News Article

Two inspirational business initiatives that support the growth of the North East’s burgeoning digital cluster have received a welcome boost with the addition of nearly £2m of funding.

Codeworks Connect, the trade association for digital companies based in North East England, and Codeworks GameHorizon, a collaborative network of video games companies, have secured investment from One North East to further grow their membership, open up trading opportunities and support over 500 businesses by 2011.

£985,000 of the regional development agency’s Single Programme money has been matched by a contribution from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) 2007-13, which is focusing its resources on innovation, business growth and enterprise. The project will also contribute to Sunderland Software City’s drive to develop the software sub-sector cluster. The total project investment will be £1.97m.

“This investment will allow us to continue to expand our membership and provide a larger forum for businesses to network, share software knowledge and collaborate with other SMEs within the industry,” said Codeworks CEO Herb Kim.

“The North East is home to strong digital and video games sectors, and this funding will enable us to continue providing them with welcome support to help them further grow and succeed."

Codeworks Connect will use the funding to increase its network to 450 regional digital members and seek to include a greater number of software companies, IT managers and buyers in the community.  It will sponsor fifteen Proof of Concept, software design and creative fund applications, raising £1m of funding for SMEs and sourcing £6m of business leads.

It will also apply resource to attract national and international speakers, software buyers, exhibitors and delegates to a series of software specific events, as well as undertaking an international trade mission each year. And it will continue to build on the great success of its annual ‘Thinking Digital’ conference (taking place on 13-15 May 2009 at the Sage Gateshead).

GameHorizon is aiming to see the region’s games industry grow by 30% by developing £5m of business leads, opening up network links with the United States, Europe and Asia, and building on the success of its annual GameHorizon Conference each year to attract foreign companies and investment. This year’s GameHorizon Conference is scheduled for 23-24 June.

“To build a successful digital industry we need to help enterprising companies to come together, share experience, and access academic resources and business leads,” said One North East head of European and skills strategy Lesley Calder.

“Since its inception in 2004, Codeworks Connect has nearly quadrupled its membership to over 300 companies. Collectively, Codeworks represents the largest regional network of digital businesses in the UK, so we’re confident our investment will continue to make a major contribution to the regional economy.”

The North East ERDF Competitiveness Programme 2007-13 is managed by One North East and is bringing over £250m into the region.

Both Codeworks Connect and Codeworks GameHorizon offer a range of services to businesses in the North East, including networking events, workshops, and public relations support.

The initiatives are part of Codeworks, a Sunderland-based centre for digital innovation which works with entrepreneurs, universities, venture capitalists and economic developers to create and grow digital companies.  Its membership extends across the North East, from Yarm in Teesside to Rothbury in Northumberland.

Digital and games sector companies interested in finding out more about the projects can call Codeworks on 0191 556 1122.

For information on the wider package of support available to businesses, please contact Business Link on 0845 600 9006 or visit www.businesslink.gov.uk/northeast

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Codeworks is using ERDF money for business growth in the digital and games sector, working with the likes of Mere Mortals managing director Steve Walmsley.

Media contact:
Tom Willcox, European Secretariat
0191 229 6805
tom.willcox@onenortheast.co.uk