Small businesses from the creative industries in 12 regions of England can apply for grants of between £10,000 and £30,000 from the latest round of the Department for Culture, Media & Sport's Create Growth Programme.

The scheme, which launched in 2022, is aimed at supporting businesses in these areas:

• 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 programme initially had a total budget of £17.5m and was targeted at six regions, but the government increased it to £28.4m and 12 regions when the creative industries sector vision was unveiled in June 2023.

Delivered by Innovate UK, a total of £3m is available in the latest round of funding for creative industries micro, small and medium sized businesses with innovative ideas.

To receive a grant, business owners must show a "focus on a clear growth opportunity and the proposed innovation to address it", as well as demonstrate the impact the funding and support will have on their business.

Eligible projects need to be UK-based, last between three and five months, start by 1 November 2024 and end by 31 March 2025.

Alongside the funding, successful applicants will also receive business support focused on helping them to scale, and build investor networks.

Applications are open here until 11am on 19 June.

Innovation loans from Innovate UK

In another funding scheme, Innovate UK is offering innovation loans of between £100,000 and £2m to micro, small and medium sized businesses across the UK.

The current round of funding is open here until 11am on 26 June.

Another round will be open from 27 June until 21 August.

Related resources

How to raise money for your start-up

Enterprise Nation's Funding Hub

Where to find grants and how to apply

How to choose the right type of funding for you