Over the last 18 months, Bristol Media has been delivering the Talent Retention project, funded by the South West RDA, helping businesses reach much needed consultancy and support and freelancers or individuals renew their interview skills and rewrite their CVs.

We’ve also been gathering intelligence from our members about the impact that the recession has had on their businesses, in order to assist public sector agencies support the Creative Sector. 

Due to the importance and ongoing value of this work, the South West Regional Development Agency has agreed to extend the project to the end of March 2011.  Bristol Media have already begun the roll out support elsewhere in the region, working other cluster groups, particularly Plymouth Media Partnership and South West Design Forum.

Part of the funding is be used to build a much-needed freelance database for creatives.  The work was put out to tender at the beginning of November and the successful agency Open Communications will deliver the database in time for a launch in January 2011.  This database will allow businesses to tag their favourite freelancers and to see when they are available.  Jobs will be also be posted from around the south west, giving freelancers access to opportunities all in one place.

Caroline Marshall of Bristol Media said: ‘we have already begun to contact freelancers and businesses who engaged with the Talent Retention project earlier in the year to get their buy in to the database and the response has been phenomenal – there will be no shortage of data when the system goes live’.   

Rebecca Binns of the South West RDA said: ‘We are really excited by this new service from Bristol Media.  The Talent Retention project has highlighted how important recruitment is for creative businesses in the South West to be able to respond to new business opportunities and we also know there are a huge number of talented freelancers out there offering flexibile capacity and new ideas; so putting the two together makes sense for the economy.  The South West RDA’s role has been to work with business and other partners across the region to remove barriers and provide the conditions for growth, and this database will be an important part of the RDA’s legacy to the Creative Sector.’

The South West Creative freelance database will go live next week. 

You can advertise for freelancers free on the new site until the 31st March (whether you are a Bristol Media member or not), so if you have any freelance recruitment needs at the moment or in the near future, drop an email to Liz@bristolmedia.co.uk so that we can register you on the site and get your freelance requirements advertised. 

If you would like more information or to register your details in advance, please contact Lynda@bristolmedia.co.uk if you are a freelancer or Liz@bristolmedia.co.uk if you are a business wanting to advertise a freelance opportunity.