Summary
The Create Growth Programme (CGP) is a DCMS supported programme delivered by Innovate UK in collaboration with regional partners that aims to support high-growth creative businesses across a number of English regions including the North East of England.
The aim of the programme is to help creative businesses to scale and become investment ready through a targeted support package with three complementary strands across bespoke business support, investor outreach activities and a finance fund.
Innovate UK is providing a finance fund of up to £7 million to help creative businesses in Create Growth Programme regions to explore new innovation projects that will stimulate growth and attract private investment. The first part of this fund will be made available through a grant competition.
As part of the Create Growth Programme, Innovate UK have launched a brand new funding opportunity for businesses in the Creative Industries in six English regions. Business can apply for £10-30k each for innovation projects. The North East, (Northumberland, Newcastle, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Gateshead, Sunderland and County Durham), is one of the selected regions.
The aim of this first Innovate UK competition is designed to help creative businesses explore new game-changing innovation projects as a stimulus for growth.
Proposals must:
- be from the creative industries;
- be from a DCMS Create Growth Programme region;
- 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 your business;
- engage with the regional support if your application is successful
The North East Create Growth Programme will be delivered through a blend of workshops and masterclasses, led by Creative UK in partnership with regional sector experts including ourselves here at Creative Fuse, alongside North East Screen, Generator, New Writing North, North East Growth Hub and Sunderland Software City.
Further information
Further information about the Create Growth Programme grants from Innovate UK can be found here.
A briefing event about these grants will take place on Monday 5th December, 10am – 12 midday – to register, please click here.
If you would like to be kept up to date with information about the North East Create Growth Programme please register your details with our partners Creative UK here.