Applications are now open for the West Midlands Create Growth Programme. The programme is designed to support growing creative businesses in the region.
The aim behind the West Midlands Create Growth Programme is to help businesses in the creative industries to develop the skills needed to secure investment and achieve growth.
Run by Creative UK, the programme is tailored to the needs of different creative disciplines, their respective markets, governance and distribution models.
Creative UK is an independent network for the UK’s creative industries. It aims to unite creative businesses and generate opportunities for innovation.
The West Midlands Create Growth Programme has two stages, running in parallel:
Stage 1 – Preparing for investment
A six-month programme starting in May 2024. The deadline to apply is Monday 1 April.
Stage 1 has been designed for businesses that want to grow and explore commercial investment pathways.
Over six months, you will be placed in a cohort of businesses with access to:
- A course of workshops designed to unlock your commercial capacity and describe routes to investment and growth
- Two one-to-one mentoring sessions to define and refine your business ambitions
- Access to the Ethical Equity Simulator – a unique piece of software that enables users to learn about the different types of investment from a practical point of view.
Stage 1 closes with a diagnostic session with investment mentors to help you plan the next steps on your investment journey.
Stage 2 – Get ready for investment
A nine-month programme starting in April 2024. The deadline to apply is Monday 4 March.
Stage 2 is an intensive investment readiness programme for businesses that are ambitious to get commercial investment.
Over nine months, you will receive:
- On-going one-to-one mentoring to address your challenges and craft a bespoke nine-month journey for your business
- A course of workshops covering business foundations and sector-specific challenges Opportunities to meet and pitch to investors.
Who can join the programme?
Creative UK is looking for businesses operating in the West Midlands Combined Authority area with creativity at their heart. Businesses in the creative industries, such as:
- Design
- Fashion
- Architecture
- Film
- Broadcasting
- Createch
- Gaming
- Immersive
- Publishing
- Music
- Theatre
- Art
- Heritage
- Media
The Create Growth Programme is funded by the Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS). The programme will be delivered by Creative UK in partnership with West Midlands Combined Authority and Create Central.
The Create Growth Programme team will be out and about at events across the region in the coming weeks. Find them at:
The Midlands Expo
When: Thursday 22 February | 10.30am – 3.30pm
Where: Birmingham Business Show, Birmingham
Drop-in session
When: Tuesday 27 February | 10am – 4pm
Where: SPARK Business Incubation Centre, Wolverhampton
West Midlands Business Expo
When: Thursday 29 February | 10.30am – 3.30pm
Where: Coventry Building Society Arena
For more information about the programme and the events visit the Creative UK website.
Expression of Interest
To apply for the programme fill in an Expression of Interest (EOI) form. Once the Creative UK team has looked at your EOI they will be in touch to discuss if they think you are eligible for Stage 1, Stage 2, or to discuss different options and opportunities. Please allow up to four weeks for a response to the EOI.
You can read FAQs here before submitting an EOI.
To find out about more programmes and resources that support Business growth and innovation visit our Programmes and resources page.
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