The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), in collaboration with Innovate UK, has launched the fourth round of the Create Growth Programme, offering targeted support to high-growth creative businesses across England. This initiative aims to stimulate innovation, foster business scaling, and enhance investor networks within the creative industries. The programme is divided into two distinct competitions: one for small projects and another for large projects.
Overview of the Create Growth Programme
The Create Growth Programme is designed to provide a comprehensive package of support to creative businesses with high-growth potential. By focusing on innovation projects, the programme seeks to help these businesses scale effectively, build robust investor networks, and realise their full potential. The support comprises three complementary strands:
1. Business Support: Tailored assistance aimed at addressing the unique challenges faced by creative enterprises.
2. Finance: Access to funding opportunities to support innovative projects and business expansion.
3. Investor Capacity Building Activities: Initiatives designed to enhance the investment readiness of creative businesses and connect them with potential investors.
The programme targets twelve regions across England, each selected for their vibrant creative sectors:
• Greater Manchester
• Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire
• Northeast of England
• West of England and Cornwall
• Southeast Coast
• Leicestershire, Derbyshire, and Greater Lincolnshire
• Nottingham and Nottinghamshire
• Hull and East Yorkshire
• West Midlands
• West Yorkshire
• Devon
• Hertfordshire
Businesses operating within these regions are encouraged to apply for the competition that best aligns with their project scope and funding requirements.
Competition 1: Small Projects
Objective: To support small-scale innovation projects that can act as catalysts for business growth within the creative industries.
Funding Details:
• Total Project Costs: Between £20,000 and £50,000.
• Funding Coverage: Successful applicants can receive up to 100% funding for eligible project costs.
Eligibility Criteria:
• Business Size: Micro, small, or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
• Location: Must be registered or operational in one of the twelve appointed DCMS Create Growth Programme regions.
• Sector: Must operate within the creative industries, focusing on sub-sectors such as advertising, architecture, crafts, design, film, IT, publishing, and music, among others.
Project Requirements:
• The project should introduce an innovative and ambitious idea that presents a clear growth opportunity.
• It must be a new initiative for the business, aiming to create new revenue streams, products, services, or intellectual property.
• The project should demonstrate potential for commercialisation within 12 months of receiving support and include a clear plan for attracting additional private finance.
• It should benefit the wider creative cluster or region in which the business is based.
• The project must be ready to start promptly and offer good value for money.
Application Process:
• Opening Date: 31st March 2025.
• Closing Date: 29th May 2025, 11:00 am.
• Project Start Date: On or after 1st October 2025.
• Project Duration: Between three and six months, concluding by 31st March 2026.
Applicants are advised to ensure their proposals align with the competition’s scope and objectives. Detailed guidance on the application process and eligibility criteria is available on the Innovate UK website.
Competition 2: Large Projects
Objective: To support larger, more ambitious innovation projects that can significantly contribute to business scaling and sectoral growth within the creative industries.
Funding Details:
• Total Project Costs: Between £50,000 and £200,000.
• Funding Coverage: Funding is provided according to the size of the business:
o Up to 70% of eligible project costs for micro and small businesses.
o Up to 60% for medium-sized businesses.
• Match Funding Requirement: Applicants must provide match funding to cover the balance of the project costs.
Eligibility Criteria:
• Business Size: Micro, small, or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
• Location: Must be registered or operational in one of the twelve appointed DCMS Create Growth Programme regions.
• Sector: Must operate within the creative industries, focusing on sub-sectors such as advertising, architecture, crafts, design, film, IT, publishing, and music, among others.
Project Requirements:
• The project should present an innovative and ambitious idea with a clear growth opportunity.
• It must be a new initiative for the business, aiming to create new revenue streams, products, services, or intellectual property.
• The project should demonstrate potential for commercialisation within 12 months of receiving support and include a clear plan for attracting additional private finance.
• It should benefit the wider creative cluster or region in which the business is based.