10131815We Crew StuffClosedCollaborative R&DInnovate UKThe festival and events industry were decimated by the pandemic, with a quarter of a million people leaving for jobs in retail or as delivery workers. This created a skills gap, not just in the festival and events sectors, but across the arts, marketing, and anywhere skilled production teams are required. We think it's time to start rebuilding, so we're launching a business dedicated to providing crew to the events, marketing, and arts sectors: We Crew Stuff. Our aim is: * provide in-roads into the industry for young people, particularly those from marginalised backgrounds, who have missed out on crucial summer work experience, internships, and networking opportunities because of lockdowns and restrictions * provide a route back for those who've taken employment elsewhere to help close the skills gap * ensure the 60+ cultural events that take place in Brighton & Hove have access to a local skilled workforce, boosting the local economy and the area's reputation as a creative, vibrant place to live and work. We Crew Stuff will be an arm of Brighton & Hove-based production company We Make Stuff Happen. WMSH has more than 15 years of experience in the sector, and we want to build a reputation for crew that echoes the one we have for production services: a can-do, problem-solving attitude, and a team where everyone is valued for their ability to contribute. To do this, we'llbreak away from industry stereotypes and provide crew who echo the diversity of society, with opportunity open to all. We're seeking funding to support this launch. We want to create an online portal for both potential crew and clients, to make marrying up skilled professionals and those who need their services easy. Our values and principles will be conveyed both through branding that tells the story of a different approach and training schemes focused on marginalised groups. Our aim is sustainable growth: financially, environmentally, and socially. From initial funding, we want to build a solid, profitable core business base that allows us to invest in training programmes both for new workers and those returning after a break. We believe the creative industries can provide social mobility, interesting and varied work, and companies like ours thrive when they include people at all educational levels, from marginalised backgrounds, and those for whom life has been hard and opportunities few and far between.