Announcing the West Midlands Create Growth Stage One cohort

We’re excited to announce the latest Stage One cohort taking part in West Midlands Create Growth – the investment readiness programme, which has been designed to support creative businesses to explore and secure commercial investment opportunities. 

24 creative businesses from across the West Midlands have been selected to take part in the programme, which will run for six months providing tailored workshops, one-to-one mentoring, and opportunities to connect with investors. 

The programme is delivered by Creative UK and funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority. The programme is funded through a wider £25m package of growth support for the creative industries in the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) area to help businesses to innovate, upskill and attract private investment, as part of the Government’s Creative Places Growth Fund.  

The first workshop took place at the Midlands Arts Centre, where the businesses had the opportunity to meet for the first time and hear from previous programme participants, as well as speakers including Tamara Gal-On and Tim McSweeney. 

You can follow the progress of this year’s cohort on our LinkedIn and Instagram; hear about other opportunities for creative businesses in the West Midlands by signing up to our newsletter.

Meet the West Midlands Create Growth Stage One businesses:  

3LightTalent, a UK-owned casting and talent platform connecting actors, dancers, models, presenters, voice artists and crew with production companies, casting agencies and studios. 

5 Senses Creatives Ltd, a multidisciplinary creative company developing immersive, multisensory arts experiences focused on belonging and community connection. 

Atelier 88 Architects, a small architecture firm focused on domestic projects. 

Bezalel Pictures Ltd, a film and video production company covering production,  

Birmingham Community Media Hub (BCMH) delivers media, music, digital skills and community engagement programmes across Birmingham.  

Black Cliff Media, a B2B content agency; specialising in Animation (2D & 3D), Video Production and Website Development. 

BLACMEX, the UK’s first Black Music Export Office, building the country’s only specialist genre-mapping and export-readiness framework for Black music. 

Fawzan Ltd, a Walsall-based premium African menswear and accessories brand selling agbadas, kaftans, thobes, Yoruba and Hausa caps for men and boys. 

Arts Funded, a founder-built automated AI platform that writes complete funder-specific grant applications, with in built review and research reporting, from user notes. 

Holyhead Studios, a not-for-profit creative hub in Coventry providing affordable artist studios, creative workspace and specialist surface design, screen printing and textile printing facilities. 

Jiti Ltd, creator of Guides.app, a platform helping heritage sites, museums and visitor attractions deliver self-guided, GPS-enabled audio experiences. 

Learn with Lolonyo create culturally inclusive educational books and learning resources for children and young people from preschool to 16 years. 

Middling Women, a West Midlands based production company developing comedy‑drama and character‑led IP for UK and international markets. 

Mish Mash Publications, a creative business delivering Memento Vid Enhancements™ by MMP®: polished memory films for families and short branded promotional videos for small businesses using their existing photos and clips. 

Ode Creatives, a creative agency based in Coventry, create a range of digital media that connects brands and organisations with diverse audiences, while opening doors for underrepresented creatives through community programmes and work experience placements. 

Red Lens, a creative learning company using performance and storytelling to develop confidence, communication and presence. 

Ride Brands, a branding agency helping startups, SME’s and established organisations build distinctive brands that drive growth. 

Sampad, a Birmingham-based arts charity and creative producer celebrating South Asian arts, heritage and culture. 

Shroozy, a game development company focused on future technology, especially virtual reality. 

So Crocodile Ltd develop original intellectual property across film, publishing, audio and digital experiences. 

Sodium & Co help charities, social enterprises and purpose-led organisations find their voice, strengthen their brand and grow their impact. 

Tenvisions Media, who combine commercial strategy with creative excellence to develop original film, television and branded content. 

The Asylym Art Gallery, a socially engaged disability led arts organisation with artist studios, a communal meeting space and photography studio. 

Tombobulus Games, a start-up videogame business, currently developing and seeking funding for its first project – a satisfying, zen-like puzzle game called Ink Strings.