Cornwall Create Growth Programme

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Cornwall Create Growth Programme

  • Does your business have creativity at its heart? (e.g.: design, fashion, architecture, film, broadcast, createch, gaming, immersive, publishing, music, theatre, art, heritage, craft, media).   
  • Are you operating in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly?  
  • Do you need help building your confidence as a founder, to make decisions on with investment, IP, business structures and growth plans?  

Get Investment Ready

Get Investment Ready is designed to help creative businesses like yours. The programme will support you to develop the skills to secure investment so that you can achieve your ambitions for your company to grow. It is tailored to the needs of different creative disciplines, their respective markets, governance and distribution models.  

Stage 1

Stage 1

This programme is designed for businesses who are ambitious to grow and want to explore commercial investment pathways.

Coaching and Diagnostic: Businesses will be offered a mentoring session at the beginning and midway through the programme with the aim of defining and refining their ambitions for investment. At the end of the programme businesses will undertake a diagnostic with a panel of investment mentors who will provide individual feedback and referrals for future activity.    

Ethical Equity Simulator: A six-month subscription to a unique piece of software that enables users to learn about the different types of investment from a practical point of view. The Simulator encourages founders to put themselves in an investors’ shoes and experience commercial investment from their perspective. This is an enjoyable way of learning and can provide invaluable insight in preparation for pitching, networking and negotiating within the investment community.  

Cohort Workshops: Businesses will take part in a series of in person and online workshops that are designed to unlock their commercial capacity and describe routes to investment and growth. Content covered will include:  

  • Creative Minds Bootcamp: Discovering and exploiting your Intellectual Property with Erica Wolfe Murray over 2 days of in person training.  
  • Investment 101: An overview of different types of investment and how they might impact your company structure with our Lead Investment Mentor  
  • Commercial Business Models and Legal Advice for Creative Sub Sectors  
  • Deep Dive Days on how to access networks and make sales e.g commercial touring or making your building work for you.  
  • Sustainability: Environmental and financial advice.
Stage 2

Stage 2

Stage 2 is an intensive investment readiness programme for businesses who are ambitious to get commercial investment.

  • Diagnostic meetings with investment mentors will precede your application and will support you to dig deeper into your business plans and finances to look at what scaling up might offer you and how investment can help. These are individual diagnostic meetings with one business / applicant at a time.  
  • Online and in person workshops, events, and talks that provide overarching business skills and tools but also sector specific advice and resources.   
  • Peer to Peer Learning Sessions that will give you a regular place to share experiences, explore challenges as a wider team and consider your place in the wider creative industry ecology in Cornwall  
  • One to One Mentorship that ensures you get bespoke advice and coaching to clarify your vision and business model. The mentor will support you to write business plans, proposal, and investment pitches ready for an investment application process.  
  • Open events to learn from experienced founders, intensive development courses, multi-day residentials. 
What is the eligibility?

What is the eligibility?

For Stage 1, you will need to say yes to the following questions: 

  • Do you have a registered business (Ltd company, CIC or Charity) 
  • Are you based in Cornwall?  
  • Do you work in the creative sector? This includes Live Arts, Visual Arts, Film, Gaming, Software, Fashion, Design, Marketing, Crafts, Architecture, Publishing  

For Stage 2, you will need to say yes to the following questions: 

  • Do you have a registered business (Ltd company, CIC or Charity) 
  • Are you based in Cornwall?  
  • Do you work in the creative sector? This includes Live Arts, Visual Arts, Film, Gaming, Software, Fashion, Design, Marketing, Crafts, Architecture, Publishing 
  • Can you provide information on turnover and how investment will help you to scale your business? 

If you do not yet have a registered business and are a sole trader there is still time to get some advice about registering a business and taking that first step. Creative UK are working with partners to provide webinars and advice drop ins over the next two months so you can be eligible for the programme. Learn more on our events page. 

Stage 1

This programme is designed for businesses who are ambitious to grow and want to explore commercial investment pathways.

Coaching and Diagnostic: Businesses will be offered a mentoring session at the beginning and midway through the programme with the aim of defining and refining their ambitions for investment. At the end of the programme businesses will undertake a diagnostic with a panel of investment mentors who will provide individual feedback and referrals for future activity.    

Ethical Equity Simulator: A six-month subscription to a unique piece of software that enables users to learn about the different types of investment from a practical point of view. The Simulator encourages founders to put themselves in an investors’ shoes and experience commercial investment from their perspective. This is an enjoyable way of learning and can provide invaluable insight in preparation for pitching, networking and negotiating within the investment community.  

Cohort Workshops: Businesses will take part in a series of in person and online workshops that are designed to unlock their commercial capacity and describe routes to investment and growth. Content covered will include:  

  • Creative Minds Bootcamp: Discovering and exploiting your Intellectual Property with Erica Wolfe Murray over 2 days of in person training.  
  • Investment 101: An overview of different types of investment and how they might impact your company structure with our Lead Investment Mentor  
  • Commercial Business Models and Legal Advice for Creative Sub Sectors  
  • Deep Dive Days on how to access networks and make sales e.g commercial touring or making your building work for you.  
  • Sustainability: Environmental and financial advice.

Stage 2

Stage 2 is an intensive investment readiness programme for businesses who are ambitious to get commercial investment.

  • Diagnostic meetings with investment mentors will precede your application and will support you to dig deeper into your business plans and finances to look at what scaling up might offer you and how investment can help. These are individual diagnostic meetings with one business / applicant at a time.  
  • Online and in person workshops, events, and talks that provide overarching business skills and tools but also sector specific advice and resources.   
  • Peer to Peer Learning Sessions that will give you a regular place to share experiences, explore challenges as a wider team and consider your place in the wider creative industry ecology in Cornwall  
  • One to One Mentorship that ensures you get bespoke advice and coaching to clarify your vision and business model. The mentor will support you to write business plans, proposal, and investment pitches ready for an investment application process.  
  • Open events to learn from experienced founders, intensive development courses, multi-day residentials. 

What is the eligibility?

For Stage 1, you will need to say yes to the following questions: 

  • Do you have a registered business (Ltd company, CIC or Charity) 
  • Are you based in Cornwall?  
  • Do you work in the creative sector? This includes Live Arts, Visual Arts, Film, Gaming, Software, Fashion, Design, Marketing, Crafts, Architecture, Publishing  

For Stage 2, you will need to say yes to the following questions: 

  • Do you have a registered business (Ltd company, CIC or Charity) 
  • Are you based in Cornwall?  
  • Do you work in the creative sector? This includes Live Arts, Visual Arts, Film, Gaming, Software, Fashion, Design, Marketing, Crafts, Architecture, Publishing 
  • Can you provide information on turnover and how investment will help you to scale your business? 

If you do not yet have a registered business and are a sole trader there is still time to get some advice about registering a business and taking that first step. Creative UK are working with partners to provide webinars and advice drop ins over the next two months so you can be eligible for the programme. Learn more on our events page. 

Apply for Stage 1

Apply for Stage 1

What is the application process?  

The deadline for full applications is April 1st 2024. 

If you would like to apply for the Stage 1 Intervention there are two ways to do this  

  1. If you have completed an expression of interest or full application for the Create Growth Programme before, please email Suzie.West@wearecreative.uk to express your interest in this shorter stage 1 programme.  
  1. If you are reaching out to us for the first time, please complete an Expression of Interest and the programme manager will approve this if you are eligible to take part. There will be full application form to follow. 
Apply for Stage 2

Apply for Stage 2

What is the application process? 

Stage 2: The deadline for full applications is March 4th 2024.  

If you would like to apply for the business support programme we ask you to either meet with our programme manager Suzie West or complete an initial application form called an Expression of Interest (EOI) You can apply by completing the EOI here. 

If you pass the criteria for the first stage, you will be asked to complete an application form.   

Businesses may be invited into a diagnostic process. This diagnostic process will allow for our investment and business mentors to look at the potential of your business and it’s future invest -ability. The Creative UK Cornwall team will also use the diagnostic to understand how the business support programme needs to be shaped, which mentors we need to employ and how the broad range of selected applicants can support each other across sectors. If you are not successful, then the support team have a good understanding of how to support you next and where to sign post you to.  At the end of the 9 Month programme your mentor and the Creative UK Cornwall team will help you to build a pitch and proposal for investment and will be introduced to investment partners or other finance options. The key strand to the investment is through Innovate UK’s Funding Competition. 

Want to know more?

Want to know more?

Find out more in our upcoming online explainer and Q&A webinars or join Suzie in person at one of our Cakey Tea events. Find out more on our events page. 

Apply for Stage 1

What is the application process?  

The deadline for full applications is April 1st 2024. 

If you would like to apply for the Stage 1 Intervention there are two ways to do this  

  1. If you have completed an expression of interest or full application for the Create Growth Programme before, please email Suzie.West@wearecreative.uk to express your interest in this shorter stage 1 programme.  
  1. If you are reaching out to us for the first time, please complete an Expression of Interest and the programme manager will approve this if you are eligible to take part. There will be full application form to follow. 

Apply for Stage 2

What is the application process? 

Stage 2: The deadline for full applications is March 4th 2024.  

If you would like to apply for the business support programme we ask you to either meet with our programme manager Suzie West or complete an initial application form called an Expression of Interest (EOI) You can apply by completing the EOI here. 

If you pass the criteria for the first stage, you will be asked to complete an application form.   

Businesses may be invited into a diagnostic process. This diagnostic process will allow for our investment and business mentors to look at the potential of your business and it’s future invest -ability. The Creative UK Cornwall team will also use the diagnostic to understand how the business support programme needs to be shaped, which mentors we need to employ and how the broad range of selected applicants can support each other across sectors. If you are not successful, then the support team have a good understanding of how to support you next and where to sign post you to.  At the end of the 9 Month programme your mentor and the Creative UK Cornwall team will help you to build a pitch and proposal for investment and will be introduced to investment partners or other finance options. The key strand to the investment is through Innovate UK’s Funding Competition. 

Want to know more?

Find out more in our upcoming online explainer and Q&A webinars or join Suzie in person at one of our Cakey Tea events. Find out more on our events page. 

Who is delivering Cornwall Create Growth Programme?

Who is delivering Cornwall Create Growth Programme?

The programme will be delivered by Creative UK in partnership with regional sector experts Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership, Screen Cornwall, and Falmouth University.
FAQs

FAQs

Make sure to read the FAQs before submitting your EOI. 

You can read the FAQs here.

Contact us

Contact Us

1. Email our Programme Manager charlie.gray@wearecreative.uk or Lead Devon & Cornwall Programme Manager Suzie.West@wearecreative.uk to start a conversation.
2. Meet Charlie and Suzie face-to-face to complete the EOI stage informally at an event.
3. You also complete the form below to register your interest in Creative UK Cornwall and be added to our mailing list:  


Who is delivering Cornwall Create Growth Programme?

The programme will be delivered by Creative UK in partnership with regional sector experts Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership, Screen Cornwall, and Falmouth University.

FAQs

Make sure to read the FAQs before submitting your EOI. 

You can read the FAQs here.

Contact Us

1. Email our Programme Manager charlie.gray@wearecreative.uk or Lead Devon & Cornwall Programme Manager Suzie.West@wearecreative.uk to start a conversation.
2. Meet Charlie and Suzie face-to-face to complete the EOI stage informally at an event.
3. You also complete the form below to register your interest in Creative UK Cornwall and be added to our mailing list:  


Stories from the programme

Meet the first cohort

Meet the First Cohort

The first phase of Cornwall’s Create Growth Programme is officially underway!

In July 2023, this intensive, six-month support scheme kicked off with a launch event held at Newlyn Art Gallery welcoming each of the 15 creative businesses taking part in 2023’s inaugural cohort, Kernow Awenek Onan (Creative Cornwall One).

With a diverse range of subsectors spanning across film, fashion, design, music and more, we are confident that this first cohort will pave the way for many more successful businesses to come. We cannot wait to see the growth and success that these 15 businesses will achieve through this programme.

Meet the cohort

Meet the second cohort

Introducing the second cohort for Cornwall’s Create Growth Programme!

The cohort came together for the first time in September 2023 at Newquay Orchards for workshops, conversations and the start of some fantastic collaboration between the businesses. A truly exciting day, with some sunshine to match. The cohort for Kernow Awenek Dew (Creative Cornwall Two) spans a diverse range of creative industry subsectors, including screen, live arts and production, marketing and design, fashion and visual arts, and apps and content.

Meet the second cohort.

DCMS Create Growth Programme Competition 2

Applications are now open for DCMS Create Growth Programme Competition 2. If you have questions about your application for Innovate Competition 2, please contact Innovate KTN. If you would like to notify us that you are considering an application to Competition 2, please fill in our Expression of Interest form mentioning the competition in the ‘Tell us how you plan to deploy investment’ field.

Meet the First Cohort

The first phase of Cornwall’s Create Growth Programme is officially underway!

In July 2023, this intensive, six-month support scheme kicked off with a launch event held at Newlyn Art Gallery welcoming each of the 15 creative businesses taking part in 2023’s inaugural cohort, Kernow Awenek Onan (Creative Cornwall One).

With a diverse range of subsectors spanning across film, fashion, design, music and more, we are confident that this first cohort will pave the way for many more successful businesses to come. We cannot wait to see the growth and success that these 15 businesses will achieve through this programme.

Meet the cohort

Introducing the second cohort for Cornwall’s Create Growth Programme!

The cohort came together for the first time in September 2023 at Newquay Orchards for workshops, conversations and the start of some fantastic collaboration between the businesses. A truly exciting day, with some sunshine to match. The cohort for Kernow Awenek Dew (Creative Cornwall Two) spans a diverse range of creative industry subsectors, including screen, live arts and production, marketing and design, fashion and visual arts, and apps and content.

Meet the second cohort.

Applications are now open for DCMS Create Growth Programme Competition 2. If you have questions about your application for Innovate Competition 2, please contact Innovate KTN. If you would like to notify us that you are considering an application to Competition 2, please fill in our Expression of Interest form mentioning the competition in the ‘Tell us how you plan to deploy investment’ field.

Cornwall based winners of Innovate UK’s Competition #1

Unveiling Cornwall’s Creative Champions: Winners of Innovate UK’s Competition #1

In our continued efforts to celebrate the Creative Industries in Cornwall, we want to introduce the five Cornwall based winners of DCMS Create Growth Fund: Competition 1 as issued by Innovate UK

Click here to read more

Unveiling Cornwall’s Creative Champions: Winners of Innovate UK’s Competition #1

In our continued efforts to celebrate the Creative Industries in Cornwall, we want to introduce the five Cornwall based winners of DCMS Create Growth Fund: Competition 1 as issued by Innovate UK

Click here to read more

Still have questions? Look at our FAQ’s document HERE