IW Creative Network and Go For Growth are joining forces and running an exciting one-day training and networking event for creative professionals on Thursday 6th March 2025, at Building 41, Cowes, titled are joining forces and running an exciting one-day training and networking event for creative professionals, titled ‘Future-Proof Your Creativity: Combine artistry and technology to realise your true worth and shape the future of your creative business.’
Thursday 6th March 2025
Building 41, Cowes
FREE for IWCN members
£5 for Go For Growth members
£25 for non-members
Designed to help artists, designers, writers, and creative entrepreneurs on the Isle of Wight, turn their passion into a sustainable and financially rewarding business, this event will explore the true value of creative work and how to align artistic vision with business strategy.
With expert-led sessions from leading AI consultant Jocelyn Burnham, award-winning voice actor Emma Topping, and business strategist Ross Findon, attendees will discover how to leverage AI, redefine their value, and build a business model that works.
This interactive, hands-on event is an essential opportunity for creatives looking to develop, grow, and thrive. Book your spot now and take the next step in your creative career!
Spaces are limited, so please book early to secure your spot! Ticket includes a light lunch and coffee / refreshments.
Agenda:
- 9.30am – 10am: Arrive. Coffee. Mingle / Network.
- 10am – 10:15am: Introduction and welcome from your hosts, Georgia (IWCN) and Gavin (Go for Growth)
- 10:15am – 11:00am: Leveraging AI to support your creativity, with Jocelyn Burnham
- 11:00am – 11:45am: AI breakout session: practical use-case
- 11.45am – 12.05pm: Discussion – has the morning helped you see an new opportunity?
- 12:05pm – 12.30pm: Emma Topping’s creative journey, a fireside chat
- LUNCH BREAK 12.30 pm – 1.15 pm
- 1.15pm – 2.00pm How to define and communicate your true value, with Ross Findon
- 2:00pm – 2:45pm Breakout Session: Re-thinking your value (proposition)
- 2.45pm – 3.00pm. AI Generated podcast of the day
- 3.00pm – 3.40pm. Closing Q & A with presenters from the day
- 3:40pm – 3:45pm: Closing Remarks
SPEAKERS BIOS:
Jocelyn Burnham:
Jocelyn Burnham (www.aiforculture.com) is one of the UK’s leading independent artificial intelligence consultants, trainers, and speakers, specialising in AI innovation through creativity and playfulness. She has been commissioned by organisations including Arts Council England, Tate, The Church of England, Art Fund, Shakespeare’s Globe, RADA, Kew and Bloomberg Philanthropies to produce bespoke AI workshops and resources. Her work has also been sought by industries and institutions beyond the cultural space, seeking to apply creative approaches to AI innovation. Jocelyn has spoken on AI and its cross-sector applications at conferences organised by the British Library, the Arts Marketing Association, the National Lottery Heritage Fund and others. She was previously the Communications Manager of UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK, the Marketing Campaigns Manager of Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival, the Marketing and Communications Manager of Music Theatre Wales, the Publications Officer of Sadler’s Wells, and the Marketing Manager of Sheringham Little Theatre, among multiple freelance marketing projects.
Emma Topping:
Emma is an award-winning voice actor trusted by global brands including Amazon, Disney, Netflix, Virgin Atlantic, the BBC and many more. She has over 30 years’ experience working across voice acting, radio, television, marketing and communications. This background means she not only delivers the highest quality audio, but she also understands the production process and how to interpret a script to engage and connect with an audience.
Living in Cowes, Emma delivers voice over projects from her garden studio across all sectors – from radio and TV commercials, to corporate narration including e-learning, to phone prompts for businesses, as well as performing character voices for gaming and animation. Her e-learning narration skills have been recognised at the ‘Oscars’ of the voice over industry, where she won a prestigious One Voice Award.
Thanks to superfast broadband, Emma connects with directors and creative producers all over the world, who can direct her vocal delivery to fit their needs. However, she also enjoys working with local and national companies and records, edits and produces the highest quality audio to help give businesses of all sizes a voice that customers and clients can trust.
Ross Findon:
Ross Findon is a former journalist, whose career started in Bolivia, before a return to his native UK, where his work has featured across some of Britain’s biggest news organisations.
He left the media in 2017 and has since dedicated his career to supporting brands and organisations working to address global challenges such as climate change, nature loss and pollution. As Media and Messaging lead for international circular economy NGO, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, he was responsible for helping to shape its narrative and take its message to policymakers, business leaders and the public.
Since then, he has gone on to hold leadership roles in both the PR agency and brand worlds — including at Teemill and Rapanui on the Isle of Wight. Now, as an independent communications consultant he helps international clients shape their brands and tell their stories.
Based in Cowes, he is also Global Director of Communications for the international climate communications organisation New Zero World and the lead author of Pop Culture: Bursting the Climate Communications Bubble.
Venue address: Building 41, Newport Road, Cowes, Isle of Wight PO31 8BX
Building 41 is a modern, fully accessible venue with excellent transport links with a bus stop located just outside on Newport Road, between Ascensos and BAE Systems, just outside of Cowes in Northwood.
Parking & transport: Parking is limited to residents of Building 41 with limited parking bays available. We recommend parking at Somerton Park & Ride (Newport Road, Cowes, PO31 7ER) which is a 5 minute walk away, at Ј2 per day. We also suggest car sharing where possible – which you can arrange through posting a notice on the IW Creative Network Facebook Forum to other members of the network.
Venue accessibility: The venue offers dedicated parking for those with health conditions or impairments, a disabled lift, wide doorways, and accessible toilets. Please email any access requirements to [email protected].
This event, hosted in collaboration with the IW Creative Network and Go for Growth.
IW Creative Network is delivered through Creative Island – the cultural development agency for the Isle of Wight. We help Creatives on the Isle of Wight develop sustainable careers in the creative industries through business support, networking, resources and profiling. A bespoke talent development programme is available for individuals and organisations joining the network, which aims nurture and inspire, allowing Creatives to thrive and become more sustainable. Explore more and join the network here and follow us here: Instagram & Facebook.
Go For Growth, is a programme to support micro businesses and small businesses thrive through online, in-person, 121 programmes and mentoring.
