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HirschWorks News

Explaining The Interactive Media Industry

September 2005: Jonathan Hirsch gave a presentation at Brighton-based SkillSwap, titled 'The Interactive Media Industry Explained'. Building on his work developing the National Interactive Media Skills Strategy and Occupational Standards, the talk offered an overview of the sector, its size and shape, and the skills needed to succeed, aimed at anyone working in the industry or wanting to get into it.

DWP Consultancy Roster

March 2005: We have been appointed to the Department for Work and Pensions' Communications Consultancy roster to provide Knowledge & Information Management consultancy. This appointment follows a lengthy two-stage competitive tender process, so naturally we are delighted to have been successful.

National Occupational Standards

January 2005: Following on from our work on Skillset's Interactive Media Skills Strategy, we have been asked to help revise its National Occupational Standards for the sector.

National Occupational Standards are vital to employers, trainers, freelancers and anyone interested in the skills and conditions of the jobs in the industry. They can be used by individuals to plan their career, by employers to develop job descriptions or recruit skilled staff, and by trainers and educators to design courses and development schemes.

The new National Occupational Standards for Interactive Media, authored by Jonathan Hirsch in association with TDP Development Ltd, are available on Skillset's web site, via the link below.

Children's Clinic Web Site

November 2004: We are delighted to have been able to help Brighton-based charity The Children's Clinic launch its new web site. If you have children and are interested in complementary therapies for them, please have a look:

National Interactive Media Skills Strategy

September 2004: Skillset, the Sector Skills Council for the Audio Visual Industries, has published its UK Interactive Media Skills Strategy, which was authored by Jonathan Hirsch.

The strategy examines the interactive media sector's skills needs, gaps and shortages, and makes recommendations to help ensure the continued development of a skilled and productive workforce. It is now being taken forward by Skillset and will influence government and public sector funding of skills initiatives in the UK over the coming years.

Naturally we are delighted to have been involved in such an important project. You can read and, if you wish, comment on the strategy via Skillset's web site:

Drug Education CD-Rom

August 2004: Working in partnership with Wolfströme Design we have produced an interactive multimedia CD-Rom on behalf of DrugScope, the UK's leading independent centre of expertise on drugs.

The product, called D-Rom, provides factual information about drugs and drug issues and complements DrugScope's other publications, D-Mag, D-Brief and D-Word. It is aimed at Key Stage 3 and 4 students and those out of school in youth clubs and similar settings. It can also be used by teachers to provide back-up drug information wherever the subject of drugs might appear in the curriculum.

D-Rom will shortly be available via the DrugScope web site:

University Of Brighton Lecture

June 2004: Jonathan Hirsch was invited to give a talk to students on the University of Brighton's Digital Television Management and Production MSC. The lecture covered issues around freelancing and running a business and was intended to give students some insights into real-world practice to balance their academic learning.

High Praise For HirschWorks' Approach

March 2004: Our 'two-phase' approach has received a strong endorsement from DANTE. We advise commissioners to divide their projects into separate 'specification' and 'implementation' phases, with the first being undertaken by an independent consultancy prior to any commitment to the second.

DANTE Public Relations Manager Dale Robertson said she would recommend this approach to other web project commissioners and added, "Having a clear understanding of requirements prior to committing with any supplier has been very important. The two-phase approach has been enormously valuable. I believe we have a far higher-quality site implementation as a result of your contribution than we would have done if we trusted to a full-service agency approach."

SkillSwap Seminar

March 2004: Jonathan Hirsch gave a presentation at Brighton-based SkillSwap. These events see members of the local new media community volunteer their time and expertise for the benefit of their peers. They provide an opportunity to share skills, keep training costs down and do a little networking and socialising.

Entitled 'The Business Of Freelancing', Jonathan's talk offered practical business advice to help freelancers operate more effectively.

Bank Of England Business Panel

January 2004: We have been invited to join a Bank of England focus group aimed at gauging the current and future state of the local economy. The panel comprises senior representatives from Sussex-based companies and will contribute to the UK's monetary policy-making process.