LiverpoolDaily Post article

Milky Tea and Pacificstream help young entrepreneurs to get started

Jun 14 2010 by Chris Hughes, Liverpool Daily Post


A RECENTLY opened city centre business incubator unit for firms operating in the creative industries sector is almost full to the brim with tenants

Basecamp3, set up just six months ago, supports creative businesses in the Baltic Triangle by providing them with the advice and space they need to get started.

Located in the historic city centre area of Liverpool next to the water front, Basecamp3 is run by Milky Tea and Pacificstream.

Milky Tea is a creative group of designers and Pacificstream is a social enterprise based in Liverpool. Basecamp3 is focused on supporting creative and digital design industries by providing desk and office space as well as business support and advice for new entrepreneurs.

Managed by a team of advisers with experience of supporting entrepreneurs, the incubator helps businesses including game and web designers, film producers and graphic designers.

The new creative incubator provides an environment which is “intellectual property secure” so that companies are confident in sharing ideas and can collaborate on commissions and development work.

Business support services include specific information, advice and guidance, business mentoring and professional development opportunities. Access to online resources, marketing opportunities as well as funding are also provided when needed.

As a result of its initial success, Basecamp3 now has only five desks left.

Businesses currently being supported include SetGo Games, Christian Lavoie and CG Creative Designs.

Roy Jones from Basecamp3 said: “We do it to provide young entrepreneurs with an environment which helps them to get started.”

Acknowledging it can be hard to start a business, Mr Jones said: “We enable them to do that”.

One of Basecamp3’s clients said: “It’s a good idea being in amongst other creatives because on your own, you can get a bit demoralised and so it’s a team effort. I’ve got work with the BBC and I can call on the professionals.”

Milky Tea was founded by coffee drinker Jon Holmes in 1995 and provides services to clients around the country and has previously been involved in providing business support.