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  • Flashtalking continue to grow at RFMC
    01/02/2010

    Bucking the trend and beating the recession, online video and rich media advert specialists, Flashtalking, have grown into one of the largest office spaces at Round Foundry Media Centre after starting in the smallest.

    Flashtalking was originally set up in 2002 by Dan Freeman and a colleague in London, both working from their respective homes. The decision to base their technical office in Leeds was due to lower overheads than London and a wealth of well educated graduates and IT talent.

    Technical Director Dan Freeman said, “Whilst we hoped that we were going to grow, we really had no idea what the speed of that growth would be. The Round Foundry Media Centre offered us an amazing 20 days notice policy which was perfect for us. It gave us the combination between safety net and potential.”

    Flashtalking moved into the Round Foundry Media Centre in 2005. Five years and five office upgrades later the technical team have expanded into the second biggest space in the centre, taking nearly 1100 sq ft of studio space.

    Flashtalking also have a Commercial office in London and have recently launched in Cologne with further international openings planned.
     

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  • Publish Interactive moves to Round Foundry Media Centre
    18/12/2009

    The company behind award-winning system, Publish Interactive, has relocated to the Round Foundry Media Centre in Leeds.

    The company, which allows users to access reports faster and with greater flexibility, was established in 2003 and moved to Round Foundry Media Centre from the Leeds University Innovation Centre in December 2009.

    Business Development Director Emma Forber said, “The Round Foundry Media Centre attracted us for many reasons. The building itself is very interesting and gives off a very creative energy. The complex and surrounding areas incorporate the old and new very well, something that has failed in many other developments. The cafes, bars and restaurants also create a nice vibe which works well for us as we like to work in a sociable environment. Being an innovative software company means that we are well suited to the general theme of the place and we already feel very at home.”

    Despite the difficult economic climate, Publish Interactive has continued to grow and also looks set to achieve their target for 2010. The next twelve months will see them focusing on developing their core product in their quest to sign up clients from outside their key market.

    Round Foundry Media Centre Administrator Alison George said, “We’re really pleased Publish Interactive chose to base themselves here. The team have already settled in and are getting to know everyone. We hope their success continues to flourish and we’ll do all we can to support them.”

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  • NortherNet Media Access Bureau Live at RFMC
    02/12/2009

    The NortherNet Media Access Bureau (MAB) is now live at Round Foundry Media Centre. NorthernNet is a single high speed, secure, digital network that connects the north’s creative and digital industries and customers at speeds of up to 100Mbps. The high speed connectivity is ideal for sending very large files such as video content and the bureau can be used on a Pay As You Go basis.

    NortherNet is part of a £15m scheme to connect the Northwest, Yorkshire and the North East, and to encourage innovation and collaboration. There are currently fourteen MAB’s in total, with further ones planned in the future.  In addition to Round Foundry Media Centre two others are located within the region at Electric Works in Sheffield and Woodend Creative Workspace in Scarborough.

    Minister for Digital Britain Stephen Timms said:

    “It's essential for jobs and growth that businesses in the UK have access to high-speed networks, and I very much welcome this kind of cutting-edge venture.

    “Access to this single, high-speed digital network will be a huge boost to creative and digital businesses across the north of England and Media Access Bureaus will ensure that as many as possible can profit from it."

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  • T-Shirts and Suits® Northern Creatives™ NorthernNet Collaboration Event
    08 March

    Join with other creative entrepreneurs in the North of England to explore the business issues involved in devising profitable creative partnerships and to find potential collaborators. 

    Participants will be connected through NorthernNet to a group in another city, enabling a wider range of views to be shared and new business connections to be made. This event will provide you with an opportunity to learn more about, and share your experiences of, the business issues involved in creative collaboration - including contracting, intellectual property, project management and cultural ‘fit’. 

    This interactive event will be facilitated by David Parrish, international creative industries consultant and co-ordinator of the T-Shirts and Suits® Northern Creatives™ project.

    Round Foundry Media Centre will be connected to MediaCityUK, Salford between 5pm and 8pm.

    This event will be organised to maximize networking opportunities, both with other creative businesses in your own location and with people in the group in the city linked up through NorthernNet.

    It's free to book and attend although places are limited. 

    Contact Susie Kennedy to reserve your place:
    SusieK@visionandmedia.co.uk
    0844 395 0385
    Twitter.com/northernnet

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  • Intellectual Property Rights & Wrongs in the Digital and Creative Industries.
    25 February

    Intellectual property, be it trade marks, copyright, patents, designs, or know-how is likely to be the most valuable asset of creative companies and yet, all too often, the value of these rights is not fully realised through ignorance or a lack of strategic thinking.

    This interactive seminar for companies in the digital and creative sectors focuses on the practical issues that your company may face when developing software and websites: creating new branding, designing products and dealing with suppliers, customers, subcontractors and employees.

    The seminar is hosted by the team at leading patent and trademark attorneys Withers & Rogers who protect IP rights for global companies such as Apple and Microsoft as well as university spinouts and high-growth start-ups. They will offer real insight into how the techniques these companies use can be applied to your business to maximise value and revenue.

    Book here http://iproundfoundry.eventbrite.com/

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  • Appeal from Pecha Kucha Leeds - in aid of PechaKucha Global Day for Haiti
    20 February

    20th February 6pm – 9pm Round Foundry, Leeds
    In a matter of seconds, thousands of lives and dreams were destroyed in Haiti. Following the tragedy, aid came from many quarters, in all shapes and forms.

    The global PechaKucha family is coming together with Architecture for Humanity to lend a hand in rebuilding Haiti and establish long-term solutions.

    Drawing its name from the Japanese phrase for the sound of conversation ("chit chat"), the PechaKucha format is simple – 20 images x 20 seconds – and designed to keep presentations concise and moving at a rapid pace. Imagine a Pecha Kucha Night on a global scale. That’s right, -a Pecha Kucha Night happening in every city around the globe on 1 day. 20 images, 20 seconds, over 200 cities, 2,000 presentations, 200,000 people, with the target of reaching $1,000,000 for rebuilding in Haiti.

    On February 20th, (the birthday of Pecha Kucha) there will be a global effort with events happening all around the world to help raise money for the effort in Haiti. All donations will go to Architecture for Humanity and their current rebuilding effort. The Pecha Kucha headquarters in Tokyo is  working on the logistics, but the idea is to set up a 24 hour global relay of Pecha Kucha events streamed around the world, with each city live for about 8 minutes, enough to say "Hello from Leeds!" and provide a presentation. Starting at 8pm local in Tokyo and 8pm local in New Zealand the PechaKucha ‘WAVE’ will spread westwards across the globe.

    We will be hosting a PechaKucha Night Leeds on Saturday 20th February  between the hours of 6pm and 9pm. We wish to celebrate people from the North of the country and we are currently trying to secure some recognisable names and along with regular individuals with outstanding stories. Just like our normal PechaKucha Nights we will be hosting 8 presenters across the evening, one of which will be the fixed presenter that will present globally via the web when the global PechaKucha ‘WAVE’ hits Leeds at approximate 8pm local time. In addition we will be keeping a live link to the ‘WAVE’ as it progresses towards us, as well as tapping into some of the other global presentations as they take place around the globe

    What should the presentations be about:
    - Great ideas about rebuilding.
    - Inspiring people with great spirit and creativity.
    - One or two famous faces, telling stories they cannot tell anywhere else!
    - Entertainment & Laughter.
    - Contemplation
    - Stories that provide hope and inspiration
    - Pretty much anything! In pure PechKucha style

    This is going to be a big effort. Not just around the globe, but for us here in Leeds and everyone involved. Typically we begin planning months in advance to secure funds, a location, presenters, audio visual, beer, and help. We now have only 9 days to make this happen, but when we first heard about this idea we only had one thought: We have to be a part of this.

    So we’re writing to ask for help in any way you can give it. We hope to get everything donated so we can offer a free event, with all individual donations collected that evening going straight to the rebuilding effort. Every day we hear more about the devastation in Haiti, and now there is something you can do about it.
    What we need:

    Presenters
    Beer
    Media Coverage & support
    PR help
    AV support
    Sponsors
    Anything else that you can offer.

    All proceeds will go to Architecture for Humanity for rebuilding Haiti. AFH operates globally, and was instrumental in getting projects built after the Indian Ocean tsunami and Hurricane Katrina. The design costs for the new buildings in Haiti have been already covered so all donations will go directly toward the construction of much needed schools, health clinics and community structures.
    See below for links that may be of use.

    Links
    PechaKucha for Haiti launch in Tokyo / Davos with Klein Dytham architecture and Architecture for Humanity.
    http://www.pecha-kucha.org/presentations/50
    PechaKucha - The story so far.
    http://www.pecha-kucha.org/presentations/51
    PECHAKUCHA
    http://pecha-kucha.org

    PechaKucha Night was conceived in Tokyo in February 2003 by architects Mark Dytham and Astrid Klein of Klein Dytham architecture (http://klein-dytham.com) as an event where young designers could meet, network and show their work in public. Over time, it has evolved into a massive celebration of creativity, with events regularly being held in over 270 cities. Last year, more than 6,000 presentations were given at +600 PechaKucha events.

    Drawing its name from the Japanese phrase for the sound of conversation ("chit chat"), the PechaKucha format is simple – 20 images x 20 seconds – and designed to keep presentations concise and moving at a rapid pace.
    ARCHITECTURE FOR HUMANITY
    http://architectureforhumanity.org

    A volunteer non-profit organization dedicated to building a more sustainable future through the power of professional design. Founded in 1999, this design services firm channels the resources of the global funding community to meaningful projects that make a difference locally.

    PechaKucha for Haiti launch in Tokyo / Davos with Klein Dytham architecture and Architecture for Humanity.
    http://www.pecha-kucha.org/presentations/50
    And below is link that gives you the story of how PechaKucha was conceived and has grown into this global platform
    PechaKucha - The story so far.
    http://www.pecha-kucha.org/presentations/51
     

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