It is now looking for host companies working in digital media to offer placements to some of the region’s best new talent.

Northwest Vision and Media will:

• Subsidise up to 50% of the salary
• Assist host companies in recruiting individuals to make sure the brightest and best are found
• Provide structured training and support around the placement

It is looking to secure places for people new to your industry - with less than 12 months paid experience. This is a valuable opportunity which benefits both companies and trainees, helping to retain the best talent in the region and ensuring their careers start in the right way.

Placements last 6 months. If you choose to take someone on, by the end of the placement you will have prepared someone to make a big impact in the industry - and you’re likely to find they’ve become an essential part of your team! We are planning for placements to start in the autumn.

Interested?

To express an interest, please email Simon Knight or call him on 0161 244 4636.

Their membership includes developers, academics, usability specialists, accessibility experts and technical authors. Whatever your interest in usability, you’ll find something useful by getting involved.

If you’re interested, why not go along to their next meeting?

When?

Wednesday 6 August 2008, from around 8pm.

Where?

Sage, Building 7, Exchange Quay, Manchester, M5 3ED.

Register to attend

You can register to attend by going to the event’s page on Upcoming.

More information?

You can find out more about the Northern User Experience group on their excellent blog. The post about the future of interfaces is well worth a read.

The event is taking place over the Pennines in sunny Leeds, so Greater Manchester based freelancers don’t have far to go to attend.

It will take place in met:space (Old Broadcasting House).

If you want to go, you’ll need to register.

More information

Check out the Going Solo blog, their updates on Twitter, or have a look at the introductory video describing what it’s all about.

If you are at all involved in the development, programming, management, design or anything else to do with the production of websites, they’d like you to take part (and so would we!).

Take the 2008 survey.

2007 survey

You can download the findings from the 2007 survey from A List Apart, along with a bunch of anonymised data.

The Power of Information Taskforce (they’ve also got a wiki) is running the competition on the UK Government’s behalf. They’ve provided some examples of the type of thing they are are looking for, but that’s not a final list by any means.

To show they are serious, the Government is making available gigabytes of new or previously invisible public information especially for people to use in this competition, such as postcodes, lists of schools, and so on.  Rest assured, this competition does not include personal information about people.

Enter the competition!

You don’t have to have any technical knowledge, nor any money, just a good idea and 5 minutes to spare.

Enter the competition here.

Update 1 August 2008: An additional £20,000 has been stumped up by the Ministry of Justice to fund a prize to work up models of your idea. Come on mash-up ninjas, what are you waiting for?

The report gives a brief outline of the corporate data which is susceptible to security breaches and incidents, and highlights potential risks associated with the innocent use of USB flash drives by employees of enterprises and also other less legitimate purposes such as smuggling information out of the company.

It lists good practice guidelines which aim at helping readers to overcome obstacles within their organisations. The first step is to set clear security policies and make employees aware of them.

Who should read this report?

The target audience is IT staff, in particular IT managers and professionals, to ensure the ability to secure information on the network as well as the opportunity to manage data which enter and leave the company via these mobile devices. It also targets corporate end-users in general, to raise awareness of the risks related to the use of USB flash drives.

About ENISA

The European Network and Information Security Agency is an EU agency created to advance the functioning of the internal market. ENISA is a centre of excellence for the European Member States and European institutions in network and information security, giving advice and recommendations and acting as a switchboard of information for good practices. Moreover, the agency facilitates contacts between the European institutions, the Member States and private business and industry actors.

At the Northern Startup BUSINESS 8 event, taking place on Tuesday 15th July 2008 at KPMG in Manchester, you can discuss startup valuations with VCs from the USA, London, Newcastle, Manchester, Liverpool and more.

Places are limited so you should book now to secure a place.

Programme

• 18:15 to 19:00 Registration & Networking
• 19:00 to 19:45 Presentations by Panelists
• 19:45 to 20:00 Break
• 20:00 to 21:00 Panel discussion

Panelists

Nic Brisbourne, DFJ Esprit: Nic will speak about how venture capitalists evaluate Internet companies and how it is different to other sectors, in addition to giving an introduction to DFJ Esprit.

Carl Allen, Regional Director, Gartner Invest EMEA: Gartner has analysed well over 750 European technology startups over the last year, and Carl will share the findings with number of case studies.

Bert Navarrete, Internet Capital USA: In addition to introducing Internet Capital, Bert will share his thoughts on why British entrepreneurs are of interest to US Venture Capitalists.

Confirmed Attendees

Venture Capitalists: Nic Brisbourne (DFJ Esprit), Bertrand Navarrete (Internet Capital), Colin Willis (Hotspurcp), Ed French (EV Rising Stars), Mark Rahn (MTI Firms), and Malcolm Stewart, Peter Leather and Mike Bakewell (MSIF/LV).

Northern Stars (some): Anish Kapoor (Yuuguu), Robert Wakeling (Wadaro), Manoj Ranaweera (edocr)

When?

Tuesday, 15th July 2008, from 6.15pm to 9pm and beyond

Where?

KPMG, St. James’s Sq, Manchester, Lancashire, M2 6DS.

More info

Check out the Northern Startup 2.0 website.

The Tony Wilson Experience - billed as the longest ever intelligent conversation - is a chance for young, talented people with an interest in the creative arts to take part in a non-stop, 24 hour series of workshops with some of the biggest names from the music industry, screenwriting, broadcasting, writing, design, photography and film. Staged in memory of the late broadcaster and cultural entrepreneur, and supported by Manchester City Council, the sessions will be challenging, inspirational and at times experimental.

Check out the blog, and also don’t forget to visit the official site which has got live video, chats and all sorts of clever things going on.

The Big Chip Awards are run for the industry, not for profit, by independent trade association Manchester Digital, with support and help from industry volunteers.

The awards are known for the highest standards of objectivity and integrity and are judged by a distinguished panel of experts from organisations such as New Media Age, Channel 4, Grey Worldwide and Index Ventures.

Ten years of excellence

Now in their tenth year, the awards were eagerly anticipated by the whole of the North West digital sector. Over the last few years the awards have celebrated some of the best work from the North West’s thriving digital sector. Big Chip Ten took place on 22 May 2008 in New Century Hall, Manchester.

Video produced by Lets Go Global, with support from the European Community European Regional Development Fund.

Tune-in, create, share, take-part, broadcast, publish, go global… Lets Go Global would like you to invite you to their open day.

Come and see what they do and how they do it. Whether you’re a member of the local community, an arts organisation, potential partner, a creative company or an artist we want you to come and see our facilities and find out about our new creative training lab.

Where?

3-5 Malvern Row, Old Trafford, Manchester M15 4FD, or go to http://www.letsgoglobal.tv/contact/.

When?

Thursday 3rd July 2008, drop in anytime between 1pm – 7pm or email LGG to arrange a specific meeting.

More info

You can find out more about Lets Go Global at www.letsgoglobal.tv, where there’s a video archive, forums, and lots more.