The study was commissioned by Shetland Arts and Mission Models Money who are interested in how loan financing might complement existing means of financing the creative industries such as grants and burseries.

As one of our valued members, we would be very grateful if you could follow the below link and complete an on-line survey, the responses to which will form the main body of the research:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/loans_for_artists_survey

The survey should only take no more than 15 minutes to complete and doing so will help form a strong body of evidence concerning the finance and support needs of Scottish artists and creative practitioners.

By way of thanks, BOP Consulting (the consultancy contracted to deliver the research) are offering respondents the chance to win one of two £20 Amazon vouchers.

Please note that all responses to the survey will be stored securely and kept completely anonymous.

The service will offer one-to-one sessions in professional development, with a focus on self-knowledge: the key to making the right decisions for you in your creative life and enjoying a healthy balance between creativity and your personal life.

In order to provide the best possible service, Louise has asked that you complete a short questionnaire. You can do this by telephone, meeting or requesting a copy via email. Please use the contact details below.

Email – info@louiserutkowski.co.uk

Mobile  – 07759472970

Keith Harris is currently the Director of Performer Affairs for PPL and chairman of Music Tank as well as being Stevie Wonder’s manager.

This event will take place in Studio 1 of the City Halls Glasgow on Monday the 9th of August at 5pm.

To register your interest in attending this event please email us at caroline@smia.org.uk

Enhancing employees’ skills will bring real benefits to your business including improved productivity and a stronger more confident workforce.

Types and levels of training that are eligible for support include:

* Qualifications including individual units
* Masterclasses
* Learning based on National Occupational Standards
* Industry recognised qualifications
* First line supervisory management
* Workshops
* Taster sessions

Funding is available for up to 10 employees per business and the money is not a loan so there’s no need to pay it back. SDS will refund up to 50% of each episode of employee training up to a maximum of £500.

To apply or for more information call 0800 783 6000 or visit

http://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/our-services/services-for-employers/encourage-employees-to-develop-new-skills.aspx

Thanks to those who attended the meeting, it was fantastic to meet you and get your feedback.

If you didn’t make it along don’t worry! We will be announcing more events soon.

Remember that you can always contact us directly by phone or email to discuss any music industry related issue.

SMIA will be holding a members only event at 11.30am on Friday11th. Venue details TBC.

Have you applied for a loan for your business? Were you accepted or refused?

Many music businesses have reported difficulties in getting finance in the form

of bank loans and other loans.

UK Music is worried that this is a problem felt right across the music business.

This could hamper the ability of our industry to grow and put the future at risk.

We are looking for evidence that there may be a systemic problem, and we also want to find our ‘success stories’ so that we can identify ways of increasing our success rate.

We need case studies of music businesses who have applied for loans.

Can you answer YES to the questions below?

-       Is your business incorporated and registered with Companies House?

-       Does your business have a turnover of £68,000 or above?

-       Does your business have a good credit history?

-       Have you struggled to get a bank loan for your business OR;

-       Have you successfully applied for a loan?

If this is your experience, please email your name, business and telephone number to info@ukmusic.org so that we can contact you.

We will listen to your story about trying to get a loan or securing a loan.

This will be in confidence. We may ask permission to use your experience as a “case study” to convince Government ministers and banks that there is a problem. We also want to help other companies to successfully apply for loans using your example. This will only be with your express permission.

This project is supported by Brian Message, chairman of the MMF who has been refused a loan many times over.

“I have run a test case with the Rifles, applying to every high street bank for a loan for working capital to allow them to record and tour their new album. The Enterprise Finance Guarantee is specifically for viable plans from small businesses without sufficient access to capital to secure their loans. The criteria explicitly include songwriters and artists, and should be the idea vehicle for debt financing in music – but in practise there are no banks willing to back our businesses. That’s why I’m supporting UK Music’s research into solutions to this situation.”

Please email your name, business and telephone number to me at info@ukmusic.org.

We will call you when we receive your email to discuss your experience.

Thank you and best wishes,

Feargal Sharkey

CEO, UK Music

UK Music has today launched an online industry-wide skills audit in a bid to understand, evaluate and anticipate potential skills gaps across the commercial music sector.

Accessible via the UK Music and Music Week websites, the audit will run until the end of June.

The survey was developed in partnership with Creative & Cultural Skills who will analyse the data collected.

This will subsequently be used to help meet recommendations on skills and training made in Liberating Creativity, UK Music’s recently-published manifesto for the commercial music sector:

• That existing music companies, particularly micro-businesses, have the requisite skills to effectively compete in the current commercial music market

• To ensure music companies can attract a diverse and highly-skilled incoming workforce

• That Government ‘adopt’ successful industry-run apprenticeship schemes

• That further and higher education music business courses can meet standards established by an industry accreditation programme

• That industry will develop an industry wide diversity code of practice

Explaining the thinking behind the initiative, Feargal Sharkey, Chief Executive of UK Music, said:

“Improving access to skills and training was one of the key recommendations made by UK Music in Liberating Creativity. For the long-term development of our commercial sector, it is crucial that existing companies, and particularly micro-businesses, can survive and compete in an ever-evolving digital marketplace. Meanwhile, it is equally vital that those young people who aspire to work in our industry are diverse, highly-skilled and have under their belts a wide range of practical experience.

“The skills audit is a first step to achieving this goal. To take a snapshot of where the industry is in 2010, and where we need to go in the next decade. I know the members of UK Music are fully behind this, and I urge all those from freelancers to CEOs to take ten minutes to complete this survey.”

The initiative has already attracted support from across the industry.

Alison Wenham, Chief Executive & Chairman of AIM and Trustee of Creative & Cultural Skills:

“Changes across the industry have meant that everyone’s roles have been altered to one extent or another, plus new skills are needed in the digital age. If we can guarantee that all those working in the business receive the level of training they need and deserve, we can guarantee the future success of the industry.”

Ged Doherty, Chairman Sony Music Entertainment UK & Ireland:

“The most valuable asset of any company is its people. We hope this audit will inform a clear skills agenda and help identify areas where we can work together to champion and support further skills development throughout our industry.”

Jim Thomas, Longhouse Management and MMF Educational Committee:

“Developing people is fundamental to building a successful business. The skills audit is an essential tool in helping the music industry to ensure the we have the right people, in the right jobs, at the right time; helping us to maximise the opportunities the digital age offers the whole music industry.”

Mark Anders, Managing Director/ President of International, Bug Music:

“It is essential that we, working in a creative industry have the best people with the right training to help us build their careers and our businesses. We fully support the skills audit to help ensure that our industry provides the best possible relevant training, particularly at a time of great change.”

Please click here to complete the survey -  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DQC6RJ6

Please click on the links below to add us as a friend…

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Glasgow-United-Kingdom/Scottish-Music-Industry-Association/125060609828

http://twitter.com/TheSMIA

http://www.myspace.com/scottishmusicindustry

On the show, Stuart proposed his idea for a new annual award to celebrate Scottish Album of the Year.

Membership is free until 1 September 2010 so please join and help shape the association.