Crossover is now inviting owners and senior managers of companies to apply for places on our pilot Business Lab, to be held in Leeds on 25 and 26 February 2010.

There are three core objectives of the Business Lab programme:

· to assist creative companies located in the North of England acquire the skills, capabilities and assets required to do business effectively and to achieve growth in the converging digital marketplace

· to share understanding of the characteristics and challenges of the emerging media market, the challenges to and opportunities for growth

· to foster collaboration between companies within and across the regions.

What will it involve?

· New business models: the pace of change and disruption in the media industries suggests that only the agile will flourish. How does a company break into new markets and generate revenue from new sources?

· Frameworks for collaboration: modelling a framework for understanding your business and its place in cross platform working: developing ideas, making them happen, structuring relationships with partners.

· Strategic Planning: how might your business approach work across platforms and where are the gaps? How might your enterprise develop a structure that will allow for growth in new markets?

· Getting outside help: how do you find the right people to act as ‘jungle guides’ in new markets and to provide appropriate financial, legal, management advice?

· Access to finance: sources of investment for corporate as well as project development

Who is the Crossover Business Lab for?

The Crossover Business Labs are designed for small to medium sized creative businesses based in the North of England. They are particularly suitable for companies operating in the audio-visual industries (operating in the film, tv, web, mobile, games and animation sectors) seriously interested in corporate growth by exploring new business models, extending beyond their current markets and developing new partnerships and collaborations. The Lab will comprise a blend of presentation, workshop activity and round table discussion. There will also be some opportunity for one-to-one consultation with visiting experts.

For more information please log on to crossover Please note places are limited.