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Foundations for Game Studios

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***Applications now closed***

Creative England and Ukie have partnered to deliver the Foundations for Game Studios –  business advice and support to early-stage UK games studios. 

Part of the BFI-funded Creative Enterprise programme, Foundations for Game Studios will support early stage games developers. 

What does it involve?

Foundations for Game Studios provides business advice and support to 10-15 early-stage games developers who have set up their game studio. 

Participants will receive ~30 hours of support via industry expert-led workshops and peer-to-peer networking, focusing on topics such as: 

  • Creating a game studio with strong culture and vision  
  • Understanding routes to financing for game studios and why having a balanced mix of funding (from game sales, grants, loans etc.) makes a game studio attractive 
  • Basics of marketing and PR for game studios
  • What makes a sustainable game studio and how that can be achieved 

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 game industry events such as: 

  • EGX 
  • Develop: Brighton
  • The Yorkshire Games Festival 

where they can network with other Creative Enterprise game industry beneficiaries, such as those on our 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 for Game Studios programme is specifically looking to support:

  • Early-stage games developers looking to become sustainable and have not yet released a game grow their business and financial knowledge and find partners to fund and take their game to market;

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.  

We’re looking for businesses throughout the UK, 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 game making.

Companies from Scotland and Northern Ireland can apply for a limited number of seats on this programme, made available through support from inGAME 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  if you would like to apply.

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Any questions? Email our Creative Enterprise team.

***Application 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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Applications Now Closed

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who is it for?

The Foundations for Game Studios programme is specifically looking to support:

  • Early-stage games developers looking to become sustainable and have not yet released a game grow their business and financial knowledge and find partners to fund and take their game to market;

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.  

We’re looking for businesses throughout the UK, 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 game making.

Companies from Scotland and Northern Ireland can apply for a limited number of seats on this programme, made available through support from inGAME 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  if you would like to apply.

Is there any cost for joining the programme?

There is no cost to businesses participating in Foundations for Game Studios.

What will it deliver?

All participating companies will:

  • join a cohort of other similar businesses to share challenges and learn from each other
  • take part in a series of workshops and training delivered by industry experts
  • have access to expert advice
  • get introductions to publishers and potential partners and clients

The Foundations for Game Studios programme is specifically looking to support:

  • Early-stage games developers looking to become sustainable and have not yet released a game grow their business and financial knowledge and find partners to fund and take their game to market;

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.  

We’re looking for businesses throughout the UK, 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 game making.

Companies from Scotland and Northern Ireland can apply for a limited number of seats on this programme, made available through support from inGAME 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  if you would like to apply.

There is no cost to businesses participating in Foundations for Game Studios.

All participating companies will:

  • join a cohort of other similar businesses to share challenges and learn from each other
  • take part in a series of workshops and training delivered by industry experts
  • have access to expert advice
  • get introductions to publishers and potential partners and clients
What will it cover?

Participants will receive ~30 hours of support via industry expert-led workshops and peer-to-peer networking, focusing on topics such as:  

  • Creating a game studio with strong culture and vision   
  • Understanding routes to financing for game studios and why having a balanced mix of funding (from game sales, grants, loans etc.) makes a game studio attractive  
  • Basics of marketing and PR for game studios 
  • What makes a sustainable game studio and how that can be achieved  

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.  

What would you need to commit to?

We would expect you to commit to attending all workshops and training sessions over the course of three months 

You will also have to build in time for two hours of one to one business coaching and a little potential preparation work between the workshops 

Where will the workshops be held?

All workshops will be delivered remotely and online. We may arrange cohort face to face meet ups, covid restrictions permitting.

Participants will receive ~30 hours of support via industry expert-led workshops and peer-to-peer networking, focusing on topics such as:  

  • Creating a game studio with strong culture and vision   
  • Understanding routes to financing for game studios and why having a balanced mix of funding (from game sales, grants, loans etc.) makes a game studio attractive  
  • Basics of marketing and PR for game studios 
  • What makes a sustainable game studio and how that can be achieved  

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.  

We would expect you to commit to attending all workshops and training sessions over the course of three months 

You will also have to build in time for two hours of one to one business coaching and a little potential preparation work between the workshops 

All workshops will be delivered remotely and online. We may arrange cohort face to face meet ups, covid restrictions permitting.

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.