Boost for creative businesses

Two Frome-based business projects have been awarded slices of £90k by Somerset County Council to help support the creative sector.

A festival of creative business events and an online audio book publishing business are two of sixteen countywide projects that have received grants.

County councillor David Hall, the cabinet member responsible for economic development, said: "These new projects will help support jobs and businesses in the local creative economy. The festival will provide opportunities for businesses to exchange ideas and develop new working relationships, while the audio book publishing business will open up artists to new markets online."

The festival, which is being promoted by the Frome & District Chamber of Commerce, is seeking to run a series of ´Discussing and Doing´ events for businesses.

Neil Howlett, President of the chamber, said: "Frome has a thriving hub of creative businesses. Yet many of them are run by one or two people based from home and providing their services over the Internet, which means they can be isolated."

"Through a series of themed events and talks in areas such as making sales, meeting customer needs and using new technologies, we aim to help artists, creative and other businesses communicate, learn and help each other to be successful."

The second Frome based project aims to support local writers and creative artists with the development of an audio book business. Frome Community Productions will use their existing studios to manage the production of audio books and generate income from online sales.

David Hall added: "The County Council is committed to supporting the creative sector, and this fund aims to encourage new jobs and skills, while enabling businesses and organisations like these in Frome to take the lead in developing the sector.

"The creative sector is vital to the Somerset economy. It provides 8,000 jobs and £400 million in revenue every year, as well as contributing to the vitality, identity and cultural development of the county."