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Salford Innovation Park is committed to the support of innovative methods of teaching and learning within and outside programmes of formal education, as well as supporting creative and 'non-creative' occupations through the use of creativity techniques. Within this strategy, the methods adopted support lifelong learning and social inclusion by developing new skills and employment aspirations. A pilot event was run as part of the Salford Film Festival by Salford Innovation Park and Turnz Theatre Group. It has resulted in a commitment to combine theatre and film techniques with the development of the skills necessary for the envisaged knowledge economy. The 'Talking Movies' seminar and workshop held on 19th and 20th October 2003 was a learning event aimed at SMEs [small and medium-sized enterprises] in the Salford area as part of the regeneration of the city through the use of the creative industries. The workshop concentrated on new basic (or transversal) skills such as group learning and team building, confidence and aspiration development and key skills such as working with others and communication. The workshop was attended by solicitors, health service managers and complementary health providers. However, the techniques could be used with any group from any business sector and in schools, colleges and universities. They can form the basis of innovative training and can be used in any lifelong learning setting and situation. The project described had the simple aim of improving the communication, presentation and confidence skills of the trainees through the use of creative techniques. All participants expressed complete satisfaction with the outcomes. The Salford Innovation Park team intend to use theatre techniques and creative thinking methodologies to produce a powerful enterprise training package for users from a range of backgrounds. Currently the methods are being used with level 4/5 students at the University of Salford, and in the future with level 3 trainees of Afro-Caribbean origin at the Cariocca Education Trust, Manchester and with employees from local SMEs. The methods used are extremely powerful in terms of individual awareness raising and improving business performance. For this reason, a longitudinal evaluation strategy of participants is to be employed.