Media Enterprise Centre

Overview

We want to encourage big new ideas at MediaCityUK, so we’ve teamed up with our Public Sector Partners (Salford City Council, the Northwest Regional Development Agency, and Central Salford URC) to create a place where creativity and innovation can be nurtured and developed.

The Media Enterprise Centre (MEC), located in the south tower of the MediaCityUK studio block, will offer a range of services to help stimulate and support the growth of media companies.

Here’s an idea of what to expect:

  • A business accelerator space where you can get advice and support, and access flexible and affordable office space.
  • Access to information and advice from a range of specialist industry and academic skills providers.
  • State-of-the-art training facilities designed for the creative and digital sectors.
  • A research and innovation centre to stimulate the development and application of new ideas.
  • A place to access business support services from agencies like Business Link and Northwest Vision and Media.
  • Meeting and exhibition facilities where companies can showcase their work.
  • Space for informal networking.
  • Access to the NorthernNET digital media network, which will provide ingest, editing, data storage, data transfer, and videoconferencing facilities.

 

Projects

A number of initiatives which will be based at the MEC are already in development. They include:

FIRM (the Framework for Innovation and Research at MediaCityUK): Bringing together a virtual network of specialist academics, and a fund to support research activity, FIRM will aim to provide a single point of access for technology and media expertise.

Digital Content Laboratory (DCL): A purpose-built facility where smaller companies can find opportunities to collaborate with major media players. The DCL will include space for the development of new products and services, as well as incubation facilities for spin-off activity.

MakeMedia Centre: A world class facility for grass roots media activity – a place where community groups and community media organisations will develop new skills and create content.  The centre will provide production facilities, a training facility and a research lab, all supported by an online community.

GamesSpace: A centre of excellence for the games industry, backed by the UK games governing bodies of ELSPA and TIGA, Skillset, and the DCMS.

Watch out for more announcements about the MEC – and the projects which will be based there – during 2010.