Create Growth Programme
Helping businesses in England convert their creative potential into creative growth.
Develop your creative potential
The Create Growth Programme was set up in 2022 by the Department for Culture, Media, and Sports (DCMS), with £17.5 million investment in the six original regions, of which £7m was provided to Innovate UK to invest via a series of awarded competitions. In July 2023, the previous government published its Sector vision, in which it announced an additional £10.9 million to support a further six regions, plus a further £6.92m of investment into grant funded competitions to be delivered by Innovate UK.
The challenge
Historically, the Creative Industries have struggled to obtain the necessary level of investment to grow and scale, in part due to investors’ limited understanding of the opportunities for investing in the sector. Investors generally look for scalability and defensible intellectual property (IP) which can be a challenge for creative businesses.
In addition, founders in creative businesses tend to be specialists in their discipline rather than in business, which leads to a broad lack of business skill and understanding. Finally, many smaller businesses aren’t static in terms of size and can have multiple or varied project and IP funding models, such as crowdfunding.
Creative Businesses take centre stage
Highlighting the impact the collaboration is having on supporting creative industries and the broader creative economy, and how the programme is driving growth and innovation across the sector
Read more about the Showcase Day and meet the attendees
A regional approach
Delivered by teams in each of the regions, creative businesses with high-growth potential will be able to apply for support to help them prepare for investment and grow their business. Each region has its own distinct approach and bespoke programme, tailored to the businesses in its cohorts. Some regions specialise in certain sub sectors, whereas others pride themselves on a broad range of talent.
Working with each region’s combined authorities, the programme offers targeted support to eligible businesses to help unlock their growth potential. Each region is delivering bespoke support that responds to the specific needs of their local creative businesses.
Regions were selected via an open competition run by the DCMS between July and September 2022. Each region is led by the local council, partnership or combined authority, and comprises several areas, towns and cities.
Find an investor
Innovate UK is delivering investor focused activities, including networking and showcase events, mapping of current and potential investment in the sector, and resources to support the understanding of investment opportunities. We will be working with investors at a national and local level to better understand the investment opportunities in the creative industries.
To take advantage of the Investor Partnerships opportunity creative businesses will need to establish a relationship and level of investment traction with one of the approved Innovate UK Investor Partners before applying for funding. If businesses have an established relationship with an investor that is not on this list they can apply to become an investor partner or approach one of the investor partners to discuss a co-investment.
Find an investor
Impact
The collaboration between Investor Networks and Innovate UK will put capitol in to the regions through the competitions, help to leverage investor partnerships with creative businesses, whilst increased investor understanding of regional creative sector opportunities will sow the seeds for future investment beyond the programme.
By tailoring the support programme to meet the needs of the businesses, the programme will also create a stronger, growing and better-equipped creative sector. It will help to build meaningful relationships between founders and investors, driving increased regional investment to boost growth outside of London, and improve regional understanding of the broader creative network.
Resources
Invest in Creative
We are delivering investor focused activities, including networking and pitching events, mapping of current and potential investment in the sector, and resources to support the understanding of investment opportunities. We will be working with investors at a national and local level to better understand the investment opportunities in the creative industries. Investors can apply to become one of Innovate UK’s investor partners; the most recent process closed on 20 September 2023. Join the programme to hear about further selection processes and other opportunities.
Our Experts
Related Opportunities
EIT Culture & Creativity: Short Innovation Projects 2025 - consortia
Opens: 11/02/2025 Closes: 11/04/2025
Open to consortia proposing high-impact initiatives that address pressing challenges in the Cultural and Creative Sectors and Industries (CCSI).
More Information
Investor Partnerships – digital technologies, North East: Rd 2
Opens: 24/02/2025 Closes: 09/04/2025
UK SMEs can apply for grant funding for projects to grow innovation activities in the digital technologies cluster in North East England, alongside private investment from selected investor partners.
More Information
Innovate UK innovation loans future economy: Round 20
Opens: 06/03/2025 Closes: 07/05/2025
UK registered businesses can apply for loans for innovative projects with strong commercial potential to significantly improve the UK economy.
More Information
Related Events and Recordings
Fri
13
Oct
2023
Lunch & Learn Series Autumn 2023: Create Growth Programme - Investing in the Creative Industries Insights
12.00 - 13.00 | Online
Watch now
Thu
10
Apr
2025
Related Case Studies
Game on: Beam XR’s secures grant funding and private backing with Innovate UK support
Innovate UK grant funding drives growth for Beam XR’s revolutionary live streaming software for the gaming industry, attracting private investment.
Prorizon is lifting the weight of sports performance with Innovate UK support
Grant funding from Innovate UK has powered Prorizon’s scale-up and entry into creative industries.
De-risking Net-Zu’s vision to revolutionise creative talent sourcing with Innovate UK support
The Create Growth Programme funding has enabled Net-Zu to de-risk their start-up idea, unlocking the creative industries as an investable sector.
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