LINKS TO USEFUL ORGANISATIONS

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RESOURCES FOR CREATIVES Here you will find links to any type of support you might need, looking for a studio hire? a photographer? craft supplies? education? business advice? Here you have eveything you need. If you would like to share a link here, contact info@designinit.org.uk

FUTURES - MERSEYSIDE'S NETWORK FOR DESIGN PROFESSIONALS For designers working in the communications field: from graphic and web design to related services such as illustration and commercial photography.

ARTS COUNCIL, ENGLAND - NORTH WEST Regional portal of the national development agency for the arts in England, providing funding for a range of arts related activities.

LIVERPOOL DESIGN FESTIVAL Liverpool Design Festival is an annual celebration of design, organised by Design Initiative. In addition to Design Show, the Festival presents a programme of exciting events including exhibitions, open studios, workshops and talks. For information on the current programme please visit the Festival website.

CREATIVE ORGANISATIONS OF LIVERPOOL DESIGN INITIATIVE is a member of COoL, an established collective which is representative of the small/medium sized creative organisations in Liverpool. Its members believe strongly in: the arts, innovation, participation, delivering quality work and services and in the importance of partnership, dialogue and communication in driving forward effective cultural strategies and practises.

MANCHESTER FASHION NETWORK Based in Manchester & London, The fashion network is a business networking service that creates and develops business opportunities to the fashion, apparel and creative industries across the UK.

UK DESIGN ALLIANCE Design Initiative are delighted to be part of the new Design Council led partnership, the UK Design Alliance. The Alliance is a partnership of more than 20 national and regional design organisations and networks who are all working to strengthen the design sector.

COOKSON PRECIOUS METALS Manufacturer and suppliers to the jewellery trade. Cookson Precious Metals offer a choice of supplies from over 10,000 products for jewellers, jobbers, craftsmen and students.

MARKS AND CLERK If you are new to IP and would like to learn more about the different ways to protect your products and desgns, visit the IP FAQ or protecting your IP sections of the website.

CREATIVE LANCASHIRE The creative industries development service for Lancashire, Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool, which includes Sizzle - a quarterly networking event for everyone who works in or wants to set up a creative business in Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde.

WORKSHOP & CLASSES IN FUSED GLASS, SILVERSMITHING & SILVER ART CLAY Classes can be anything from wonderful contemporary sculptures, panels & bowls to modern & unusual glass jewellery! Which ever course attended you will use professional components & have plenty of individual tuition to create your projects.

GBM DIGITAL TRAINING GBM Digital is the leading industry provider for IT and creative focused training in Manchester. We understand how fast the creative industry moves and realise that training and knowledge can be invaluable in keeping up to date with moving trends. Therefore we are able provide you with industry focused training to suit all of your needs.

BUSINESS LINK NORTH-WEST, ADVICE ON TENDERING Finding and winning new contracts can be a difficult task and there are many avenues to pursue. If you are looking at different ways to win more business, tendering is certainly an option. Tendering processes may seem daunting but don't be put off, our online resources help you to cut through the maze to give you the best possible chance of success.

HELPING CREATIVE BUSINESSES FIND FUNDING The j4bgrants website provides comprehensive, up-to-date and fully searchable information on the hundreds of grants, loans, venture capital schemes and other funds available to UK businesses. It covers all major European Union and UK Government funds, along with regional development agency schemes and harder to find local opportunities, such as Business Finance Solutions where financial assistance is available for start-up and established businesses (including social enterprises) in parts of Greater Manchester and Cheshire.

LEAD NORTH-WEST LEAD is an innovative leadership programme designed specifically around the needs of SME owner -managers. LEAD concentrates on two areas of the business: the business itself and the personal development of the owner-manager. The programme is made up of several elements which run alongside each other throughout the 10 months

T-SHIRTS AND SUITS CREATIVE ENTERPRSE NEWORK T-Shirts and Suits is all about bringing together creative people with smart business thinking. Promote your creative enterprise, announce events, join discussions, write a blog, or make links locally and globally.

DOT-ART SERVICES CIC Dot-Art Services CIC is a not-for-profit organisation which exists to support North-West based visual artists, both emerging and established, through a range of services and activities designed to help them develop their careers and gain exposure and promotion for their work.

MANCHESTER CRAFT & DESIGN CENTRE A unique organisation comprising 18 retail/studio spaces, a cafe and a programme of exhibitions from leading national and international makers of contemporary craft.

BRONZE CASTING FOR SCULPTORS Castle Fine Arts is one of the UK's leading sculpture foundries. The foundry team has been proudly serving sculptors since 1990 and gained the prestigious British Small Business Champion award for 2008. At the studios in Llanrhaeadr YM, Liverpool and Stroud you can trust your work to the safe hands of the dedicated, friendly staff of more than thirty skilled technicians. Sculptures of any size or complexity cast on time and in budget - and always with the greatest care.

MANCHESTER JEWELLERS NETWORK Manchester Jewellers Network supports excellence in contemporary jewellery and is a forum for emerging and established jewellers.

MERSEYSIDE ACME ACME exists to support and develop the creative industries on Merseyside. They also provide range of FREE services. These include; networking, professional development opportunities and evaluation services.

REDEYE Redeye assists photographers and photography in the region and beyond, by providing information, opportunities, events, training and professional development.