News

04.Dec. 2013

We’re delighted to announce the launch of our new website. 

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to its creation, particularly Paul Burgess of Burge Agency for his invaluable creativity, technical expertise and advice.

We’d love to hear your feedback. 

20.Nov. 2013

More than 120 business leaders from the creative and cultural sector packed Google Headquarters in London on Tuesday 19 November to learn from each other and hear from creative entrepreneurs and experts from the investor community.

AWC joined the Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) who hosted a panel discussion which explored how businesses can their IP, how to tell what intellectual assets they own and how to protect or exploit them when considering access to finance.

The following key themes and issues emerged:

• How an investor would value a business as well as a product or idea
• Identification / audit of assets
• How to understand the requirements of a due diligence 

Throughout the day, valuable industry perspective was provided by entrepreneurs who have worked with investors, banks and others to help build their business and those how could comment on the realities of IP.

See Google's Europe Blog for more details. 

19.Nov. 2013

AWC founder and director, Alan Ward, was delighted to be approached by the outreach team for UKIPO (the Intellectual Property Office) to support them at a Creative England event hosted by Google in London earlier this month. 

The event, ‘Stimulating growth for the creative and cultural industries’, featured speakers including renowned entrepreneur and former ‘dragon’, Doug Richard.

Alan was one of the panel of experts on hand to address and debate various intellectual property issues raised by speakers and audience members. 

He was also filmed in a one-on-one Q&A session. We hope to be able to share the video on the website soon.

06.Nov. 2013

Alan Ward has recently been put forward to become a Growth Coach for the UK Government’s highly successful GrowthAccelerator scheme, which is designed to help SMEs develop and grow.

For a small membership fee, qualifying SMEs can access a personal Growth Manager focused on helping them achieve their business growth objectives. Growth Managers have access to various resources to help in this potentially transformational process, including half-price professional training for the senior team and the support of Growth Coaches with relevant specialist expertise.

A keen supporter of the scheme, Alan comments, “SMEs are vitally important to the UK’s economy, a fact that’s often overlooked. GrowthAccelerator is a positive and straightforward business growth scheme, which has the potential to make a real difference. I’m delighted to have this opportunity to get involved.”

10.Apr. 2013

We’re delighted to announce that, with Alan Ward’s support, our long-standing client, John Madejski Academy, has successfully secured a much-needed capital grant of £700k.

The grant will make it possible to transform a poorly maintained and under-utilised building into an educational outreach centre. This will be dedicated to delivering a range of services to help those with the greatest need, including existing students and the wider community.

“I’m delighted for the school and the community that we have been able to secure this money,” says Alan. “The school has now asked us to manage the project, so I’m very excited to be involved in driving forward a scheme that will make a real difference to many people’s lives.”