Digital Innovate UK Grant Writing Masterclass for the Creative Industries

Future Screens NI is hosting a virtual grant writing masterclass in partnership with Innovate UK.   The Masterclass will be delivered by Tom Fiddian, Innovation Lead for the Creative Economy at Innovate UK and Lorraine Acheson, Innovate UK Manager for Northern Ireland.  Innovate UK is the UK's Innovation Agency providing funding and support to businesses for research, development and innovation. Since 2007, Innovate UK has provided funding of more than £2.7 billion for business-led projects.

The masterclass will explain the process for applying for Innovate UK funding and will provide expert advice on how to write a compelling grant application.

At the event, you will get

• an overview of Innovate UK Opportunities and the potential to stimulate innovation within the local creative industries
• an outline of the grant application process and what the assessors are looking for
• an opportunity to ask questions and discuss current funding opportunities

Speakers

Tom Fiddian is the Innovation Lead for the Creative Economy at Innovate UK.   Since joining Innovate UK in 2013, Tom leads Innovate UK’s funding programme across all the Creative Industries, within the AI and Data Economy Directorate. He has run a number of significant funding activities ranging from supporting Art & Tech start-ups, to incentivising and securing substantial FDI from large multi-national media and entertainment corporations. He was the lead author on the successful £33m Audience of the Future business case and is currently managing the programme’s business-led funding activities. Tom has 10 years of broad cross-sector experience, designing consumer products in the Health, Packaging, Food and Telecoms industries.  Tom is a Thought leader on technological innovation across multiple sectors.  After leaving university, Tom set up his own company producing videos and creating immersive tour visuals for the music industry.

Lorraine Acheson is the Innovate UK Manager for Northern Ireland.  Lorraine has a strategic leadership role in establishing cross-sectoral engagement with Innovate UK.  Lorraine works with stakeholders from Government, industry and the academic sector to promote Innovate UK across Northern Ireland and to improve the economic and social impact of research and development.  Lorraine has an expert understanding of regional capabilities and clusters.
Lorraine’s background is in management consultancy, specialising in the health and life sciences, with over 20 years of experience gained in both the UK and Australia. Lorraine has extensive experience working with regional and national Governments, health care providers and commissioners, private sector and the European Commission.