What does Wired Sussex do?

We’re often asked this question, as much of the stuff that keeps us occupied on a day-to-day basis stays behind the scenes. So as a starting point to better communicating that to our members, here’s the first in a series of monthly updates on what we’ve been up to so far in 2009 on behalf of the digital media community in Brighton & beyond. If you want more info on any of these points, please email me or call 01273 692 888. We’ve:

• Put on the Wired Sussex Digital Media Jobs + Skills Fair at the Corn Exchange last week. All together 12 companies, 7 digital media course providers, 5 careers advisors, 21 speakers, 1 mayor (!) and 1050 jobs + skills-seeking attendees and freelancers participated in the day. The event also included the conclusion of the Brighton Internship Programme with the awards to this year’s successful internees plus a series of other heavily attended sessions.

• Hosted visits to Brighton by Microsoft Rare, Turner Networks (CNN / Cartoon Network), LP33 and the UK’s Vice Counsel for Entertainment Technologies, LA.

• Engaged with discussions with Disney, the RDA, UKTI and the UK consulate in LA regarding the siting of a third Disney company in Brighton

• Pushed forward the ‘Wired Sussex Degree’ – an initiative helping to strengthen links between the industry and academia. Recently this has involved a number of meetings with the University of Brighton to progress the degree and the setting up of an active steering group for the project made up of 6 member companies.

• Run a ‘virtual crowds / online communities’ research project with the University of Sussex. • Been in discussions with the University of Chichester about creating a new course for them.

• Formed and run the Digital Media Lecturers Forum, with representatives from all the higher education establishments across the region

• Taken an active part in a number of events with the Universities including Curious (U of S) and Connecting Innovation (U of B).

• Presented to the Local Authority’s cross party Scrutiny Committee on the subject ‘Wired Sussex, Digital Media and New England House’, and been invited to present to the new Council leader Alex Bailey and to the Council Cabinet on the same subject.

• Had further meetings about New England House with developers SJI and their new consultants CDP and have held exploratory meetings with developers Karis and Bio Quintain

• Discussed a project to create a hyper local social network for New England House with the Technology Strategy Board.

• Negotiated an exclusive rights clause to 2nd floor Moore House, Black Lion Street and are currently negotiating leasing terms with developer Karis, partner the Werks and various potential tenants. The signing of this deal will mean we’re finally able to offer our own flexible, small business-friendly office space to Wired Sussex member companies

• Built a new Brighton Internship Programme website which is currently being beta tested

• Put in a multi-partner bid to SEEDA to fund a) a training scheme (Digital media for non-digital companies) which will enable our members to engage with potential clients and b) the provision of focussed 1-2-1 support to a small number of high potential regional DM companies.

• Hosted an introductory event between members and the Better Regulation Executive.

• Run 3 additional smaller networking events: Music + Digital, Women in Media and Getting Grants. As ever, we value your feedback – if you want to comment on any of the above please do get in touch