the hub

Skills Development

“Thank you so much for all these amazing sessions; you are both really charismatic communicators and I felt you truly and generously shared your expertise with all of us. This was by far the best training experience I had – and believe me I had a few in the past?”

Enabling people and organisations to better meet their potential
the hub has a strong track record for delivering excellent, highly practical, fit-for-purpose professional development programmes. We work with industry bodies to train, mentor and support in other ways hundreds of artists, promoters, producers, label managers and others working in the cultural sector. We really enjoy working on professional development projects; it’s inspiring to spend time with other industry professionals keen to find new answers and try out new ideas – and it keeps us on our toes!

Because we’re active members of the UK’s creative sector, we’re all ‘industry insiders’
the hub team combines significant training and mentoring expertise with up-to-the-minute practical experience of working as managers, producers, fundraisers, marketers or project managers. As a result, our offer is unique. the hub gives people the kinds of professional development support they want: industry-specific, practical advice and information that can be put into practice straight away; trainers and mentors who continue to do pay their dues and are generous with their knowledge, and plenty of opportunities for debate, questions and networking.

We’re adept at devising and delivering a range of fit for purpose professional development solutions
At the hub, our interest in supporting professional development extends beyond training; in response to needs articulated by those working in the creative sector, the programmes we put together are characterised by a strong emphasis on supported work-based learning.

New Music Plus… is a professional development programme that we?ve developed in partnership with the PRS for Music Foundation. It aims to strengthen leadership skills and cross art-form learning amongst arts organisations and independent music producers. A pilot programme ran in London in 2009 and in 2010 the programme moves its focus to the North West. Other schemes we’ve developed and managed include Music Connections, a music industry training and mentoring programme for musicians and small music businesses in Northemptonshire; Promoter Platform in the East Midlands, and a national Phrased & Confused live literature development programme.

Our Training Guide walks you through our most popular training courses
Our Cultural Industries Training Guide details our most popular training courses, developed in response to client feedback about what they – and the people they work with – need. It sets out example frameworks, content and learning outcomes, and talks you through how we work with clients to customize our training sessions so that they provide exactly what’s needed. Areas covered include:

  • Fundraising and Sponsorship: covering everything from government funds to private investment; as the credit crunch kicks in and industry models shift, injecting cash into small businesses will be harder but all the more important?
  • Digital Strategy and Production: the 21st Century reality check – how to get digitally savvy on a shoestring, build a business-focused digital ‘toolkit’, plus the hugely popular Penniless Podcaster!
  • Legal & Financial Essentials: contracts, copyright, legal and company structures, boards and governance – all that legal jargon demystified.
  • Business Planning: everyone hates business planning, right – Our courses are renowned for cutting through the c*** and getting people inspired and on-track.
  • International know how: how to work internationally, and – the one we all want to crack – how to make the Olympics work for you.
  • Music Industry Essentials: for artists and entrepreneurs alike – how to make money from your music and grow your music business; not a Dragon or Den in sight!
  • Creative Production: everything you need to know to make your events a success – the checklist, health & safety, logistic – the lot.

Courses we’ve delivered recently include business planning and festival and event logistics for CIDA, fundraising sessions for clients such as Folk Arts England and Southwark Council, and an international arts session for Arts Matrix.

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