Create Growth Programme – Applications now open!
10th February 2023
The Create Growth Programme has officially been launched and the application is now open on the West of England Growth Hub website.
About the Create Growth Programme
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 Combined Authority is particularly looking for companies who are exploring new growth opportunities. This could include, but is not exclusive to:
- Reaching new customers
- Developing or taking to market a new product or service
- Expanding your business to new markets, including internationally
This programme is not looking to support ‘business as usual’, but for new business activity that will lead to growth.
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 Peer Support
- You will receive a dedicated Peer Support Programme, including a minimum of six facilitated peer group sessions.
- Workshops and 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
- 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.
How to Apply
To apply for the first cohort of Create Growth Programme starting in May, please visit https://www.westofengland-ca.gov.uk/growth-hub/create-growth-programme/ to download, complete, and submit the application form and the EDI form by Midday on Monday 27th March, 2023.
Contact
If you have any questions about the programme, please contact creative@westofengland-ca.gov.uk
