Pictured above: Sion Simon MP, Minister for Creative
Industries
The University of Northampton welcomed Siôn Simon MP,
Minister for Creative Industries, to the Portfolio Innovation
Centre at Avenue Campus recently for an event held in collaboration
with Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce.
The Minister visited Avenue Campus to meet creative businesses
in the county and to find out more about the Portfolio Innovation
Centre, which is home to 41 design, digital and creative
companies.
Arriving with Sally Keeble MP, Northampton North, the
Ministerial party were greeted by University Vice Chancellor Ann
Tate, Portfolio Innovation Centre Manager Wendy Nikolaidis and
University Governor and Northamptonshire Chamber President Milan
Shah.
Siôn took part in a tour of the Innovation Centre where he
met business tenants Paper & Cloth, Nick Cooper and Creative
Beast.
His visit concluded with a Q&A session with creative
businesses in the region, organised by Northamptonshire Chamber of
Commerce and chaired by Paul Griffiths, the Chamber's Chief
Executive. Questions included could creative industries across
different counties receive the same amount of funding and how could
UK creative businesses break into the China market.
During his visit, Siôn praised the entrepreneurship and
motivation of creative businesses in the UK.
"I genuinely believe there is a British 'genius' through the
quality of the people involved in businesses such as yours and your
innovation. We are that kind of a country and this is what we will
compete on in a global marketplace."
Wendy Nikolaidis, Portfolio Innovation Centre Manager,
commented: "Siôn's visit to the Centre was highly
welcomed and he took a genuine interest in the work of our tenants.
Visitors are always surprised by the amazing talent and creativity
found in the tenant businesses. They are working with major clients
across the world and it is something Northampton should be really
proud of."