Foreword by Professor Chris Bailey, Chair of the Culture Sector Group

Over the past two years we have seen businesses, colleges and universities collaborate, participate and innovate as part of the Lifelong Learning Network. The most significant achievement of this work is the strength of the partnerships we have built between the cultural, creative and digital sectors across West Yorkshire, and beyond.

The figures alone indicate the extensive level of activity: engaging with over 1,770 partners and employers in over 26 curriculum development projects, 74 events including the Creative Networks and Inspiring Women events series, 18 marketing projects and 20 progression routes; all to support West Yorkshire learners and employers.

We are now entering a new phase of political and economical change for the emerging Leeds City Region. This brings both opportunities and challenges for the sector, for employers, for learners and for our universities and colleges. This network of relationships and innovative programmes will ensure that the vibrancy and visibility of the work achieved so far will not fade.

I am delighted as Chair to be able to present here a small selection of some of the innovative programmes and partnerships that have been developed over the past three years. I am equally thrilled that the creative and cultural Sector Group will continue for a further year. This will enable the network to build upon the work achieved; enhancing the learning experience, the life of the region and the legacy of the West Yorkshire Lifelong Learning Network.

Professor Chris Bailey Chair of the Culture, Media, Sport and the Arts; Hospitality, Leisure and Tourism Sector Group for WYLLN Introduction

The West Yorkshire Lifelong Learning Network (WYLLN) is a unique partnership of 20 further and higher education institutions, together with employers and other organisations throughout West Yorkshire.

Funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for (HEFCE), its aim is to strengthen the performance of businesses, and to improve the range of opportunities for learning and skills development, by working in partnership across the region.

Originally one of 30 Lifelong Learning Networks across the country, WYLLN is proud to continue for a fourth year, beyond the scope of original funding, in order to build upon the strong partnerships and track record of success achieved to date.

This brochure celebrates the achievements of WYLLN across the creative, cultural and digital industries. This diverse sector incorporates everything from fine art to digital photography, and from dance to computer games. According to Yorkshire Forward, the regional development agency for Yorkshire and Humber, this region is home to the fastest growing creative and digital sector outside of London; so it is appropriate that this sector has been a key focus for WYLLN’s activities.

Working with higher and further education institutions, Sector Skills Councils, and numerous employers and professional bodies, this brochure demonstrates what can be achieved through genuine partnership working, for the benefit of the West Yorkshire learner.

“All the partners are committed to providing quality vocational learning opportunities to enable learners to progress into, and through, higher education. It is a commitment that is good for individual learners and good for the regional economy.”

Professor Vivien Jones, Chair of the WYLLN Management Board and Pro Vice-Chancellor for Learning and Teaching at the

“WYLLN has helped hundreds of people have qualifications designed for business, and work to progress onto higher education. Since 2007, we have provided course and careers advice to over 6000 learners and over 1500 people have gained places on higher education courses. This all improves the skill levels within the businesses of West Yorkshire.”

Steve Challenger, Executive Director, WYLLN Contents

Curriculum Development Foreword 1 Projects: Introduction 2 New courses to meet the needs of employers and learners in the fast-paced creative industries

Photography 4 Professional Technologies 6 Creative Enterprise 8 Web Design 10 Ceramics 12

Partnership Development Projects:

Employers and Education Institutions working together with fantastic results

Creative Networks 12 Inspiring Women: Creativity, Computing and Entrepreneurship 14 Creative Entrepreneurs 18 Video Learning Objects 20 Creative Pathways 21 Work Based Learning 22 Staff Placements 23 Regional Development Projects:

Innovative projects with greater regional or even national impact

Festivals and Events 24 Vendor Skills 26 Northern Design Competition 28 Museums 29 32 Business Innovation 30 Thank You Dance 31 “We have worked closely with employers in the region to make sure that the programme will produce graduates who understand what is actually demanded by clients and the world of work”

Malcolm Briggs, Programme Leader, FdA Commercial Photography, College

“This is a unique partnership, offering students the opportunity to build real- world photographic skills, working with professionals from the industry, and at the same time form sound business understanding, to enable them to be successful in a business setting”

Mike Croft, Managing Director, The Caleb Group

“It is crucial for students to learn digital skills because they will contribute to the media and interact with other digital areas in the future”

Michael Kinsey, Course Leader, College

To apply for one of these new Photography courses, please visit www.wakefield.ac.uk for further details about the FdA Commercial Photography, or www.kirklees.ac.uk for the BA Digital Photography, including details of how to apply. For more information about the project or to access the resources produced, please visit www.wylln.ac.uk 4 Photography Students get professional

In a fantastic example of collaboration, two West Yorkshire institutions have worked together with a range of employers and the British Institute of Professional Photographers (BIPP) to develop two new work-related photography qualifications, designed to help existing photographers and budding freelancers develop the skills they need to succeed in this competitive industry.

Wakefield College’s Foundation Degree in Commercial Photography combines learning the photographic, professional and commercial skills needed by freelance photographers. It was developed in conjunction with employers, including the Caleb Group and Carteblanche Photography, and involves preparation for becoming a member of the BIPP.

The Foundation Degree has been specifically planned and built so that it is very different to anyother commercial photography programme in the UK. Each of the four modules has had an industry specialist providing the input and all the assignments are based on a current or past piece of work for a real client. “Commercial awareness is so important. Yes, people have to be creative but you’ve Students who successfully complete the Foundation also got to produce something that clients Degree will be able to move on to the new Bachelor want and have a really good understanding of Arts in Photography at , thanks to of their needs. If you break their guidelines a Progression Agreement developed by WYLLN. The you don’t get the job, it’s that simple” top-up course focuses specifically on digital editing and manipulation techniques and contemporary business Alan Barton, Head of Photography, practice for professional photographers. The course aims Words&Pictures to raise the game of young photographers to get them thinking and operating at a professional level. Students can also complete their portfolio and application for membership of the BIPP whilst completing the course.

The involvement of BIPP in both courses is a vital component to enable students to have direct contact with practitioners who can provide them with critical feedback and support them in the process of developing skills suitable to meet the demands of the industry. The BIPP approval means that a student can leave with a world-wide recognised professional qualification as well as an academic qualification. Kirklees College is one of only 12 centres in the UK where you can do this. It is also a Nikon Academy college and receives support from Nikon UK and members of the Association of Photographers, which means that students have every chance to lift the level of their practice to that of a young professional in the industry. People working across the digital industries will be able to sharpen their skills and take the first step on the Higher Education ladder with the launch of a new Foundation Degree course by in September 2010.

The FdSc Advanced Professional Technologies (APT) has been designed as a fully employer-responsive qualification. The qualification offers employers and practitioners in the digital industries, employed or self- employed in an IT-related profession, access to a fully personalised and developmental workplace and work- based higher skills qualification. The qualification is mapped directly to the national standards frameworks for the industry, in particular, the IT Professional Competency Framework (PROCOM) and the Skills for the Information Age (SFIA) Framework developed by e-Skills UK, the Sector Skills Council for the IT and Telecoms industry.

Practitioner professionals across a wide range of disciplines in the digital sector, from website design to systems analysis, will access the programme, which uses the Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) to validate prior learning in the workplace, accrediting existing skills and competencies that learners have already gained. Learners will then identify and further develop competence across the seven disciplines of the Framework in direct relation to their varied job roles, skills development aims and career ambitions.

The course will run at Leeds City College’s Park Lane campus one evening a week and assessment includes a workplace project. The curriculum is organised and delivered in a way that allows learners the flexibility to acquire specialist knowledge and understanding, reflecting their personal and professional aspirations and the needs of their employers. Where skills deficits are identified, further signposting and access to professional vendor qualifications is then made available as required.

Methods of teaching will include master classes, seminars, tutorials and workshops and will be enhanced by access to the range of technological and support facilities available within the college and from external experts. Distance and open learning materials, including e-learning, will be available to provide additional resources.

Employers help shape new Professional Technologies qualification “We believe that the new Foundation Degree is unique in the UK and that nothing like it exists anywhere else. The award is targeted to the individual’s role, business needs and workplace priorities and a personal learning plan will be put in place to ensure that everyone achieves the knowledge and skills required to meet the standard”

Julie Best, Programme Manager, Leeds City College

“The APT qualification is aimed at industry professionals across a multitude of digital industry roles. It aims to meet the needs of employers, through adopting the National Occupational Standards for IT Professionals and using the Professional Competency (e-skills UK PROCOM) Skills Framework to respond to workplace priorities through a personalised study programme and relevant work-based project. The qualification reflects e-Skills UK priorities through matching skills development to employer needs”

Tony Venus, Head of Qualification Reform, e-Skills UK, the Sector Skills Council for the IT and Telecoms Industry

“We fully support the Foundation Degree in Advanced Professional Technologies, believing it to offer employees a fantastic opportunity to identify and build upon core skill sets and competencies, in both a formal educational setting, e-learning and within the workplace”

Melissa Sherriff, Operations Manager, AQL

To apply for the FdSc Advanced Professional Technologies course, please visit www.leedscitycollege.ac.uk For more information about the project, or to access the resources produced please visit www.wylln.ac.uk 7 “In an increasingly global marketplace many creative organisations and entrepreneurs are functioning successfully and there has been huge expansion in this field in recent years. Our postgraduate Creative Enterprise provision aims to develop the ability of creative specialists to access support mechanisms and to equip themselves with skills, knowledge and abilities in a context that is tailored to their particular needs.”

Rebekka Kill, Senior Lecturer in Creativity, Enterprise and Engagement, Leeds Metropolitan University

“The MA Creative Enterprise is helping me to deepen and diversify my practice and document and analyse this work. I have started a second creative business since starting the course and am looking to develop both these businesses. The experience of being amongst other artists with similar experiences and challenges is also invaluable. I am confident that several collaborations will develop from the course.”

Deborah Sanderson, Creative Director of Urban Angels Circus and Urban Angels MA Creative Enterprise for practitioners

A new postgraduate degree at Leeds Metropolitan University is giving creative practitioners from across all arts disciplines the opportunity to explore, based on their own practice, creative enterprise in depth at the same time as improving their leadership skills, self- confidence and business acumen.

The Masters in Creative Enterprise is a flexible programme which draws on the breadth of expertise within the University and the wider creative sector. It is the first interdisciplinary course of its kind to be provided by the university and, unlike similar provision at other universities, is led by practitioners from a range of disciplines, including visual arts, film, media, community and performance arts.

To support this dynamic course, real case studies were developed by WYLLN depicting innovative and enterprising creative organisations, including West Yorkshire Playhouse, Festival Republic, Heads Together, AXIS, Priestmangoode, and East Street Arts.

Each case study includes an outline of the organisation, company structure, and how they develop and implement the creative process. Students are invited to add their own creative business to the case study bank, creating an archive of creative businesses as well as contributing to the learning objects for future learners.

To apply for the MA Creative Enterprise course please visit www.leedsmet.ac.uk or contact Rebekka Kill, Senior Lecturer Creativity, Enterprise & Engagement at [email protected]. For more information or to access the resources produced please visit www.wylln.ac.uk 9 Wakefield’s web designers keep their eye on the ball

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats is just one of the local organisations benefiting from the finely tuned professional skills of web design students at .

A new Foundation Degree programme is building on the college’s excellent track record of producing professional web designers at the same time as forging and strengthening links with local businesses and potential employers.

Launched in September 2009 with support from WYLLN, the two year FdA Web Design course prepares students for a career in the digital design industry, whether they are just starting out, retraining, or looking to gain qualifications for skills they already have.

Wakefield College has been running similar courses, particularly the HND Interactive Media, for the past 10 years so they are uniquely positioned to deliver the qualification that both industry and students need.

Information from industry professionals showed that graduates still have a skills gap when it comes to their first web design job. Many similar courses diversify into other areas - such as 3D-modelling, video or animation - which all have their place, but working this way tends to spread the students’ knowledge base very thinly. Wakefield College has therefore narrowed the focus of the course to concentrate on the core creative and technical skills needed for a career in web design.

The college is aiming to attract three types of people to the course; college leavers who are tasting higher education for the first time; industry professionals looking to convert their vocational knowledge into a formal qualification; and mature students looking to change their career.

To further capitalise on employer involvement and give students real work experience, the FdA Web Design students study a fourth semester that is entirely about commercial work. This involves engaging with the local community, offering services for free, and building websites for a range of individuals and businesses, with current students building the Wildcats website at the moment.

“It’s no good being a good designer unless you are an employable designer, and that’s where Wakefield College excel with their students.”

Dave Pannell, Creative Director, The Design Mechanics

“Being self-taught in web development, I had wanted to confirm my skills and gain a qualification. After searching for a modern, industry-relevant course that would suit my ability for over three years, I was close to giving up. It was by chance that I found the FdA Web Design course at Wakefield College. The course has good links with the local web design industry and the programme leader is knowledgeable, supportive and wants to see all those on the course achieve their full potential.”

Aaron Corby, Student, Wakefield College

To apply for the FdA Web Design course please visit www.fda-web-design.co.uk. For more information about the project or to access the resources produced, please visit www.wylln.ac.uk 10 A new Foundation Degree in Ceramics at Kirklees College, validated by Leeds Metropolitan University, is helping to fill a gap in the provision of training in ceramics in the Yorkshire and Humber region and beyond.

Following research an absence of training programmes were identified for individuals aiming for a career in the ceramics industry.

Mark Clough, Award Leader of the Ceramics Foundation Degree at Kirklees College said: “It was WYLLN’s mapping exercise that identified the lack of provision in the region. For example, there is very little from York to London along the east coast and virtually nothing in Scotland. WYLLN has been there from the very beginning and their support has really helped to make this new qualification become a reality.”

To support the programme the ceramics team at Kirklees College worked in collaboration with Gallery North to launch Ceramics North in May 2010 at the Red Brick Mill, Batley. Students will benefit from this exciting new enterprise initiative, gaining invaluable experience in marketing, promoting and exhibiting their work.

Ceramics course fills the gap

Warren Dunn, Ceramic Specialist at Kirklees College said: “I think this is a great opportunity for students to continue their professional development and to raise the profile of ceramics in the school and within the region. It will also be of great benefit to those working on our new Ceramics Foundation Degree starting in September.”

This view is also endorsed by Felicity Aylieff, Senior Tutor, Ceramics and Glass Department at The , London and a leading figure in the ceramics industry. Felicity said: “For me this course ticks all the right boxes equipping students with all the essential tools they need to operate successfully in the creative industries.”

For further information on the Foundation Course please contact Warren Dunn at [email protected] or visit www.kirkleescollege.ac.uk. For more information about the project or to access the resources produced please visit www.wylln.ac.uk

”2010 is a busy year as we are particularly looking forward to working in collaboration with Kirklees College and the Ceramic Department, a hotbed for the most exciting graduates emerging in the field. With a series of Ceramic exhibitions already planned I believe Ceramics North will become the leading destination for contemporary ceramics outside of London.”

Norri Harman, Director of Gallery North, Red Brick Mill, Batley+ 11 For further information visit www.creativenetworkswestyorkshire.co.uk or look for ‘Creative Networks in West Yorkshire’ on Facebook. For information about the next event, or to subscribe to the mailing list, please email [email protected]. To access the project resources please visit www.wylln.ac.uk 12 In its dual efforts to drive forward graduate enterprise and the region’s creative economy, Leeds College “Through the promotion of knowledge of Art developed a networked model of employer sharing, collaborative working and increasing engagement and, through its partnership with WYLLN, Business Link and the Elsie Whiteley Innovation awareness and access to regional education Centre, has created one of Yorkshire’s most successful and skills provision, Creative Networks professional networks. contributes to the establishment of a strong, long-term creative industry in the region” The result; ‘Creative Networks’ is an exciting and popular peer-to-peer network that brings together all Steve Smith, Dean of the Faculty of Media & parties involved in the region’s creative, cultural and Design Communication, Leeds College of Art digital industry-sectors. As the most well-attended network of its kind, Creative Networks has been established since April 2008 to nurture and maintain creative talent from across the region, and to foster “My experience of Creative Networks is that partnerships and collaboration, and in doing so seeks it is a truly open forum which brings together to contribute to the establishment of a strong, long- Yorkshire practitioners in the creative term industry in the region. industries sector. No other creative network is as broad-based” Creative Networks is a true collaboration between public and private sectors in a collective attempt Dinah Clark, Programme Manager for to bring together and support a vibrant creative Culture, The Leeds Initiative community in Yorkshire. Attendees are not charged a fee, given that the network is funded through partners’ pooled resources. “Creative Networks has given employers The College has been very fortunate in attracting in West Yorkshire a focus point to network sought-after speakers, whom have since become effectively, build informal and formal links and friends and colleagues, including: Jimmy Choo provide support for SMEs and sole traders in (Couture), Martin Parr (Photography), Sir John a sector that sometimes can be neglected” Hegarty (Advertising), Simon Napier-Bell (Song-writer and Music Producer), Barry Purves (Animator) and Jamie Petrie, Fashion and Textiles Sector Frazer Irving (Comic Graphic Illustrator). Manager, Skillset, The Sector Skills Council Events are hosted by Leeds College of Art on the last for the Creative Industries Thursday of each month and, with such an impressive line-up, it’s no wonder that Creative Networks has become the ‘go-to’ event for creative professionals in Yorkshire.

The events also offer a unique opportunity to local businesses and entrepreneurs to raise their profile and ‘pitch’ their ideas to the audience. This has been hugely popular and has involved both established and fledgling businesses to date, encouraging collaborative working and mentoring across a truly diverse sector.

Creative networking in Yorkshire Women SET out to inspire

More than 100 women have already taken part in an ongoing series of networking events aimed at inspiring women to get the most from a career in the Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) industries. Launched in 2009, Inspiring Women is a joint project between WYLLN, the UK Resource Centre for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology (UKRC), Girl Geek Scotland and Girl Geek Dinners Leeds.

Girl Geek Dinners were founded in 2005 by Sarah Blow in London, who wanted to set up a networking event where women were not in the minority. Since then they have sprung up in cities all over the world, organised by volunteers from across the SET industries. Girl Geek Dinners Leeds is run by a number of people and sponsored by nti Leeds, Carbon Imagineering and Kilo75. The dinners give women the chance to network with the city’s brightest female creatives, technologists, programmers, entrepreneurs, marketing and PR professionals. The SET industries are traditionally male-dominated areas where women can often feel isolated and unsupported. The Girl Geek Dinners were established to support and encourage women to aspire to leadership and management positions alongside their male counterparts.

WYLLN recognised that there was a similar issue in further and higher education, with many young women choosing not to pursue careers in the SET industries. This is despite high educational achievement because they do not feel they can compete with the male students in their class, or because they see job roles within the SET industries as ‘boys’ jobs’.

The funding brought in through WYLLN and UKRC has enabled the Girl Geek Dinners network to expand the scale of its existing events and to feature international as well as local speakers at its dinners. The funding has also allowed partners to film the events, so that local education providers can develop video learning materials to support women at all levels to explore career opportunities in the SET industries.

Inspiring Women has already featured a wide range of high-profile speakers, including digital editor, Sarah Hartley from The Guardian; independent games developer and entrepreneur, Shanna Tellerman from Sim Ops Studios; Open Source expert, Emma McGrattan from INGRES; and Green IT guru, Mary Vincent from Green Star Solution.

Each event also features a local speaker, who can act as a real champion for delegates. For example, Christine Morris, creator of ‘Apps & Hats’, an online iPhone application review show, presented at the first Inspiring Women event on the subject of ‘Using video to make an impact’. The video recording of Christine’s presentation is now being developed as the basis for a set of interactive learning materials at Leeds Metropolitan University, including a series of discussion questions for students and a short project allowing them to create their own video with classmates.

For further information about the Leeds Girl Geek Dinners please visit www.leedsgirlgeekdinners.com or contact Linda Broughton at [email protected]. For information about additional support for women working in the Science, Engineering, Technology and Built Environment industries, please visit www.ukrc4setwomen.ac.uk To access the video learning objects and associated learning materials produced during the Inspiring Women project, please visit www.wylln.ac.uk. 14 “The resources created by the Inspiring Women project are a vital tool to empower young girls from a very early age. Not every one will become a scientist or grow up to push the boundaries of technology, but it is important to show that this path is an option for women at all levels of their development, from all backgrounds”

Leanne Buchan, Holbeck Urban Village, sponsor of the February 2010 Leeds Girl Geek Dinner

“With an estimated 350,000 qualified women not working in these fields we are very excited that the Inspiring Women project will address this and open up new opportunities for women in the field of IT and Digital industries”

Gill Rooker, UK Resource for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology (UKRC), project partner and funder for Inspiring Women

“As women, we need to feel accepted and these fabulous role models do just that and serve as huge reassurance to the geek girls of tomorrow. So many women were ahead of me on the path and just knowing that meant a lot”

Lorna Mitchell, Ibuildings, past speaker and regular attendee of the Leeds Girl Geek Dinners 15 The West Yorkshire Lifelong Learning Network

V ALUING POTENTIAL, INSPIRING SUCCESS

16 The West Yorkshire Lifelong Learning Network

Notre Dame catholic sixth form college

have faith in your future

17 “A Creative Entrepreneur is constantly aware of the need to cultivate networks, and to access the networks of others. Notably, the successful Creative Entrepreneur understands that networking is a critical business activity that requires work and is not merely a matter of luck - in fact ‘the harder I work, the luckier I get’

Anamaria Wills, Chief Executive, Creative Industries Development Agency (CIDA)

For further information about this project, or to access the resources produced, please contact Julia Calver at [email protected] or visit www.wylln.ac.uk 18 New research sheds light on enterprise education

More than 30 enterprise education staff from five WYLLN member institutions have taken part in a research project to investigate the perspectives of college and university educators in relation to entrepreneurial skills development for arts and media students.

Independent Education Consultant Dr Tim Deignan was commissioned to work with the , University of , Leeds City College, Wakefield College and Leeds Metropolitan University to investigate the creative enterprise curriculum, how it is delivered and what are the main issues and concerns.

Tim’s work resulted in a report outlining a number of recommendations based on four key viewpoints which were expressed during the project and summarised as:

1. Just get on and do enterprise! Students need our help and encouragement 2. Enterprise education has to be inclusive, tailor-made and strategically driven 3. Authentic input helps to develop it. But there are no guaranteed outcomes 4. Enterprise education benefits everyone but it needs staff awareness and understanding

The report also suggests ways for partners to work collaboratively to improve current understanding of different stakeholders’ needs of enterprise education in order to maximise the learning opportunities in education and training contexts.

The report ‘Entrepreneurial Skills Development for Arts and Media Students in West Yorkshire Colleges and Universities’ is now available in full on the WYLLN website and may be of interest to frontline educators, researchers, strategists and policy makers.

This research ran alongside another project commissioned by WYLLN with the Cultural Industries Development Agency (CIDA) to gain an employer perspective on what they believed enabled them to be successful entrepreneurs. Findings from this report are available on the WYLLN website. More than 600 students in West Yorkshire are already seeing the benefits of new video content being used in training and education programmes across the region. Video learning materials provide students with real-life examples of high- profile speakers from industry and local employers talking about their day-to-day experiences. This helps them to gain an additional insight into what it is like to actually work in the industry and the highlights and pitfalls they may encounter in their careers.

Discussion questions, interactive materials and project assignments have been created to accompany video clips from conferences such as TEDx Leeds, as well as the presentations of inspirational speakers at the Creative Networks events series.

Featured speakers include Dave Pannell from the Design Mechanics, Liz Cable from Reach Further, Charles Cecil from Revolution Software, Clive Grinyer from Cisco and innovation expert and former Head of Technology Research for Orange UK, Dr Norman Lewis.

The Video Learning Objects produced by WYLLN will help students from HND through to Masters level apply their learning in a business context, helping them to prepare for careers in the competitive creative digital industries across areas such as games, software development, photography and design.

The video learning objects also have the potential to be used far more widely benefiting students in West Yorkshire and across the UK.

“This is a fantastic example of what WYLLN has been able to achieve over the last three “The video provided interesting, up-to- years, bringing together a range of institutions date and relevant topics, providing a good and employers to benefit a large number of base for further discussion, learning and students across multiple disciplines and levels development“ of study, with some real work-based learning” Craig Wallbank, FdA Management and Business Enterprise Student, Wakefield Leia Bassett, Sector Officer for the Digital College Industries, WYLLN

Learning through video

For further information about this project, or to access any of the Video Learning Objects and accompanying Learning Materials produced during this project, please visit www.wylln.ac.uk

20 Creative pathways for Bradford artists

The Creative Pathways project is helping to equip students and artists in Bradford with the skills they need for careers in the creative industries.

The aim of the WYLLN funded project is to prepare students at and the University of Bradford, studying arts and media subjects at degree and masters level, for the transition from student to practitioner.

Over the two years, the programme has evolved from artist and practitioner talks representing the breadth of careers available within the creative industries, to more practical sessions on topics such as ‘Portfolio Development’ and ‘Using the Internet to Promote Yourself’. In addition the partnership grew to include the University of Bradford.

Alissa Juvan of Creative Bradford, who is co-ordinating the project on behalf of all partners, explained: “Between years one and two, we held a focus group to get feedback on the programme. This was invaluable as we were able to get insights from the students themselves. From this feedback, we made a number of changes to the programme for year two; seminars are now held every other week rather than weekly, depending on course timetables, with some sessions being held in the evenings as well as afternoons.

“As this is a new phase of the project, we decided to distinguish between the Creative Pathways project of Year One by calling this programme of sessions at both institutions ‘Creative Toolkit’, as it provides networking opportunities, coaching sessions, training events and seminars.”

Over 400 people have attended the sessions since September 2009 and feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Wider benefits of the programme include Creative Bradford organising this year’s Industry Weekend for the Bradford International Film Festival in partnership with the University of Bradford and Screen Yorkshire as well as an invitation to represent employers at several external review sessions for Bradford College.

“I try to attend all of the lectures on the programme as I believe they are part of my own programme of learning and training. The individual subject matters for the lectures are very varied, interesting and most applicable to the majority if not every undergraduate at the college.”

Geoff Fearnley, Student , Bradford College

For further information on this and other activities please contact Alissa Juvan at [email protected] or visit the website www.creativebradford.co.uk. To access the project resources please visit www.wylln.ac.uk Students get a taste of real working life

A series of interviews with industry professionals have “The resources enabled the students to appreciate given West Yorkshire students an insight into the the qualities sought by employers at recruitment diversity of jobs within the IT sector and the specialist and interview and to understand the need for the skills necessary to develop a successful career. employability and enterprise skills embedded within the new modules” Three West Yorkshire colleges have been working in partnership with local employers to develop authentic Alison Creedon, Head of Higher Education, Leeds and innovative work-based learning assignments to City College help students get a taste of what it is really like to work in the digital industries and to improve enterprise and employability skills, thereby enhancing their prospects in the workplace. “It was my first introduction to contacting a client and communicating in a professional manner. It helped Bradford College, Wakefield College and Leeds City me when contacting another client for my final College have developed a number of real work-based project. The module was also a good introduction to assignments for a range of ICT and digital Foundation Degrees, such as a web design assignment designed code and programming for later modules” around a real client brief provided by Swamp, the digital Stuart Rowson, Student, Leeds City College arm of Brahm, one of the UK’s leading communications agencies.

This project has helped full-time students with little or no experience of the world of work engage with the “As an employer it can be frustrating taking on IT industry and gain insight into the various demands graduates who you know have the ability, but just of the profession. The new assignments allow the haven’t been given the knowledge. That’s why students to develop their technical expertise in ways projects like WYLLN are so important. Bringing which encourage the use of initiative and creativity at industry professionals and students together bridges the same time as simulating the competitiveness of the that knowledge gap, and leads to a seamless workplace. transition from education to the workplace. This allows many students to hit the ground running Podcast interviews from industry professionals have meaning they are profitable to me as an employer also provided students with a better understanding of from day one, not a couple of months after their real projects and working conditions, and the future start date.” direction of travel for many companies in the digital industries. Dave Pannell, Creative Director, The Design Mechanics

For more information about the project or to access the resources produced please visit www.wylln.ac.uk

22 Lecturers get a change of place

The fast changing world of ICT and digital technologies puts pressure on lecturers and other teaching staff to make sure that skills presented in their teaching are up-to-date and relevant.

Leading digital technology businesses in West Yorkshire and beyond have been working with further and higher education institutions in Leeds and Bradford on a series of short work placements which are helping academic staff stay up to speed with the latest industry developments.

As a key output of the project, WYLLN worked closely with academics to write a toolkit that will help further and higher education institutions get the most out of industry placements for their staff. This is particularly relevant for staff members who have never worked in industry or who have been in teaching roles for some time and may be out of date with current hardware, software and working practices in the digital industries.

Employers including Radio Eden, Omnibus, Sumners, SICL and Made by Pi have taken part in the project, which has so far provided short term placements in industry for staff from Leeds Metropolitan University, Leeds City College and the University of Bradford.

The project has not only enhanced industry knowledge for individual staff members but helped to ensure that teaching materials and practical examples, such as new work-based assignments, are relevant to current industry practice. The project also facilitates better links with industry for the institutions, allowing more opportunity for work-based assignments and student placements.

“This initiative is important because there is evidently a mismatch between industry’s requirements at entry level and the general level of graduate competency, as Skillset has identified. Industry has a responsibility to address this, as does education, so this type of activity is welcomed and encouraged”

Paul Peppiate, Creative Director, Sumners

“I would highly recommend that academic staff make every effort to undertake some sort of industry placement wherever they can, it’s been tremendously useful and inspiring”

Mark Goodliff, Head of Creative Technology, University of Bradford

For further information about the project or to access the Staff Placements Toolkit please visit www.wylln.ac.uk 23 Sector audit helps events management industry move forward

“Moor Music Festival had been running for a number of years before it linked in with some of the support that’s offered in the region. A resource which holds all of this information in one place would be a great asset for all festival organisers in the area.” Moor Music Festival

WYLLN has funded a major piece of research into the course, training and Continuing Professional Development provision currently available across Yorkshire in the fast growing events and festivals management sector.

The research aimed to review the provision and availability of training and progression opportunities for the events and festival sector, as well as identifying skills gaps and examining the expectations of organisations employing personnel on a paid and unpaid basis.

The work was undertaken by the UK Centre for Events Management based at Leeds Metropolitan University working with the Yorkshire Festivals Network, the Yorkshire Events Network and detailed consultation with industry to identify the sector’s educational needs and requirements.

Jackie Mulligan, Principal Lecturer at the Centre, said: “The idea for the project emerged from a need to understand the events and festivals sector in the region and to identify ways in which Leeds Met and other HE and education and training providers might support the sector. This will help to ensure that education and training providers are able to develop provision that is fit for purpose for the sector in both content and format. It will also help the region’s educational providers to consider ways that they can help their graduates to become more employable.”

A paper summarising the findings of the report will be presented at the Global Events Congress, a major events industry conference in Leeds in July 2010. Organised by the Association for Events Management Education (AEME), the Global Events Congress will bring together researchers and practitioners from all over the world to take stock and enable connections to be made between different aspects of festivals and events research, including the creation of new research partnerships.

The full report, together with recommendations and issues for the sector, is available from the WYLLN website at www.wylln.ac.uk

For further information on this project please contact Leila Jancovich [email protected] 24

A major regional research project has been highly regarded by employers who favour the fast examining some of the most popular and well- development of software-specific knowledge and known vendor skills qualifications on offer across skills that can be gained in only a few days, in West Yorkshire and establishing key links between comparison to longer further and higher education these and more academic courses across the qualifications. digital industries. While recognising the immediate needs and priorities The project aims to show employers within the of employers, the WYLLN Digital Industries Sector digital industries what further and higher education Group are also keen to promote the advantages of courses, or specific modules, can offer over and the more generalised programmes provided by the above technical vendor skills qualifications. This region’s further and higher education institutions, includes ‘soft skills’ such as project management and dispel the myths around the length of time it and communication as well as the application takes to complete some modules and qualifications. of learning to work-based examples, without the business risk of this being done on live projects Led by Leeds Metropolitan University, the project within the workplace. aims to show employers where learners can gain Accredited Prior Learning (APL) for specific modules A vendor skills qualification is typically a training if they already hold vendor skills qualifications programme that is accredited by a company or and associated work portfolios, which means that ‘vendor’, rather than through a higher education individuals can undertake traditional academic institution or awarding body. Courses are or vocational programmes in much shorter developed by corporate organisations such as timescales alongside full-time work. The project Microsoft, Cisco, Apple and by professional bodies has also focused on gaining detailed feedback from like the British Computer Society and the Institute employers and learners on the pros and cons of for the Management of Information Systems. They different programmes and approaches. are common in the digital industries and usually

Mapping digital skills

For more information about the project or to access the resources produced to date please visit www.wylln.ac.uk 26 “Government policy and in particular the Sector Skills Councils highlight the importance of high quality industry-led vocational qualifications. We know that employers value vendor awards, therefore it can only be advantageous to recognise them in the awards system and, in so doing, to give learners access to learning opportunities that will better equip them for employment. Digital 20/20, the Yorkshire and Humber partnership to build a strong digital economy, is focused on ensuring that employers in the region have access to learners with the right skills. The vendor skills mapping undertaken by WYLLN is a significant step towards that goal”

Liz Wallis, Managing Director, Sero Consulting Ltd (Project Lead for Digital 20/20; the connected region strategy for Yorkshire & Humber)

27 Students win for West Yorkshire

Students from the Universities of Leeds and Huddersfield triumphed over competition from across the north towin coveted prizes in the Northern Design Competition 2009.

The Northern Design Competition is inspired by the vision of Leeds Metropolitan University governor, Maurice Miller. It is a competition that rewards talented students across the North of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland for their work in the creative arts, with categories including graphics, fashion, product design, photography and new media.

The competition plays an important role in creating and sustaining links between education and commerce in the creative sector. It provides entrants with a real opportunity to showcase their work in a competitive environment where it is judged by professionals and exhibited to future employers.

The 2009 awards ceremony was held in Leeds Metropolitan University’s flagship building, The Rose Bowl, with special guests Harry Gration from BBC Look North presenting the “It’s important to have a competition like this in category awards and Ricky Wilson, Leeds Met alumnus and the north and show people that there are top Kaiser Chiefs frontman, returning to the University to award designers outside London. This event acts as the prize for Young Northern Designer. a voice for all designers in the north.” WYLLN was proud to sponsor the photography category which was won by Emily Dick from the University of Leeds. Described Emily Dick, University of Leeds, Winner of by Chair of the judging panel, Wayne Hemingway, founder of the Photography category and Maurice Miller Fashion label Red or Dead, as ‘an emotionally stimulating Design Champion 2009 piece’, Emily’s photograph also won her the coveted title of Maurice Miller Design Champion 2009.

Delighted at her success, Emily Dick said: “Winning the Northern Design Competition has given me a lot of confidence. It has made me believe in my abilities as a creative person. My confidence has not just grown in terms of my photography, but I feel like my other design work has grown and now I feel assured of my opinions when I voice them.”

Matthew Harris from the University of Huddersfield won the Product Design category, securing another win for West Yorkshire students.

For further information please visit www.northerndesigncompetition.co.uk including details of how to apply for this year’s awards 28 Museums and universities make closer links

The University of Leeds has been working with the city’s museums, galleries and heritage sites on a project funded by WYLLN aimed at updating and improving training and development programmes for museum staff and volunteers.

Participants were invited from all nine of the museums, galleries and heritage sites which constitute Leeds City Museums and Galleries - as well as the Thackray Medical Museum and Harewood House Trust - to attend focus groups, interviews and networking events.

In addition, a review of existing Continuing Professional Development (CPD) provision was undertaken and a related survey of the changing employment opportunities in the sector over the past decade.

Dr Mark Westgarth, Lecturer in Museum Studies at the University of Leeds, said: “We aimed to create an open dialogue between the university and museum professionals in the context of the changing landscape and skills and knowledge requirements of the sector.

“One of the problems we wanted to address was a perceived dislocation between what the university museum studies programmes provided for students and what the museum, galleries and heritage sector workforce required. Through the surveys and the subsequent focus groups it emerged that this problem was primarily one of perception rather than one of differing objectives.

“The project has allowed us to redevelop the existing module ‘Museum, Object, Practice’ to incorporate new material based on the information and suggestions emerging from the surveys and focus groups. More broadly, it has resulted in a new and enriched dialogue between the University of Leeds, Leeds Metropolitan University and the museums, galleries and heritage attractions in the region. ”

For further information on the course please contact Dr Mark Westgarth at [email protected] or visit www.leeds.ac.uk. For further information on the project or to access the resources produced please visit www.wylln.ac.uk

29 WYLLN is helping businesses across the region to stay & Management in the Digital Industries’ event, where one step ahead of the competition by developing a web- delegates determined that the problem for most creative based resource that provides signposting information for a people was not a lack of innovative ideas, but a lack of range of business innovation needs, whether that be initial knowledge about how to turn those ideas into profitable ideas around development, idea evaluation, funding or business ventures or new products. advice on intellectual property. This led to subsequent involvement in the ‘Innovation Developing new products and services, exploring new in a Recession’ symposium with the Creative Industries production methods and identifying and accessing new Development Agency (CIDA), where delegates learned markets are all crucial for businesses to survive and techniques for assessing the merit of their ideas and looked prosper, particularly in difficult economic conditions. at how to develop ideas within their own organisations. However, whilst feedback from the event showed that However, although many businesses recognise the delegates found the information and tools presented very importance of innovation they often find it difficult to pin useful, few delegates were aware of where to get further down and define. The Business Innovation project was information and support. developed to respond to this problem by researching and assessing the scope of innovation support services across The research has resulted in an extensive list of innovation West Yorkshire and the extent to which employers are resources and support available to West Yorkshire aware of the support available to them. The project also businesses. The most recent event ‘Mind Your Own aimed to identify any current gaps in service provision, Business’ also provided delegates with real-life case particularly within education and training, and develop studies of other creative SMEs and practitioners who have solutions to address these. successfully innovated their products, services, funding arrangements and business practices through accessing The project was triggered by comments at the ‘Leadership this support and forming collaborative partnerships.

Supporting innovation for local business

“We are aware that innovation is a significant concern for businesses during the recession - and as we come out of it - and we want to be part of supporting innovative developments by helping to ensure that businesses in the region have the knowledge and skills they need to develop their ideas.”

Leia Bassett, Sector Officer for the Digital Industries, West Yorkshire Lifelong Learning Network

“I came not knowing where best to take my new business and now I have so many avenues to explore and new contacts”

Lee Hughes from Come Scribble, delegate at the Mind Your Own Business event

For further information about the project and where to get support for innovation in your own business please visit www.wylln.ac.uk 30 Leading the way through dance

“The dance leadership scheme has been Two dance practitioners have been given the opportunity valuable for me in many ways. Working as a to develop a broad range of career skills through a freelance dance artist, I often work alone and curriculum development project funded by WYLLN and can end up feeling quite isolated with little idea managed by the University of Leeds and Yorkshire Dance. of how other artists work. The placement has given me the opportunity to see other artists ‘in Vicky Hunter from the University of Leeds explains: action’ and also the opportunity for these artists “Research suggests that dance graduates, while to observe me teaching. This has helped me developing a high level of specialised skills in their realise the validity of my own work and skills, chosen art form, often lack the broader range which has in turn led me to become a more of leadership and facilitation skills needed to confident and more employable dance artist.” support and develop careers as freelance practitioners working across a range of Karen Bartholomew, Apprentice dance contexts.

“Additionally, current research identifies a lack of discernible career progression routes for practising community dance artists already working within the industry.”

The project provided work-based learning opportunities for Karen Bartholomew and Mia Nielsen who were selected to take part in a year-long apprenticeship programme consisting of a series of work-based learning placements and additional training sessions. Vicky added: “We are aiming to harness and develop local dance network relationships to prepare the ground for the implementation of a new vocationally-based dance leadership qualification due to start this year.”

This is a major national initiative for developing quality standards and building capacity for the teaching of dance in England outside the formal education sector. The new Level 6 award will be the first ever nationally recognised qualification in this field, providing a new professional accreditation framework for community dance leaders and freelance dance practitioners working in the community. Yorkshire Dance is piloting one of the four proposed modules.

The combination of the WYLLN funded apprenticeships and the national project has enabled Yorkshire Dance to progress dance, within the region and beyond.

For further information about this project please contact Vicky Hunter [email protected] or visit www.wylln.ac.uk 31 Thank you

“It has been a real privilege and inspiration to work with so many partners, employers, creative practitioners and learners over the last three years. Without you all we would not have been able to develop such important work across West Yorkshire. Thank you for your enduring enthusiasm and support for the West Yorkshire Lifelong Learning Network”

Julia Calver and Professor Chris Bailey Leia Bassett and Linda Broughton Culture, Media, Sport and the Arts; Hospitality, Leisure Digital Industries, including Creative Digital, ICT and and Tourism Sector Group Print Sector Group

WYLLN would like to thank everyone involved in all the projects mentioned in this brochure. Without your hard work and dedication, this work would not have been possible.

Ann-Marie Atkinson, Animated Yorkshire, Apps and Hats, AQL, Art, Design and Media Higher Education Academy Subject Centre, Arts Council England, Association of Photographers, Axis, Bmedia, Bradford College, Brahm, Breed Creative Solutions, British Computer Society (BCS), British Institute of Professional Photographers (BIPP), British Print Industry Federation (BPIF), Business Link, Carbon Imagineering, Carteblanche Photography, Chapter Eight, Charity Bank, Cisco, The City Inn, Codeworks, Confederation of British Industry (CBI), Craytec IT, Creative and Cultural Skills, Creative Bradford, Creative Commons, Creative Industries Development Agency (CIDA), Centre of Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL), Davinci Consulting, Digital 20/20, DRW Photographics, Dubit, East Street Arts, Ed Horwich, Elsie Whiteley Innovation Centre (EWIC), Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) Yorkshire, e-Skills UK, Etharius. com, Evolution Print, Fabric, Festival Republic, Foundation Degree Forward (fdf), Game Republic, Gavin Freeborn, Google, Government Office – Yorkshire & Humber, Green Star Solution, The Guardian, Harewood House Trust, Heads Together, Higher Futures, Higher York, Holbeck Urban Village, Holly Dexter, ICAD, IconPhotoMedia, Imagine dpm Group, INGRES Corporation, J Clive Lunn, Joint Audio Media Education Services (JAMES), Joanne Beaumont, Jonny Haynes, Kensei Media, Key Fund Yorkshire, Kilo75, Kim Phillips, Kiran Mehta, Kirklees College, Last Song Productions, Learning and Skills Council, Leeds Chamber, Leeds City College, Leeds City Museums and Galleries, Leeds College of Art, Leeds College of Music, Leeds Initiative, Leeds Media, Leeds Metropolitan University, College, LOCA, Lovle, Made by Pi, Magpie Communications, Michael Cuthbert (Leadership, Management, Innovation and Enterprise Sector Group), Mike Chitty, Mike Hargreaves, My Mouse House, National Health Service (NHS), National Skills Academy for Creative & Cultural Skills, National Skills Academy for Sport & Active Leisure, Network Academy, Dr Norman Lewis, Northern Design Competition, Northern Film School, Northern Leadership Academy, NorthernNet, nti Leeds, Omnibus, PeopleFirst, Pilot Theatre, PODIUM, Point Blank Theatre, Priestmangoode, ProSkills, Radio Eden, Reach Further, Redeye Photography Network, Regional University Network, Refinery Group, Revolution Software, Richard Braddock, Sarah Clothier, Science City York, Scottish Informatics and Computer Science Alliance (SICSA), Screen Yorkshire, SEE for the 2012 Games, Sero Consulting, Sharon Pickering, , SICL, Sim Ops Studios Inc, SkillsActive, Skillset, Skillsfast-UK, Soonnight UK, Sport England, Stoney Academic Services, Sumners, TechMesh, TechnoPhobia, Thackray Medical Museum, The Caleb Group, The Design Mechanics, Tim Appleby, Dr Tim Deignan, Train to Gain Enhancement Fund, Truemedia Productions, UK Resource Centre for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology (UKRC), University of Bradford, University of Edinburgh, University of Huddersfield, , University of Leeds, Waddington & Ledger, Wakefield College, West Yorkshire Playhouse, West Yorkshire Sports, Words&Pictures, Yorkshire Dance, Yorkshire Forward, Young People’s Enterprise Forum, Zoom Animation, and all the organisations, individual creative practitioners, tutors and students involved in WYLLN.