Gillian Easson, Development Manager, NESTA (National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts) Joining NESTA in 2006, Gillian has managed the initiatives supporting innovative creative entrepreneurs across the UK, including projects: Starter for 6 , Peer Mentoring and Insight Out. Gillian led the development of NESTA’s successful Creative Enterprise Toolkit. This step-by-step interactive resource helps creative individuals to plan, build, communicate and launch their new creative business. The toolkit has been used by hundreds of successful creative entrepreneurs around the world, from fashion designers, to freelance artists, to technology start-ups. They have used the resources, activities and case studies to develop their good ideas; and consider their personal motivations and aspirations for enterprise. NESTA also ran train-the-trainer events for tutors from Universities and colleges; and now the toolkit is being used widely in Universities across the UK. With a background and passion for good design, Gillian believes that design is key to delivering engaging, creative and effective forms of support. Gillian has extensive experience of developing and delivering programmes in the charity and not-for-profit sectors; particularly within the areas of creative enterprise, education and employment. NESTA is the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts - an independent body with a mission to make the UK more innovative. We invest in early-stage companies, inform policy, and deliver practical programmes that inspire others to solve the big challenges of the future. We know the creative industries are critical to the UK’s cultural and economic success, contributing more than £50 billion to the economy every year. They also generate important 'spillover' benefits for other sectors that work with them to create innovative products and services. But creative businesses face their own unique barriers to growth and success. NESTA is working to understand why, and to find ways of helping creative businesses unleash their full innovative potential.