New media freelance workers across Sussex have been given a new support network.

Mike Halsey, a design and animation freelance, will act as an official bridge between the industry's statutory bodies and the growing freelance sector.

Mr Halsey said: "I aim to act as point of contact for anyone working as a freelance in the Brighton, Hove and Lewes area.

"I am someone who can raise questions, enquiries and complaints about everything from how business rates are spent through to training and EU funding opportunities that are currently denied due to our lack of any official presence as a networking group.

"Many businesses with less than five employees and individual freelance workers do not have access to help, support, training and finance opportunities. There are plenty of agencies designed to help boost our industry but far too often the small players can slip through the net. I will help give new media professionals proper access to channels that have previously only been open to larger and better-established professional groups."

Mr Halsey will tap into the existing online community of the Brighton new media (BNM) newsgroup to offer advice and build a new media network.

He said: "The BNM is a thriving online forum used by new media professionals across the area to share ideas and network from the desktop. Many of the members meet up socially once a month and this kind of activity gives us sufficient credence as a group to negotiate with the big players.

The Brighton, Hove and Lewes Enterprise Agency has played a major role in setting up the network.

Director Jane North said: "We were concerned a whole sector of the work force in our catchment area was not receiving the full representation and support we can offer.

"Established new media companies are served very well by organisations such as Wired Sussex but the smaller-scale operations needed attention. We wanted to find someone who could act as an official representative for this business cluster and approached Mr Halsey to act as liaison."

He came to the attention of the agency after he organised a showcase and networking event earlier in the year. The project led him and his company, Pride in Place, into contact with both freelance and agency representatives from across the area.

Mr Halsey plans to foster links with Brighton and Hove City Council, Sussex Enterprise, South East England Development Agency, Wired Sussex, The Enterprise Hub, Economic Partnership and the enterprise agency.

He can be contacted on 01273 383990 or at mike@prideinplace.com. Regular updates will be posted on the BNM newsgroup.

www.brightonnewmedia.org