Aims/priorities: The aim of the Create Growth Programme is to provide a package of targeted support to high growth creative businesses, to scale, build investor networks and reach their potential. The funding is designed to help creative businesses explore new innovation projects as a stimulus for growth.
Support is targeted at businesses that are registered or operational in an appointed Create Growth Programme region:
- Greater Manchester
- Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire
- North East of England
- West of England and Cornwall
- South East Coast
- Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Greater Lincolnshire
- Nottingham and Nottinghamshire
- Hull and East Yorkshire
- West Midlands
- West Yorkshire
- Devon
- Hertfordshire
The competition is split into two strands:
- Strand 1: DCMS Create Growth Programme Competition 4: small projects
- Strand 2: DCMS Create Growth Programme Competition 4: large projects
Who can apply? To lead a project an organisation must:
- Be a UK registered micro, small or medium sized enterprise (SME).
- Be registered or operational in one of the 12 Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) Create Growth Programme appointed regions.
- Have a demonstrable ambition for growth.
- Be from the creative industries and focused on one or more of the creative industries sub-sectors.
Proposals must:
- Focus on a clear growth opportunity and the proposed innovation to address it.
- Demonstrate the impact funding and support can have on the growth plan of their business.
- Demonstrate how their business has either engaged with, or intends to engage with the ongoing regional support provided by the programme.
Projects must focus on one or more of the following sub-sectors:
- Advertising and marketing.
- Architecture.
- Crafts.
- Design and designer fashion.
- Film.
- Television.
- Video.
- Radio.
- Photography.
- IT, gaming, software and computer services.
- Publishing.
- Museums, galleries and libraries.
- Music, performing and visual art.
Grant amount: IUK has allocated up to £8 million to fund growth focused innovation projects in the Create Growth Programme Competition 4.
The programme support comprises three complementary strands:
- Business support targeted at the creative industries
- Finance
- Investor capacity building activities
Strand 1: Small projects
This strand is focused on small scale creative projects with costs of between £20,000 and £50,000 and is 100% funded.
Strand 2: Large projects
This strand is focused on larger, more ambitious scale creative projects with total eligible costs between £50,000 and £200,000. This strand requires match funding.
The level of grant available is determined by the size of the business.
Application process: Applications are accepted between 31 March 2025 and 29 May 2025 (11:00).
Applications are made online.
More information is available at the IUK website.
Contact IUK for further information.
Deadline: Thursday 29 May 2025
Contact information: Email: support@iuk.ukri.org