attendees a unique opportunity to hear and share experiences with their peers. We are also expecting significant broadcast and related media interest in the conference and publication of the research findings.
Space at the conference is primarily intended for those 250 plus companies who are featured in the research. However, we are also attracting enquiries from companies who have existing overseas sales or are considering establishing actual physical or sales overseas operations and if you would like to book a place at this free to attend conference, please book through our Eventbrite page here.
The conference itself has attracted a number of high level speakers who will be sharing their insight on operating in and expanding into global markets from the North, including:
Ian Haythornthwaite, CFO, BBC North (Salford)
Rob Morrice, CEO, SteinIAS (Bollington, Cheshire)
Dominic Allon, director, Google UK
Margaret Hicks-Clarke, Head of Operations, Press Association (Howden, East Yorkshire)
Alex Connock, Managing Director, Shine North (Salford)
Rob Shaw, CEO, Epiphany (Leeds)
