Job Ladder – Jo Wright

Merseysound Studios (1999–2001)

Growing up in rural Warwickshire, I developed a passion for music at an early age. By the time I was 15, I was not only a classically-trained pianist, organist, flautist, violinist and composer, but I was also established on the pub rock circuit playing guitar, bass and keyboards. The gigs were rough around the edges and the names rather suspect. But we had fire in our bellies, hair down to our shoulders and we knew how to rock.

After university, while almost all of my friends moved to London to become lawyers, accountants, investment bankers and management consultants, I found myself travelling in the opposite direction – to Liverpool, where a family friend had recently acquired a recording studio, which neither he nor any of the artists he managed knew or wanted to learn how to use. Thus began (what I thought would be) my career in music production and studio management.

While the band split soon after, the core partnership continued for a further ten years alongside our ‘day jobs’, in which time we (Merseysound Studios) produced a body of work that I look back upon with pride and pleasure. It is only a shame that few people outside of our immediate circle will ever hear it.

Merseyside Music Development Agency (2001–2008)

Within a year of arriving at Merseysound, I began a one-year Music Industries MBA at the University of Liverpool. The extra hours of homework paid off, as I graduated top of the class. I was approached by a local music entrepreneur and manager who was looking for a bright spark to help him develop a new venture: a music business incubation and acceleration service programme (Musicbias), for which he had secured some pilot funding from what was then the DTI Small Business Service. I got the gig over a pint in the Philharmonic pub.

The pilot was sufficiently successful that, by 2005, Musicbias had become Creativebias, and we had secured funding from various bodies, as well as considerable cash and in-kind support from industry. The team had grown from two part-timers in a run-down office on Hope Street to a team of more than 20, with a turnover of over £1m, providing creative businesses with advice, funding, training, facilities and international export and showcase opportunities.

In 2007 we were awarded Local Enterprise Agency status by the UK Government – the first in the UK with an exclusive creative industries focus.

Northwest Regional Development Agency (2008–2011)

In 2008, as Merseyside’s Objective One funding programme reached a cliff-edge, I looked for a new challenge and spotted an opening in the NWDA’s digital and creative industries team. It was an exciting time for the regional sector, with the announcement of the BBC’s intention to establish a major presence in Salford.

I spent the next two and a half years working on the development of major projects linked to MediaCityUK. It was a great team and we did some big things. We also made some mistakes – I learnt a lot.

Welsh Government (2011–2015)

In 2010, facing certain redundancy following the incoming government’s announcement of the closure of the RDAs, I was determined to follow my passion back in to the world of music production. But I became distracted by the news that the Welsh Government was seeking someone to lead its new Creative Industries team in Cardiff. I applied and, while initially unsuccessful in securing the top spot, was offered a role in the team, leading on policy and strategy development.

For two years I worked closely with an expert advisory panel of creative business leaders to develop a strategy to grow the Welsh creative industries sector. For a further two, as Head of Sector, I was responsible for implementing it.

I had a fantastic team and I am very proud of what we achieved for Wales – too much to record here. Again, we didn’t get everything right, but the mistakes were far outweighed by the successes and the experience we picked up on the way.

I look forward to seeing the Welsh creative sector continue to flourish and make its name on the global stage.

FACT (2015)

I returned to Liverpool in May this year, joining the FACT team as Executive Director. It is early days, and I am learning the organisation and re-familiarising myself with the local and regional sector, but I see much potential.

FACT is already established as a leading national arts and media hub, and I am eager to use my experience in sector development and the commercial creative industries to build upon that – taking the organisation in new directions and forming new partnerships. Watch this space.

Jo Wright is Executive Director of FACT (Foundation for Art and Creative Technology).
www.fact.co.uk