The Create Growth Programme – designed to grow creative businesses and the local economy – returns to the West Midlands after supporting 50 West Midlands-based businesses since April 2024

The Create Growth Programme – designed to grow creative businesses and the local economy – returns to the West Midlands after supporting 50 West Midlands-based businesses since April 2024.

• A programme of support including mentorship and tailored workshops will support 40 creative businesses in the West Midlands until March 2026. 
• The Create Growth Programme is funded by DCMS and delivered by Creative UK in partnership with the West Midlands Combined Authority and Create Central to support high-growth creative businesses to scale and become investment ready  
• In its first iteration, the programme supported 50 creative businesses from across the region.   

The Create Growth Programme is returning to the West Midlands. 

Funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and delivered by Creative UK in partnership with the West Midlands Combined Authority and Create Central, the Create Growth Programme has been designed to support creative businesses to explore and secure commercial investment opportunities. Selected businesses will gain access to a programme of activity including tailored workshops, one-to-one mentoring, and opportunities to connect with investors.  

The first iteration of the programme, which ran from April 2024 to March 2025, saw 50 creative businesses benefit from one-to-one mentor support, access to tailored workshops, and critical introductions to investors through pitch and dine events and larger-scale summits.   

Businesses that went through the programme have gone on to raise £230,000 in investment. 

In January 2025, Creative UK hosted the Big Creative UK Summit: Investment in the West Midlands, a celebration of the Create Growth Programme and a showcase of the West Midland’s Creative Industries. The day saw nine businesses exhibiting, alongside five businesses who pitched to an audience of investors, industry leaders, partners, and members of creative networks.  

The programme culminated in The Big Creative UK Summit: Investment for Growth, a landmark national summit which took place in London in March 2025. Five creative businesses from the West Midlands were invited to exhibit, whilst three were also invited to pitch to an audience of over 100 investors.  

Ed Shedd, Chair of Create Central, said: 

“It is fantastic to see the West Midlands Create Growth Programme back again for 2025-26. One of Create Central’s key missions is to increase opportunities to monetise content, charting pathways to markets that not only foster a business pipeline for scalability but also ensure sustained growth. As a future-facing cluster, and with Creative UK as our delivery partner, we are developing the right market conditions to allow businesses to scale and grow, supported with specialised expertise and financial backing.” 

Dr Jamie Elliott, Delivery Manager – Business Programmes at the West Midlands Combined Authority said:

“The Creative Growth Programme has already demonstrated its immense value by supporting local creative businesses, helping them to scale and secure significant investment. The continued partnership with Creative UK and Create Central will ensure that our region remains at the forefront of the creative industries, fostering innovation and economic growth. We look forward to seeing the next cohort of creative businesses thrive and contribute to the vibrant economy of the West Midlands.”

Commenting on the launch, Caroline Norbury OBE, CEO of Creative UK, said:   

“The West Midlands has proven itself to be a powerhouse for the Creative Industries – and the Create Growth Programme is filled with innovative businesses generating growth for the region. 

“At The Big Creative UK Summit: Investment in the West Midlands, it was energising to see businesses pitching for investment. I saw firsthand how the mentorship and support they received during the programme resulted in confident, convincing pitches on stage, and it’s no surprise that businesses from the programme have gone on to raise £230,000. I look forward to seeing the next round of creative businesses who come through the programme.”

Learn more and apply for the West Midlands Create Growth Programme.