The University’s Institute of Digital Innovation (IDI) has secured £5m funding to deliver DigitalCity Fellowships for the next three years and the project is looking to recruit more professional mentors.
Based within our £12m Phoenix Building, the IDI is a key component of the DigitalCity project, which supports new and growing businesses in digital media and technology around the region.
Currently there are around 40 mentors who work within the IDI on creative and technical projects. Each mentor gives one-to-one support to graduates working in industries such as video games design, filmmaking, mobile technologies and medical projects. The mentor provides the expertise to help the fellow produce work to industry standard, develop existing skills and take their ideas to market.
The fellowship scheme has been running for four years and the mentoring provides vital industry contacts to help the fellows develop their ideas. Past mentors have included Bob the Builder creator, Curtis Jobling and acclaimed music video director Richard Fenwick.
Scott Watson, enterprise co-ordinator for DigitalCity, said: ‘The mentoring support has always been a popular part of our fellowship programme because it provides our fellows with vital links to industry.
“We are now looking to increase our pool of professional mentors who come from a diverse range of backgrounds and areas. We are keen to hear from anyone, in any area of the UK, with the expertise to mentor the development of new ideas for research or business and who has the desire to support new talent emerging and growing in the North East.’
Anyone interested in becoming a mentor should contact Cheryl Evans on 01642 384324 or cheryl@thedigitalcity.org.