Creative Producer

Building brands with purpose

dan@danhowson.com

Hi, I'm Dan, I build brands with purpose and solve challenges faced by key industries to deliver innovation, social value, impact, growth, and engagement.

With an unconventional approach, creativity, and imagination I enhance the experience of my partners and their audiences with innovative immersive experiences, writing and project management.

My career highlights include building three award-winning brands with purpose, projects seen by tens of thousands of people, and paving the way for future generations.

Enter your details below if you want creative, imaginative and innovative problem solving at your fingertips.

Why work with me?

I make things happen and deliver results within arts & culture, entertainment, sport, education, and the built environment.
I’ve worked with UHNWIs, celebrities, artists, promoters, brands, agencies, local governments, prisons, universities, colleges, schools, and charities in the UK and abroad.

What I offer.

Immersive Experiences.

Explore the fringes of creativity and technology to inspire audiences to open-up emotions, make decisions, choices, and influence behaviour with virtual reality (VR), theatre-based techniques, and safe ultra-realistic environments.

Writing.

Let your creativity flow and uplift your writing in proposals, bids, and evaluations.
Launch your pitching and public speaking into the stratosphere with explosive ‘5 Stage’ strategy-powered scriptwriting.

Project Management.

Inspire innovation from design to delivery.
Set value propositions, objectives, and evaluate work.
Collaborate with people at all levels with a specialist UK and international address book.
Manage high-profile bookings, event programming and artist liaison.
Create relevant, value-added partnerships with celebrities, artists and brands.
Produce immersive and experiential marketing, events and experiences.
Budget up to £5M with fundraising and leveraging skills.
Communicate with and manage individuals, teams and develop new talent from all backgrounds.

Credibility.

2023 - Present:

Creative Producer at Immersive Industry Experiences (IIE), UK.

Inspire and train with creativity, imagination, and innovation.
IIE work with employers to inspire and train a future-ready workforce with digital and physical innovations including 360-degree videos, theatre-based techniques, and safe ultra-realistic environments.
IIE’s vision is to be a leading agency with a reputation for supporting employers with impactful and memorable experiences to influence behaviour, and inspire and train a future-ready workforce underpinned by digital and physical creativity, imagination, and innovation.
IIE’s mission is to increase industry awareness and profile to drive recruitment numbers up, promote key sectors as inspiring, dynamic places to work to instigate cultural change, and breathe new life into public spaces to drive footfall through creative interventions that centre on mental & physical health, wellbeing, and social inclusivity.
Partners include, HMP Education Service, HMP Exeter, Weston College and Libraries Unlimited.

2022 - 2023:

Creative Producer at Building Greater Exeter (BGE), Exeter.

Improved the BGE brand for candidates and employers with a value proposition, financial viability and strategic project plan, improved partner packages, marketing plan and a framework to report impact and value for money.
Helped BGE join Exeter City Council’s City Development Team, on-boarded new partners, delivered multiple school engagement activities, facilitated job shops with DWP and HMP Exeter, work experience, training, and Apprenticeships for local candidates, a media partnership with Radio Exe, and a quarterly BGE podcast and Festival, which tours the Greater Exeter geography.
BGE celebrated the achievements of students, graduates, and employers collecting 2 Awards and a high commendation at the University of Exeter's Employment Awards.
Building Greater Exeter is a public and private sector initiative supporting the built environment to shape the future workforce by inspiring new candidates, supporting employers and promoting a culture that makes the built environment a great place to work. Partners include nationally recognised brands including Kier, Willmott Dixon, Taylor Wimpey, BAM, Persimmon Homes, Countryside Partnerships and many more .

2020 - 2023:

Creative Producer at esya, Remote.

Co-conceived Life Beyond. A digital platform helping entertainment, sport, and education professionals to better plan for their futures with access to business builders, master coaches and new economy opportunities.
In 2022, launched Life Beyond Rugby in partnership with the Rugby Players Association providing 800 elite members with access to the platform and services.

2019 - 2022

Creative Producer at University of Plymouth, Plymouth.

Produced the city-wide IGNITE Festival of Creativity 2019 -2022.
The festival connected graduates with businesses and the public to spark employability, placemaking and innovation in the creative, business, tourism. healthcare and marine sectors.

Conceived IGNITE Futures, an emerging creative talent platform showcasing 800+ graduate profiles during the pandemic.
Programmed 100+ events and activations across more than 40+ venues and sites using Plymouth as a ‘blank canvas’ as featured on the BBC news website, BBC Radio Devon and Plymouth Live.

Successfully hit targets delivering a unique student experience, footfall exceeding 400,000+ people, 30+ businesses supported, and 10+ new jobs created between 2020 – 2022.
Reported to University of Plymouth, Arts University Plymouth, and Plymouth City Council as part of the iMayflower project, which was supported with funding from the Cultural Development Fund through Arts Council England and DCMS.
Winner of “Best Student Experience 2021” at the University of Plymouth’s Vice Chancellor’s Awards.
Shortlisted for “Digital Innovation of the Year 2020” at the Times Higher Education Awards.

2015 - Present:

Creative Producer at Dan Howson, London & Exeter.

Creative Director, Executive Producer and specialist high level concierge for The Beyond Group, Family Office Forum, Chime Sports Marketing and Quintessentially.
Worked directly with and represented individuals and organisations when communicating with high-profile artists and brands, managers and agents, to create and deliver new live and destination experiences.
Experiences delivered with Dynamo, the International Venice Film Festival, Mama Mia, Cara Delevingne, ITV, Manchester City FC, Exeter Chiefs RFC, The Samphire Club, Exeter Phoenix and INSIDE Automotive.

2012 - 2013:

Ambassador, NSA for Creative & Cultural Skills, London.

Promoted skills development to organisations in line with The National Skills Academy’s goal to support the creative and cultural industries to meet their economic potential through the right skills and training.
Generated 6 Apprenticeships for young people across London.

2008 - 2018:

Founder, Stepladder, London.

Reinforced employment and training opportunities in the creative industries through the youth development initiative Stepladder.
Created a youth driven event production service delivering socially responsible events for the benefit of young people and their communities.
Created 500+ creative employment opportunities for young people and supported many more with CV advice and connections.
Formed a partnership with the Kids Company to provide employment and education for vulnerable, complex disadvantaged young people.
Advisor to Unilever’s Ice Cream Entrepreneurs initiative 2015.
Winner "Innovation of the Year 2012" Event Production Awards.
Winner “Event Innovation 2012” at the UK Events Awards.

2005 - 2015:

Founder, sevens7, London & Australia.

Founded the full-service live events business sevens7 later TLF.
Responsible for 14 staff across the UK and Australia, generating an annual £2M+ turnover.
Produced hundreds of live events performing duties including, Creative Direction, Business Development, Show Calling and Stage Management for MCD, MTV, the GLA, Freuds, and TBWA with iconic names such as Paul McCartney, LOCOG, Glastonbury Festival, Chelsea FC, and The Old Vic.

2003 - 2005:

Co-Founder, Iris Experience, London.

Co-founded the brand entertainment agency Iris Experience.
Built the business to 6 full-time staff in London.
Performed duties including, Creative Direction and Production Management for Budweiser, Sony Ericsson, and L'Oréal.

2000 - 2003:

Production Manager/Director, KLP Entertainment, London.

Designed and produced major music industry awards shows for the NME and Muzik.
Production managed brand entertainment events and festival activations for Smirnoff, Guinness and Tennent’s across the UK, Ireland, and Europe.

1997 - 2000:

Project Coordinator, Jack Morton Worldwide, London.

Assisted Executive Producers on corporate communications projects and events for Chanel, Vauxhall, Lloyds TSB, Toyota, and BAE.
Delivered a twelve-month project directing UK-wide photoshoots for the National Identity Zone at the Millennium Dome.

1997:

Set Designer/Technician, Various.