Creative Businesses take centre stage

Create Growth programme showcase

The Create Growth programme, launched in 2022 by the Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) in partnership with Innovate UK, is designed to support the development of creative industries with high-growth potential across England, outside of London.

Dr Stella Peace, Interim Executive Chair of Innovate UK, joined Hilary Hall, Head of Creative Economy, Head of Creative Economy, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), to highlight the impact the collaboration is having on supporting creative industries and the broader creative economy. Together they voiced how the programme is driving growth and innovation across the sector.

The audience received a special video message from Sir Chris Bryant MP, Minister of State of the Department for Science Innovation & Technology and Department for Culture Media & Sport, addressing the Invest 2035 Green Paper and the role of creative industries in shaping the future economy, and setting the stage for presentations demonstrating the wide range of talent and innovation within the creative sector.

The showcase a was fantastic opportunity to get innovative creative industries entrepreneurs in the same room as investors and the UK government. Some truly impressive and inspiring businesses showed how the UK is a leading global powerhouse in the sector.

– Andy Curtis, Head of Digital Economy & Creative Industries at Innovate UK

The audience heard from founders sharing their growth journey and development of their technologies and solutions spanning digital media (music and publishing), marketing, health, gaming and sustainable fashion.

Stakeholders and investors had the opportunity to learn more about their offerings and the impact of the Create Growth Programme in the exhibition space, which also served as a vibrant networking hub.

It was a fantastic energetic day. It’s important for us to be able to bring together investors and stakeholders to learn about the work of awesome creative innovators.

– Emma Cooper, Creative Industries Knowledge Transfer Manager at Innovate UK

The Create Growth Programme Showcase was an opportunity for investors to hear from highly innovative creative businesses and see how important both creativity and innovation are for pushing boundaries across multiple industries. The companies pitching and showcasing were using creative know-how and technology to address technical challenges, opening up new markets and delivering cross-cutting applications. They demonstrated novel ways in which industry can address some big societal challenges in areas from health to Net Zero.

– Emma Fadlon, Investment Project Lead at Innovate UK

Showcasing companies

• Bonza Music: An immersive music technology company founded by musicians, audio experts and business creators.
• Borro: A subscription platform offering a flexible rental service for baby and kids’ clothing.
• ClicknClear: A music rights tech and licensing company servicing untapped markets, initially focused on choreographed sports worldwide – a $2.4Bn+ annual untapped revenue opportunity for music.
• Green Bean Studios: The company’s mission is to be a globally leading sustainable children’s IP entertainment brand, addressing key issues in society through Edtech, GreenTech, RetailTech, and Tech for Good.
• MediaSaaS: A broadcast and media technology company enabling rapid, risk-free deployment of best-of-breed technologies you already know and love, stand-alone, as workflows or as complete solutions.
• Mysports: An app that provides a safe communication channel for Shooting Sports Organisations and their clients enables them to manage all their shoot events fully.
• Novalia: A leading innovator in interactive touch technology that has developed conductive ink to produce printed single and multitouch sensors.
• Seamless Source: A Product Relationship Management Platform (PRM) that connects brands, suppliers, consumers and recyclers.
• Sketchbook Games: An acclaimed developer of narrative games.
• Spectrum Tailored Tech: Creating a tool to help families with autistic children complete simple morning tasks in an engaging way.
• The Format Factory: The award-winning independent content creator and production company.