Liverpool’s leading creative industries place-based CIC completes key appointments following a period of renewed growth, strengthening its capacity to support Liverpool City Region’s creative and digital sector while preparing for future expansion.
Baltic Creative CIC has completed a series of strategic appointments as the organisation enters its next phase of growth, welcoming George Barclay as Head of Property, Jo Austin Greer as Head of Communications and Partnerships, and Ros Whiteley-Jones as Office Administrator.
The appointments mark the completion of a significant period of organisational development that has seen Baltic Creative strengthen its leadership, return to strong financial performance, restore occupancy across its estate to almost full capacity and expand its programme of business support, sector advocacy and creative industry events.
Established in 2009, Baltic Creative CIC was founded on a simple but ambitious idea: to create affordable, asset-locked workspace where Liverpool City Region’s creative and digital businesses could grow without being displaced by the regeneration they helped create. Today, the organisation manages around 85,000 square feet of creative workspace while reinvesting all surplus profits back into its buildings, programmes and community, ensuring commercial success delivers lasting social impact for the creative sector.
Over the past two years, Baltic Creative has continued to evolve, strengthening its role as a champion for the creative industries through initiatives including the nationally recognised Bloom Business Festival, the year-round Bloom Talks programme and partnerships spanning education, business and creative industries.
The three appointments were established to support that continued growth and ensure the organisation has the expertise and capacity to deliver its long-term ambitions.
George Barclay joins as Head of Property, bringing more than a decade of commercial property experience, most recently as Head of Property, Facilities Management and Operations at Sciontec Developments. He will lead Baltic Creative’s property portfolio, helping develop high-quality, sustainable workspaces while supporting future expansion opportunities across the Liverpool City Region.
Jo Austin Greer joins as Head of Communications and Partnerships, bringing more than 20 years’ experience across marketing, enterprise and the arts. Having previously run her own consultancy, led marketing for Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation DaDa and spent 13 years at The Women’s Organisation, she will lead Baltic Creative’s communications, partnerships and sector advocacy, strengthening the organisation’s voice while building new opportunities for collaboration across the creative industries.
Ros Whiteley-Jones joins as Office Administrator, bringing extensive experience across the maritime, healthcare and hospitality sectors. She will support the day-to-day coordination of the organisation, helping ensure tenants, partners and visitors continue to receive the warm, responsive welcome that sits at the heart of the Baltic Creative community.
Lynn Haime, CEO of Baltic Creative CIC, said:
“Our team passionately care about creating an amazing place for the creative businesses who call Baltic Creative home. The last few years have been about building a strong, resilient organisation that can sustain that community and advocate strongly on their behalf. We’ve strengthened our financial position, invested in our spaces, expanded our business support offer and developed a clear vision for where Baltic Creative goes next.
“These appointments are the final piece of that puzzle. George, Jo and Ros each bring a wealth of experience, but just as importantly they share our belief that great places are built around people and community.
“Together, they’ll help us continue supporting the creative businesses already based here while giving us the capacity to develop new partnerships, new opportunities and, ultimately, create space for even more creative businesses to thrive across the Liverpool City Region.”
The appointments come as Baltic Creative continues to build on its reputation as one of the UK’s leading examples of creative-led regeneration. As an asset-locked Community Interest Company, every surplus generated is reinvested into its buildings, business support and wider creative community, ensuring long-term value remains rooted in the place and the people it serves. With new development opportunities under consideration and growing demand for affordable creative workspace, the strengthened team positions the organisation for the next stage of its journey.