Ipswich Recreate was established earlier this year by Ipswich Borough Council, Eastern Enterprise Hub and CSV Media. The project secured a £600,000 European Union grant to support young and aspiring creative businesses and individuals to transform their ideas into commercial reality and help to rejuvenate the town. The funding has been matched by the three partners. Recreate will play a vital role in retaining creative industry graduates and stimulating creative business start-up and cross-border enterprise partnerships. The project also aims to increase town centre creative and arts-based activities, as well as increase involvement from the local community (including diverse and disadvantaged groups). In addition, the project supports and enables local unemployed people to realise their potential to start up creative enterprises. The Borough Council will provide accommodation, specifically at the Town Hall, CSV Media will concentrate on skills and events, while the EEH will offer business advice and a mentoring service. The project will also build relations with project partners in France, and will be managed under the INTERREG IVA programme, which seeks to build cross-border partnerships and deliver business and economic growth across the Channel. EEH is excited by the opportunities Recreate bring: "Ipswich ReCreate is a great example of collaboration between local businesses, all with the common aim of wanting to encourage and nurture our towns creative economy." And Cathy Frost, a business advisor to the partners, added: âRecreate Going Live was a a great start point for this exciting project. This project will give Ipswich a real chance to promote, enhance and support our diverse and rich creative economy. Ipswich is not short of talent and ideas; let's shout about it a bit more.â
