Future-Proof Your Business Session for Herefordshire’s CreaTech Community

Future-Proof Your Business: Skills, Connections & Collaboration for Herefordshire’s Creative & Tech Community

The world of business is changing fast.

AI, new technology and shifting markets are creating both risk and opportunity.

So what skills, connections and collaborations do Herefordshire’s creative and tech businesses need to come together, adapt, grow and thrive?

Herefordshire is full of creative thinkers, makers, problem-solvers, entrepreneurs and innovators. Across the county, people are building businesses, developing ideas, experimenting with new technologies, and creating work that sits between traditional sectors.

But what skills, connections and support do we need next?
How do we help creative people work with technologists?
How do we encourage innovation across industries?
And how do we make Herefordshire a place where new ideas can grow?

We’re inviting you - creatives, freelancers, founders, artists, technologists, educators, researchers, funders, students, makers, community leaders, business owners and curious minds - to join us for a free, dynamic Open Space workshop where the agenda is shaped by the people in the room.

Together, we’ll explore the question:

What skills, connections and collaborations do Herefordshire’s creative and tech businesses need to come together, adapt, grow and thrive?

This is not a conference where you sit and listen. Rather, it is a participatory session where your ideas, questions and experiences shape the conversations.

Whether you’re already working at the intersection of creativity and technology, have an idea you’d like to develop, are looking for collaborators, or simply want to understand where opportunities may lie, this event is for you.

What’s the Goal?

Our goal in Herefordshire is to uncover and connect the people and organisations who want to explore the opportunities between creativity, technology and innovation.

We want to better understand:

• What skills are needed for the future
• What barriers people face
• What opportunities exist for collaboration
• What support innovators need
• What new ideas, partnerships or projects could emerge

By bringing together different perspectives, we hope to spark conversations that lead to future research, innovation, collaboration and real-world opportunities.

Your voice will help shape what happens next.

Who Should Attend?

This event is for:

• Creatives and artists
• Tech professionals and developers
• Freelancers and founders
• SMEs and business owners
• Educators and students
• Researchers and universities
• Makers and manufacturers
• Funders and support organisations
• Community leaders
• Anyone curious about the future of innovation in Herefordshire

What Will You Leave With?

While the exact outcomes depend on the conversations in the room, participants typically leave with:

• Fresh ideas
• New contacts
• Potential collaborators
• Greater clarity on opportunities
• A stronger local network
• Insight into future skills needs
• A chance to shape future support programmes

What is an Open Space Event?

Open Space is a highly engaging workshop format designed to unlock conversations that matter most to participants.

Instead of a fixed programme, attendees propose topics, host discussions, move freely between conversations, and help surface ideas, challenges and opportunities in real time.

It is collaborative, energising and practical. You can learn more here: https://openspaceworld.org/wp2/what-is/

This session will be facilitated by Helen Keegan and John Holmes from Advantage Creative, working in partnership with the CreaTech Frontiers programme.

What Do We Mean by “CreaTech”?

CreaTech is where creativity meets technology - the space where artists, designers, makers, entrepreneurs, developers and innovators use new tools and ideas to create new products, services and experiences.

It can include everything from immersive experiences, gaming and interactive media to AI-powered creative tools, digital storytelling, design innovation and performance technology. It also embraces creative manufacturing, content creation, new business models and cross-sector collaboration.

CreaTech is not one industry. It is the space between industries - where new possibilities emerge.

What is CreaTech Frontiers?

CreaTech Frontiers is a 5-year £7.2 million project funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) establishing a West Midlands CreaTech ecosystem by funding collaborative R&D, supporting business innovation and developing skills and talent. Led by Birmingham City University with Coventry University, the University of Birmingham, The University of Warwick, the Royal Shakespeare Company and Digital Catapult, providing access to a network of four complementary, interconnected R&D labs, expert academic partners and a network of industry partners.

More details: https://createchfrontiers.com/

Photography & Filming Notice

This event will be filmed and photographed. Footage may be used in post-event materials, highlights, and social media by CreaTech Frontiers and it's associated partners. If you prefer not to appear on camera, please let a member of the team know on arrival.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher CreaTech Frontiers