Premises Ready

Creative United is working with the Greater London Authority (GLA) to devise and deliver a business programme which supports people and organisations to open cultural venues within London.

For anyone in the cultural sector looking to start a venue, our three-part Premises Ready Training programme launched with a free symposium on 14 November 2018.

The programme has offered advice from industry insiders and experts from arts centres, cinemas, music and dance venues providing knowledge and insights to help creative businesses open a venue.

Participants could be from any background, for example, a live music promoter who is ready to take on their own venue, a touring theatre company wanting a permanent space or a dancer who wants to make the leap to running their own performance studio, the only criteria was that the venue offered a live, cultural experience and is open to the public.

The programme is in 3 parts:

  1. The Premises Ready Symposium on 14 November 2018
    At the free symposium, a panel of industry professionals discussed the challenges of securing your premises and shared tips to make the journey that much smoother.
  2. Premises Ready 2-Day Workshop, 5 and 6 December 2018
    An expert-led workshop on 5 and 6 December 2018 at Camden’s Roundhouse where participants learned about business planning, accessing finance, licensing, rates and marketing.
  3. Free 1:1 business advice in 2019
    Five businesses are receiving free one-to-one advice from an industry specialist to really boost them towards getting the keys to their own building (see below for more information).

Please click here to find out more about our free 1:1 business advice

The 1:1 advice

Following the Symposium in November and the Workshops in December, applicants were invited to apply for free 1:1 advice.

We have provided five individuals or businesses with 4 hours of expert business advice from a sector specialist. This is an opportunity to work in depth on a business plan, cashflow forecasts, finance options or long-term strategy which will set participants up to progress towards getting the keys to their own venue.

As places were limited, they were decided upon an indication of business support need and potential impact to the business from support – e.g. will 1:1 support enable significant progress towards leasing or purchasing a cultural venue?

Who will benefit from the advice?

  • People planning to operate a public-facing cultural venue such as a music venue, theatre, comedy club or other forms of performance and art presentation
  • You may already have a building in mind, or know where you want to be based
  • You haven’t leased or bought a venue before

Who can’t be supported?

  • People who are looking to open a creative workspace, restaurant or rehearsal studio – i.e. a building that won’t offer public-facing cultural performances

Who will be providing the 1:1 advice?
Creative United have matched participants with one of our team of industry specialists based on needs and ambitions.

The following business advisors will be providing the 1:1 advice
Creative United will match participants with one of our team of industry specialists based on needs and ambitions:

James West

James West

James West

James West

James is an expert at untangling business issues and explaining the way forward in a style that makes sense. He has advised several creative and cultural businesses across the UK – from volunteer-run charities, to private companies and leading brand names. A successful business owner himself working with arts clients including Pleasance Theatre Trust, Bernie Grant Arts Centre and Royal Opera House, James also works outside of the arts sector with Higher Education organisations, leading charities and Local Authorities.

James understands first-hand the challenges facing today’s entrepreneurs. His sector specialisms include theatre, live events and service-based products, offering advice and insight around marketing, sales, sponsorship, product development and growth planning. James is well-versed in coaching a variety of early stage and growth businesses through 1:1, group sessions, facilitation and training.

 

Ellen O'Hara

Ellen O’Hara

Prosper North

Ellen O'Hara

Ellen O’Hara

Prosper North

Ellen O’Hara is an independent coach and consultant in creative and cultural enterprise with 18 years experience spanning the private, public and third sectors. She has designed and delivered enterprise and business development programmes for Nesta and Arts Council England (Digital Arts & Culture Accelerator), Innovate UK (Enterprise Skills for grantees), British Council, Creative United, and the Clore Leadership Programme. Ellen delivers coaching, consultancy and facilitation in strategy and planning, business model innovation, income diversification, enterprise capabiity, and access to alternative finance.

Recent clients include National Theatre Wales, Warwick Ventures, Turner Contemporary, Coney, Metal, Theatre Centre, Stopgap Dance Company, Clore Leadership, New Art Exchange, Big Issue Invest, Creativity Works, Crafts Council, Nesta and British Council.

Ellen previously held roles at award-winning craft incubator Cockpit Arts, the Prince's Trust and Arts Council England. She began her career in management consultancy at Arthur Andersen. She is a published researcher, Clore Leadership Fellow 2014/15, SFEDI accredited coach, Fellow of the RSA, holds a degree in Economics & Econometrics from the University of Birmingham and a postgraduate diploma in Administrative Management.

She sits on the board of regional theatre company Little Earthquake and is also co-founder and editor at City Writers Room, a place for writing about people, places and ideas on the theme of city. She works internationally and is based in the Derbyshire Dales, UK.

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