***Applications now closed***
Creative England and Ukie have partnered to deliver the Foundations for Games and Immersive Tech & Services companies – a new business advice and support programme for early-stage UK games businesses.
Part of the BFI-funded Creative Enterprise programme, Foundations for Games and Immersive Tech & Service Compnies will support 10-15 early stage UK technology businesses.
What does it involve?
Foundations for Games and Immersive Tech & Services provides business advice and support to 10-15 early-stage technology and service companies.
Foundations for Creative Tech & Service Companies is a programme of ~30 hours of tailored business support workshops for companies working in the Tech & Service area of Games and Immersive Industries.
The programme covers themes such as:
- Creating a company with a strong vision, mission and culture
- Routes to a healthy financing mix (client income, recurring revenue, grants, loans and equity investment)
- Basics of marketing, PR and SEO
- Basics of data insights and building a strong company identity
- What makes a sustainable company
Additionally, participants will receive a number of templates (such as cashflow forecasting and profit & loss templates) that will be useful, tailored for a game studio.
Delivery for the workshops is fully online, complemented by a number of in-person events organised around industry events where they can network with other Creative Enterprise beneficiaries, such as those on our Female Founders and Games Scale Up programme.
At the end of the programme, beneficiaries will receive 6 hours of 1-2-1 support from a game studio founder to help them past the programme.
The goal of the programme is to create a growth plan, which will be done either as a written document (e.g. document or presentation) or via video call with a member of the Creative Enterprise team.
The Creative Enterprise programme, funded by the BFI, exists to help businesses working in the screen sectors, that make, sell or promote innovative and creative content.
Who is it for?
The Foundations programme is specifically looking to support:
- Early-stage businesses who are creating technology or a service whose main purpose is to support games and other screen industry companies
- Services and tech include, but are not limited to: Localisation, Quality Assurance, PR, Co-development studios, Technology companies, Trailer production companies, etc.
- There is no need to be incorporated when you apply but you must commit to incorporating your business before September 2022. Companies that do not provide a Companies House number by 1 September 2022 will be automatically removed from the programme.
- At least portion of the business’ client base needs to be in the games industry.
We’re looking for businesses throughout the UK, (including Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland), with priority being given to those based in the English regions outside of London, who can clearly show how expert advice and support can move their company forward and who can demonstrate that their work in some way supports or promotes the art, creativity and storytelling power of games and immersive sector.
Companies from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland can apply for a limited number of seats on this programme, made available through support from inGAME Clwstwr and Northern Ireland Screen. If you are based in any of the devolved administrations (Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland) please get in touch with our team at creativeenterprise@creativeengland.co.uk if you would like to apply.
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Any questions? Email our Creative Enterprise team.
***Applications now closed***
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Foundations Alumni
“I had loads of questions like “how do I expand upon this?” “How do I grow it?” You know, so these are the questions that went into the program with and yeah, I got, I got all the answers. So it was great to have that wealth of information at my doorstep.” Edd Coates, Game UI Database
“My business is now actually a business. It’s beyond the idea that I had. And it’s now a fully fledged business that’s got a plan, a business plan and clients and we’re actually moving forward.I have clarity, I have a vision, I have the business now. I’ve got an idea… It’s not just this pipe dream down the line thing that might happen. I have tangible steps how I’m going to get there. That’s fantastic.” Mikayla Sinead, Bridge Network Group
“[The programme gave me an] overarching view of the gaming industry that I didn’t really have before, so I made the game in lockdown but didn’t quite have the background of what it meant to bring a game to market. So I have a much better kind of bird’s eye view of the whole industry” – Tess Cartwright, Modest Genius
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Frequently Asked Questions
Should you have any access or communication requirements relating to our applications and guidance, then please contact the team at creativeenterprise@creativeengland.co.uk or 0333 023 5240. Subsistence contributions are available to assist with the costs of travel and accessibility of the programme. Funds are limited and at the discretion of Creative England.
If you would like to discuss any accessibility requirements prior to applying, please get in touch with Creative Enterprise Team at creativeenterprise@creativeengland.co.uk.