Wednesday 26th September 2007

The games industry increasingly relies on a pool of small companies and freelancers that can support the large developers in game production. How well small companies do this determines how successful they will be in the future as these partnerships flourish.

If you are a small developer, or would like to be, and you would like to know more about working with large games companies like Sony, this event is for you!

ICDC are running this i-start event as part of their Interactive Media and Games Service for the Learning and Skills Council. This project helps small companies identify the skills and support services needed to work with large companies such as the BBC and Sony.

The Topic…
The importance of the relationship between large development teams and the external resources they call upon during the creation of a product.

The Speaker…
Dave Crook - Creative Design & Development Consultant

Dave has spent 17 years in design and development. Fourteen years of that in games development and the last 12 years of that at Sony Computer Entertainment. Most recently as the head of the CSG (Creative Services Group), responsible for the overseeing and development of the support needs of the Studio Development teams.

Recently, Dave has moved from Sony Studio Liverpool to pursue other avenues of Games Development and related industries as a Creative Design & Development Consultant.

The NEW venue…
Geisha: ‘Geisha’ bar and pan-Asian restaurant is Liverpool’s award winning Korova group’s first foray into an eastern themed venue.

Address: 7 Myrtle Street, Liverpool, L7 7DN

The Itinerary…

18:00
Registration
Networking / Refreshments
Speakers / Q&A

20:00 - Close

The damage…

Free to attend

The registration process…

For further information about this free event and registration details, please visit: http://www.icdc.org.uk/news.aspx…or you can contact the ICDC Events team on:

Email: icdcevents@ljmu.ac.uk

Call: 0151 231 4704

We just need your name, email address and organisation name (if applicable).

Note: You will receive an email to confirm your booking.

i-start is run by Digitalinc, ICDC’s digital media incubator at Liverpool John Moores University and is sponsored by Gregory Abrams Davidson LLP.

In conjunction with Royal Mail and the DDL Group, Liverpool Chamber presents a series of three FREE practical business seminars on “Growing your Business through Direct Mail”

The first seminar taking place on 11 October 2007 takes a look at Customer Acquisition and how you can use Direct Mail to help you win new customers. At the Royal Mail Delivery Office, Milner St, Warrington the seminar will give you an introduction to direct mail, how to buy data, and how to get a return on your investment. There will be a practical session on creating your own direct mail piece and information on printing and fulfilment. By the end of the session, you’ll have the data, a direct mail piece, and be ready to get those customers!

To join us from 8.30am to 12.30pm on 11 October 2007, just email peter.tyrer@royalmail.com with your company name and contact details and the names of delegates. The seminars are free of charge, but reserve your place now as they will book up fast!

Mersey Skills Network today announced that it has allocated £1M funding in its first three months. The consortium made up of Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, Blackburne House, Liverpool John Moores University and Liverpool Community College and was formed to improve work based training across the region.

The project aims to distribute £4M of support to business by the 31 July 2008. Sharlene Walton, SkillWorks Project Manager for Mersey Skills Network said: “We are delighted by the quick uptake of the funding, this shows that the Merseyside business community values the opportunity to improve business training. The funding covers all aspects of training except that which is a requirement by law. It has already been used by a wide variety companies for everything from Masters Degrees to food hygiene certificates for their staff.”

The funding, provided by the Learning and Skills Council and European Social Fund, is available to all small and medium sized businesses in every business sector and is designed for companies from sole traders to firms employing up to 250 staff.

For more information on gaining Skill Works funding call Mersey Skills Network on 0151 224 1888 or visit the Mersey Skills Network website.

Winter weddings could certainly be snap-happy from now on thanks to LiveOne20.

Cardholders can take advantage of a flash new offer from leading wedding photographers Atmosferik. They’re offering 33% off the cost of producing reminders of your big day if you quote your LiveOne20 card details when booking with them.

It’s one of a series of sensational new discounts brought to you this week, including 30% off ladies and gents haircuts or a whopping 50% off the cost of a colour treatment at Zoo hair salon.

The reservations service A2Z Rooms is offering a 5% discount on top of the savings it can already secure when booking rooms with some of Liverpool’s leading hotels.

And with the Malmaison’s new fantastic offer at the Brasserie, you can order any pizza and drink for just £8 until 8pm Daily!

Cardholders can save more than £800 a year with some of the city’s premier names in retail, leisure, health and beauty which thanks to LiveOne20.
To find out more, visit www.liveone20.com or call Livesmart’s account manager Sam Hart on 0870 055 3472 or by e-mail at liveone20@livesmart.biz.
ENDS