At noon, the organisers will release 50 tickets at a discounted rate of £290 + VAT.

One of the top digital events in the country, Thinking Digital, welcomes leading minds from the sector to The Sage, Gateshead, at the end of May.

Just last week, 20 new speakers were announced including Richard Banks, Interaction Designer at Microsoft Research and author of The Future of Looking Back; Jennifer Gardy, Canada’s answer to Brian Cox and Jonathan Forster, a Geordie abroad in Stockholm amd also European GM of Spotify.

A new website dedicated to the event went live last week, providing a range of details on the event, tickets and speakers.

The site itself celebrates local talent as it was created by developers from Newcastle-based digital specialists AYO Media.

According to the organisers,  201 places have already been booked for the popular conference four months ahead of the kick-off.

“This year’s Thinking Digital Conference is our 5th Anniversary so we’re trying to make it extra special”, Laura Harrison, Project Manager at Thinking Digital said.

Thinking Digital will take place on 29-31 May with the Thinking Digital University workshop sessions on the first day, followed by the main conference on 30-31 May. For more information on the event and how to get tickets visit www.thinkingdigital.co.uk

A chance for ambitious local business leaders to meet with brand experts face-to-face.

Hear how some of the world’s best Brand Builders have supported profitable growth for ‘local heroes’ such as BALTIC, The Sage, onyx and Activities Abroad based upon identical approaches that they personally have employed at Coca Cola, Virgin, Nike, Intel, Sony, Starbucks, Porsche, Nokia, Metrocentre and more.

It worked for them – and it can work for you.

Speakers:

Les Stern – Ex-Saatchi & Saatchi Head of Planning and Strategy and now Violet Bick Brand Consultant. Advised for over 15 years on brand construction to the board of Virgin, Porsche, Coca Cola Corporation, Starbucks, Nokia and Metrocentre.

Roger Blight – Violet Bick Brand Consultant and the man that helped move the Nike brand from World number 3 to World number 1 during the recession of the 1990’s.

Mark Tinnion – Violet Bick’s Brand Director and the man that helped launch and build the Sony VAIO brand and Intel Pentium 4 brand in the UK. Mark now helps run four multi-award winning businesses here in the North East.

Parking: Lots. And it’s free

Eating and Drinking: Lots. Including warm Cinnamon cider, cloutie dumplings, double choc brownies and locally produced pork scratchings.

The venue is space limited so book early to avoid disappointment.

Paul Dayan with Sunderland Software City's Bernie Callaghan

South Shields based online nutrition planner, planmyfood, is offering a free trial for anyone looking for a healthier start to the new year.

The diet-planning software analyses the nutritional content of meals to create user-friendly, daily nutrition guidance.

The software tells people if their meals are within guidelines for their medical condition or diet.

It was created by founder Paul Dayan to help a family-member battling an eating disorder.

Paul also uses the product himself after being diagnosed with raised cholesterol.

“Unlike traditional diet planners, planmyfood doesn’t just focus on slimming and weight loss”, he said.

“It’s about good nutrition leading to good health. It puts people in control of their diet and promotes real and sustainable behavioural changes that lead to long-term health improvements.”

planmyfood subscribers can keep their diet and nutrition on-track wherever they are during the day; at home, in the office or out and about.

Subscribers also get advice, support and recipes from an online community of other users.

planmyfood is currently offering a free 5-day trial to new users. Existing subscribers can also add up to 5 family members to their account for as little as 56 pence per week. For more information, visit: planmyfood.co.uk

A leading digital development company producing innovative market-leading web and interactive digital projects is looking for a Software development manager.

They create high quality digital applications and interactive experiences that add value to all their clients’ businesses. Develop digital media that impresses, inspires and most importantly, delivers results.

Headquartered in Newcastle, with a second office in London, they have an in-house team of 26 comprising interactive designers, software engineers, producers and graphic artists.

The role of Software Development Manager would be to lead the development of some of their core software platforms and libraries.

This role would suit someone with proven large scale software development experience on a variety of platforms (the company develops using a broad range of platforms including Java, ColdFusion, .NET, PHP, C#, JSP, MySQL, Flash / Actionscript, Objective C, Javascript etc.) and a knowledge of best practice technical architecure.

Such a person would also need to be able to manage and inspire a team, work to tight deadlines, and lead a software development strategy that supports overall business strategy. We would also expect that the successful candidate would become part of the overall senior management team for the company.

Package / salary is negotiable but we would anticipate it to be in the range £30k – 40k per annum depending on experience.

There is also an additional profit related bonus scheme to help ensure that employees can benefit from the overall success of the company. The scheme pays out annually and, as it is based on potential profits, cannot be guaranteed. However, payouts have been made in every year in which the scheme has been in operation and we do not anticipate this changing.

The package will also include a company pension scheme which comes into operation 6 months after joining.

If you are interested in the advertised position please apply by contacting Laura Sharpe at Sharpe Recruitment.

Sharpe Recruitment is a North East based consultancy, dedicated to placing professionals in rewarding jobs throughout the North of England across a variety of disciplines including Digital Media, Creative Advertising, Sales & Marketing, PR, IT and Business Operations.

Tom Harvey is the chief executive of Northern Film & Media.

The creative sector in the North East will benefit from the new £75k fund set to stimulate the creation of film, TV and digital media jobs.

The Creative Jobs Fund targets ‘ready-to-go’ North East film, TV or digital media company expansion programmes or production projects that will create jobs in the region this spring.

The launch coincides with the publication of a new research report which tips the North East as one of the regions to be hit hardest by the forthcoming public sector and welfare cuts leaving more people unemployed.

Immediate benefits

Run by the regional creative industry development agency Northern Film & Media, the fund is the first of its type to be ring-fenced for the creative industries.

Grants will typically range from £5k – £20k as the fund is set to examine how modest levels of public funding can drive growth in the creative industries.

Successful applicants must demonstrate an ability to generate or sustain new jobs that have not previously been supported by ERDF (European Regional Development Fund).

Funding decisions will be based on ability to generate jobs, value-for-money and commercial viability.

The fund is looking to back projects or companies that will generate jobs and revenue immediately.

Aiming for ‘significant’ amount of jobs

According to Tom Harvey, chief executive of NFM, the North East creative sector has experienced solid growth through relatively small levels of public subsidy over the past decade.

“We want to see more creative companies securing investment from centralised or non-sector specific funds”, he said.

“If they are to be successful, they will have to demonstrate an ability to generate a significant amount of jobs.”

“This pilot fund will test the ability of the sector to deliver on the outputs expected from larger initiatives such as the Regional Growth Fund.”

The deadline for submissions is 8 February. Contact joanna@northernmedia.org on 0191 275 5966 or roxy@northernmedia.org on 0191 275 5963 to discuss your application.

Autism Works MD Peter Macdonald (back left) with software tester Chris Neville Smith.

Staffed almost entirely by analysts who have Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome, social enterprise ‘Autism Works’ is turning positive traits of the condition into unique skills.

The Newcastle-based company is the first in England to take such steps in employing people with Autism, of which 85% are currently unemployed in the UK.

Offering software and website testing services to clients across the region, Autism Works recognised that some of the characteristics of the condition can make people with Autism exceptionally talented software testers.

“People on the Autism spectrum can make brilliant employees; diligent, loyal, precise and very often highly-intelligent”, managing director Peter Macdonald said.

“What is more, their attention to detail, methodical approach to tasks and frequent enjoyment of repetitive processes can make them exceptional software testers.”

“On the other hand the condition makes it a major challenge for them to find and keep jobs, especially as traditional recruitment processes and workplace environments can often be very alien to them.”

“As a result, only 15% out of 400,000 adults in the UK with Autism are currently in paid employment, despite the fact that many are willing and capable of holding down a job with just a few reasonable adjustments to the workplace.

“We give them the training and environment they need to thrive – which does wonders for their self-respect and independence, while also offering a world class service to our customers.”

Autism Works is being supported by Sunderland Software City, the regional initiative supporting and driving the growth of the North East software industry.

According to SSC’s John Hart, the Autism Works story is little short of inspirational.

“They offer a very valuable service at a comparatively low cost while at the same time having a hugely positive impact on society, and we’re proud to supporting them in their development.”

With support from North Tyneside Council, Armadillo is delivering a range of digital and offline media to highlight the historic Quay both as an area for tourism and as a desirable business location.

A new website, launched in December, celebrates the rich history of the Fish Quay boasting a variety of media such as original and archive photography, video clips, stories, property downloads and desktop calendars.

A project close to their hearts

Berry Burgess, managing director of Armadillo who located his business on the Fish Quay seven years ago, was delighted to work on a key strategic project on the development so close to their hearts.

“There’s a big challenge at the core of the work to deliver successful exposure and help the Council bring new business to the area”, he said.

“It’s also about supporting the current businesses already here and trying to give them a little more exposure for what they do. We’re excited at the prospect of working with such a wide variety of interests and enthusiasm.”

Cross-media campaign

The website launch was complimented by an A3 calendar which includes all original photography as well as a social media campaign managed by Quay2 Media.

Quay2 will be running a PR campaign throughout 2012 in conjunction with the broader Armadillo campaign work.

During 2012, Armadillo will produce a printed Pocket Guide, available through the Libraries and Tourist Information Centres, as well as outdoor media advertising and online marketing.

Armadillo is also making sure the website is kept up-to-date with fresh content and contributions from stakeholders meaning the Fish Quay website will be as lively and interesting as the historic Fish Quay itself.

The map, created by local digital innovator Paul Lancaster, is building on the success of the PostOffice, a city centre venue that has been buzzing with events ever since it was established last June.

According to Paul, the events reflect the very talented pool of freelance and self-employed developers and creatives.

“At the grass-roots level, most of the activity organised by attendees of User Groups like @PHPNE, @rubynortheast and @DesignInterest falls under the radar of established support organisations and media”, he said.

“Therefore, I thought it would be cool to create a map showing who these people were and where they could be found (including the coffee shops they frequent), which would help raise their profile within the region and further afield.”

The map, which has had over 3500 page views already, is open for North East companies and individuals to add themselves and embed the map on their websites and blogs.

To add yourself, your company or your trusted coffee shop for meetings, you simply need a Google Account.

View UK North East Tech Scene in a larger map

An exciting new role has become available for an established digital media communications company based in Boldon, the company is specifically looking to recruit a highly motivated, business minded, Digital creative project manager.

The successful candidate ideally will be in line to head up the already expanding digital creative department.

The company successfully delivers high end spec digital communication solutions to SME’s right through to large corporate blue chip clients and the role of this position is to ensure the company maintains its already impressive reputation for its customer service but also for retaining its clients long term.

Duties & Responsibilities:

To be responsible for the management and delivery of projects, interfacing with internal teams on behalf of customers to ensure delivery of projects on time and to specification. You will manage the existing creative’s & software developers to achieve this.

You will be the key contact person for customers post order placement, taking responsibility for providing them with information and status updates, managing profitability and minimising delays.

• Taking full responsibility and ownership for all aspects of projects
• Liaising with technical, IT, finance and operations teams
• Working with the sales team to respond to all aspects of RFP’s and RFQ’s, specifically creative services aspects
• Attending meetings with customers from the pre-sales stages onward, keeping contact reports and ensuring all action points are achieved
• Working with existing clients to maintain relationships and investigate further revenue sources
• Working with a range of software programmes to guide the creative process
• Working closely with the Technical PM to allocate project responsibilities
• Carrying out client ‘kick off’ meetings to define terms, identify key stakeholders, set expectations and communication methods
• Setting project goals and timescales
• Driving high satisfaction levels with customers
• Organising project hand over’s with clients, helping with training needs and introducing service desk support and SLA procedures
• Agreeing completion document with client

Candidate:

• Previous creative project management experience is essential
• Ability to demonstrate an excellent understanding of digital marketing
• Ideally have experience of digital agency culture
• Previous experience of working with medium to large projects, managing design and implementation of solutions over 5-6 months projects in cases
• Previous experience of delivering solutions to external customers is essential
• PRINCE(2) and/or Agile Scrum experience is beneficial but not essential

If you are interested in the advertised position please apply by contacting Sharpe Recruitment.

Sharpe Recruitment is a North East based consultancy, dedicated to placing professionals in rewarding jobs throughout the North of England across a variety of disciplines including Digital Media, Creative Advertising, Sales & Marketing, PR, IT and Business Operations.

A small software development team specialising in web based solutions and applications development for a growing client base, including the NHS, is looking for a PHP Web Developer for a minimum of 6 months this year. There is potential for the role to become permanent too.

The ideal candidate is someone with approximately two year’s relevant commercial experience and a degree or similar in Computer Science or Software Engineering.

You will be joining them at a time when you will have the opportunity to take on lots of responsibility and it has the potential to become permanent which should take your career to the next level.

They have offices in central Newcastle and a relaxed professional atmosphere, which they hope will remain as they grow the business and take on more clients and crojects. They offer flexible working hours and a supportive team working environment.

Essential Skills:

• xHTML
• CSS,
• PHP (version 5+)
• MySQL
• and familiarity with CodeIgniter

Preferable Skills:

• Familiarity with PHP frameworks
• agile development
• extreme programming and/or the Scrum project management framework
• Good knowledge of the jQuery library & a solid understanding of Javascript would also be an advantage.

Bonus Skills:

• HTML5
• CSS3
• Linux Server Management and Web Services development using technologies such as SOAP.

If you are interested in the advertised position please apply through by contacting Sharpe Recruitment.

Sharpe Recruitment is a North East based consultancy, dedicated to placing professionals in rewarding jobs throughout the North of England across a variety of disciplines including Digital Media, Creative Advertising, Sales & Marketing, PR, IT and Business Operations.