Government scheme to provide innovation grants of up to £30,000 to creative sector small businesses
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Posted: Fri 26th Apr 2024
Small businesses from the creative industries in 12 regions of England will be able to apply for grants of between £10,000 and £30,000 when the latest round of the Department for Culture, Media & Sport's Create Growth Programme opens for applications.
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 open here on 7 May and close at 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 1 May.
Further rounds will be open from 2 May until 26 June, and from 27 June until 21 August.
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