Creative Enterprise: Screen Launchpad is supporting the next generation of diverse screen industry founders
Screen Launchpad is a dedicated business support programme for aspiring, diverse leaders in the screen industries. We’re seeking passionate individuals from underrepresented communities who are ready to launch their own business in film & TV, games, immersive, animation, or createch.
Described as ‘life-changing’ by a last year’s participant, this 3-month development programme is designed for professionals with industry experience who are ready to take the leap into entrepreneurship. Our mission is to tackle underrepresentation in the screen sector by equipping new founders with the tools, confidence, and connections to bring their business ideas to life.
Why take part?
Participants from our first cohort saw transformative results:
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100% said they felt more confident in the future of their business
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100% would recommend the programme to others
What is involved?
Screen Launchpad will deliver a series of workshops and 121 coaching sessions with proven industry leaders and mentors over three months.
Participants will take part in:
- 3 x day long in person sessions
The workshops are intended to give you an overview of the subject matter in question. You will hear from industry experts as well as other company founders from previous programmes, learning from their experiences. - 3x online half-day workshops
The workshops are intended to give you an overview of the subject matter through a mixture of talks, interactive sessions and group discussion. You will hear from industry experts as well as case studies from fellow founders, learning from their experiences. - 4x one-to-one mentoring sessions
The 1-2-1 mentoring allows you to take your learnings from the workshops and implement them in a way that’s tailored and personalised to your own ideas and goals. You will have the opportunity to choose from a group of inspirational, screen-sector spanning mentors.
Broad topics will include:
- Business models, Planning & Forecasting, Registration
- Your Brand, Marketing, SEO, Telling your story
- Financial Literacy, Early-stage funding
- Networking & Sales
- Confidence & Founder Wellbeing
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Applications for Screen Launchpad open on Tuesday 24 June 2025 at 12pm.
**Apply Here**
Deadline for applications is Monday 21st July at 5pm.
Applications Support Session on Tuesday 15 July at 12pm: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/8dKNnD7BTQeRjs0g1m9j2Q#/registration
Got questions about the programme? Book a 15 min call with a team member or email us at creativeenterprise@wearecreative.uk
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Our Mentors
Aiwan Obinyan is a Nigerian-British Executive Producer, Filmmaker, Musician and a BAFTA award winning Sound Designer. She works across the film, podcasting and music industries crafting stories and sounds that disrupt the status quo, with clients including gal-dem, BBC, VICE, GAY TIMES, Amazon, Audible, Channel 4, The UN and more. In 2013 she founded AiAi Studios, a production house specialising in visual media, over the years AiAi Studios has grown and developed into a respected team of podcast experts.
Natasha Hawthornthwaite
Natasha is a passionate LGBT+ filmmaker and Co-Founder of Northern Heart Films, supported by the BBC Small Indie Fund. Natasha supports working-class filmmakers and has recently set up an initiative providing funding, mentoring, and support for them.
With over a decade of experience working on branded content and original documentaries for organisations like the BBC,BFI, and Doc Society, Natasha has a proven track record of success. Recognised for her leadership and innovation, she’s a Future Leader at the Northern Power Women Awards and a guest speaker at the BFI Film Festival.
Natasha’s expertise goes beyond filmmaking, with a grasp on business management, marketing, PR, story development, and fundraising. She’s committed to breaking down barriers for new entrants and helping make the industry more supportive and welcoming for new talent. Her friendly and approachable nature makes her a valuable asset to the film industry.
Dan Da Rocha
A Forbes 30 Under 30 awarded video games creator with 14 years experience of building and selling game studios from the ground up. Dan’s first game, a student project called Q.U.B.E., hit #3 on the Steam top sellers list upon release and was able to pay back its investment within 4 days.
Dan has learned a lot from running studios of sizes from 3 people all the way to 50 people, self-publishing games on 14+ platforms, working with external investors and publishers, and everything in-between.
Marc de Launay
Co-Founder and Director of Novamundi studios, Marc is an international award winning theatre, film & television director, writer and producer, who has worked professionally within the creative arts and digital sectors for nearly three decades. Marc is Executive Producer and a co-owner of the leading and largest specialist 2D Animation Studio in the North East, Arcus Animation Studios. He also loves comics, and with his colleague John Farman at Vital Publishing, they have become one of Scotland’s most prolific indie comic publishers.
Marc also acted as a freelance creative industries consultant, notably as Lead Creative Industries Mentor for Teesside University Graduate Enterprise, having previously been Creative Director of the Queens Anniversary Award winning project Digital City Innovation at Teesside University.
Rebecca Robinson
Rebecca is a seasoned startup coach with a focus on incubators, accelerators, and growth programs. She has contributed to notable initiatives like Creative UK’s Scaling Up, the Department of Culture, Media and Sport’s Create Growth, Baltic Ventures’ Accelerator, and the UK Space Agency’s Fusion investment programme. Rebecca helps founders identify opportunities, build businesses with solid foundations, and bring ideas to life efficiently with limited resources. She has guided digital, tech, creative, and screen-based entrepreneurs in launching, scaling, and attracting investment, helping founders secure over £15m in SEIS funding. Her expertise spans offer diversification, scaling strategies, business optimisation, and customer acquisition. Rebecca is skilled in using user research to craft compelling value propositions and impactful marketing messages which make people listen. All the while, she ensures the journey is enjoyable, because life is too short not to have fun while building a business.
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Through the programme we aim to:
- Break down the economic and cultural challenges that diverse founders face
- Remove barriers and work to unlock the potential business in your idea
- Provide insight to enable an informed decision on your career pathway and knowledge to navigate business finance and opportunity.
- Build confidence, connections and an ongoing network of peer support
Through a series of workshops and one-to-one mentoring sessions with inspiring industry professionals we aim to bestow participants with greater sector and business knowledge, access to finance, increased confidence, a peer network, and a clear vision as a potential founder equipped to begin their business journey.
The Creative UK EDI Advisory Group will help steer the development of a truly inclusive programme of pre-start-up business development that specifically meets the needs of underrepresented screen entrepreneurs.
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Applications for Screen Launchpad open on Tuesday 24 June 2025 at 12pm.
**Apply Here**
Deadline for applications is Monday 21st July at 5pm.
Applications Support Session on Tuesday 15 July at 12pm: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/8dKNnD7BTQeRjs0g1m9j2Q#/registration
Got questions about the programme? Book a 15 min call with a team member or email us at creativeenterprise@wearecreative.uk
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Eligibility & Fees
Participants in the programme need to be:
- based in England
- thinking about setting up your first Ltd company or set up in the last year (In England)
- some experience working in or adjacent to the Screen Industries – Film, TV, Games, Immersive – with a focus on narrative storytelling
- part of a group that is currently under-represented in the industry including, but not limited to, Global majority, LGBTQ+, Disabled/Neurodiverse, Lower SES
The fee for the programme is £100 + VAT
Creative Enterprise is a BFI Lottery funded programme – overall, the support including group learning sessions, coaching and personalised mentoring you receive during the Female Founders programme is valued at over £5,000 per person. There is also a bursary (contribution towards travel and accommodation) available for in-person sessions if needed.
If you feel like this fee is a significant barrier to your participation in the programme, please speak to Creative Enterprise team to discuss options.
Key Dates
16th Sept – Kick off
[more sessions tbc]
The programme runs from September till December.
In person sessions will be decided once we know where the cohort is based and will be a central location.
Subsistence contribution applications are available to help those who need it for travel to access in person sessions. These funds are limited and are at the discretion of Creative Enterprise.
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Sign Up to Our Newsletter to hear about our programmes and events
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Applications for Screen Launchpad open on Tuesday 24 June 2025 at 12pm.
**Apply Here**
Deadline for applications is Monday 21st July at 5pm.
Applications Support Session on Tuesday 15 July at 12pm: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/8dKNnD7BTQeRjs0g1m9j2Q#/registration
Got questions about the programme? Book a 15 min call with a team member or email us at creativeenterprise@wearecreative.uk
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If you would like to discuss any accessibility requirements prior to applying for the programme, please contact creativeenterprise@wearecreative.uk or call us on 0333 023 5240
The Reframe programme is part of Creative Enterprise, which has been developed with National Lottery funding from the BFI, to increase the sustainability of the moving image sector by optimising business opportunities through connections, training, expert advice, and strategy support.
