Create Growth Programme – Expression of Interest Now Open

The West of England Combined Authority are one of 6 successful regions who have been awarded £1.275m from DCMS to support local creative businesses to unlock economic growth. The Create Growth programme will build on the success of the Creative Scale Up Pilot (2019-2022) and aims to support high-growth creative businesses to scale and become investment ready through a targeted business support package.

The Create Growth Programme consists of three complementary strands:

• A bespoke business support programme delivered by Watershed
• Access to a £7m finance fund delivered by Innovate UK
• Investor outreach activities.

What Does the Business Support Programme Include?

Financial Support – A £2500 grant to spend on professional sector specific expertise (mentoring, coaching and/or consultancy)

Dedicated Pier Support – You will receive a dedicated Peer Support Programme, including a minimum of six facilitated peer group sessions.

Workshops & Training – You will have access to a range of workshops and training modules, delivered by Watershed.

Who is eligible for the programme?

Businesses should be able to demonstrate they meet two or more of the criteria below:

• Turnover growth of 10% year-on-year over approximately 3 years (including either prior to or during the pandemic)
• Employing a minimum of 2 people over the last two years (full-time, part-time or freelance)
• Created a revenue generating product, launched a new platform or service or reached a market of scale
• Generated a sales revenue in the last 2 years

Businesses should be able to demonstrate they meet two or more of the criteria below:

• You will also need to show that your business is operating in one of the following Creative sub-sectors: Advertising & Marketing, Architecture, Arts & Culture, Craft, Createch, Design, Fashion, Gaming, Music, Publishing, TV and Film.
• And that you have a registered and/or trading address in the Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset or South Gloucestershire local authority area.

For further details and access to the Expression of Interest form, please visit :
https://www.westofengland-ca.gov.uk/growth-hub/create-growth-programme/