Creative programme plugs into Power Hour to highlight growth opportunities for digital sector
SECTOR LINK-UP: Marisa Crimlis-Brown, senior client strategist at 43 Clicks North
By Rick Lyon, Co-Editor
A series of free business briefings launched to build collaboration between digital agencies across Hull and East Yorkshire has secured the backing of a Government-funded programme designed to help the sector grow.
The Power Hour, which the 43 Clicks North agency introduced as DigiHull in 2019, will be supported at its 11th event by the HEY Business Growth and Skills Hub to raise awareness of the Creative Growth initiative.
With the event on Friday, October 18 looking at the theme of building a brand, the Creative Growth team saw the opportunity to reach a wider audience with a programme which is already bringing benefits to digital businesses.
Marisa Crimlis-Brown, senior client strategist at 43 Clicks North and lead presenter of the event, said: “It’s great that Creative Growth are using our brand-themed Power Hour to build their own brand and that they see the link between the digital and creative sectors.
“Power Hour is all about sharing ideas and promoting collaboration among digital agencies and the wider business world and the partnership with Creative Growth is already providing new opportunities in digital.”
The main speakers at Power Hour will be John Lyons and Stephen Kenwright.
John is a former senior executive with LEGO who has also worked with other global brands including Deutsche Bank and Manchester United. He is known as an engaging and award-winning marketing leader with a proven ability to develop creative, market-orientated brand strategies, promotional techniques, loyalty programmes and digital innovations.
Stephen is director of strategy and digital marketing at the Leeds-based creative content agency Ride Shotgun, having founded and exited search-first creative agency Rise at Seven. He is a former in-house head of digital at the UK’s largest automotive retailer Pendragon PLC and he founded SearchLeeds, a digital marketing conference that pulled 2,000 people into Leeds’ first direct arena for its most recent edition.
Creative Growth is one of 12 regional programmes funded across England by the Department for Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS). HEY Business Growth and Skills Hub in partnership with Hull City Council, East Riding Council, and the University of Hull, are delivering the programme and are recruiting now for the third round beginning in October.
The programme is open to businesses from sectors including marketing and PR, IT, audio and visual media, design, fashion, crafts and performing arts. Feedback from other participants indicates that the programme has helped them develop entrepreneurial, management and leadership capabilities and behaviours within SMEs to grow successfully in the creative economy.
The Hub has identified the creative sector as already embracing more than 1,430 firms in the region, employing around 13,420 staff and contributing over £527m of Gross Added Value to the local economy.
Andrew Richardson, create growth programme manager for HEY Business, Growth and Skills Hub, said: “We see networking events like Power Hour as providing the social opportunities for local business in the digital world to share their ideas, experiences, and knowledge on the themes that matter most to them.
“Having attended the previous Power Hour, this upcoming event focussing on creating a brand is certainly a relevant topic for those Hull and East Yorkshire creative industries that are looking to grow in the region. It will also be a chance to discuss how we are supporting such businesses to develop their future growth plans.”
Mike Ellis, managing director of 43 Clicks North, said the support of HEY Business Growth and Skills Hub and returning sponsor the Lexus motor dealership in Hessle is helping to raise the standard of Power Hour.
He said: “Audience numbers for Power Hour have been growing steadily since we started and we know from the feedback after every event that people aren’t just coming for the free Friday pizza!
“People know our speakers will deliver great insight and knowledge which is relevant in digital marketing and any other business because it helps you to sharpen your products and your pitch, but we’re not going to sit back and settle for that.
“As Power Hour evolves we want to find higher calibre speakers from further afield. As it’s a free event that means increased costs and we are grateful to the sponsors for helping us to cover that.
“Creative Growth is particularly interesting because it offers free guidance and support to help businesses develop their commercial capabilities and a lot of people working in digital will want to know more about that.”
Power Hour will take place at Social, Humber Street, Hull, at 12.30pm on Friday, October 18. To register free of charge visit https://43clicksnorth.co.uk/. If the event is at capacity you can reserve a place on the waiting list by sending an email to john@43clicksnorth.co.uk