Cornwall Create Growth Programme

Stage 1 criteria and format:

• Minimum 1-2 business owners with the capacity to fully engage in the programme  
• Ambition and commitment to make the business sustainable 
• Product/ service on the market or piloted and a knowledge of your customers 
• Intention to set up or grow the commercial aspect of your business 
• 6 month programme, access to events and workshops plus 2 hours of 1:1 mentoring

You will be required to complete an evaluation as part of the programme delivery criteria. This is an essential part of the programme and enables us to deliver the best service to creative businesses across the region. 

Stage 2 criteria and format:

• A business plan or theory of change canvas – on request at diagnostic
• Minimum of 2 (or FTE) staff to enable capacity to fully engage in the programme 
• Staff to enable capacity to fully engage in the programme
• Ambition and commitment to grow the business and increase turnover 
• Established products/ services, with 2 years minimum of sales or customer engagement OR customer engagement or Founder experience / history 
• Established commercial activity that you wish to grow with new products or increased sales 
• Interest in investment to grow your business (large grant or debt/ equity) or to embed investment into the future growth plans of your business.  
• 9 month programme, access to events and workshops plus 15 hours of 1:1 mentoring

You will be required to complete an evaluation as part of the programme delivery criteria. This is an essential part of the programme and enables us to deliver the best service to creative businesses across the region. 

To be eligible for the Create Growth programme you must have  

1. A business address in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
2. A registered business (Ltd, CIC, CIO or LLP) 
3. Be working or serving any of the following sub sectors:  

Design, fashion, architecture, film, broadcast, createch, gaming, immersive, publishing, music, theatre, art, heritage, craft and media. 

Stage 1 and Stage 2 are for businesses at different stages of growth – please check you meet the criteria before applying.

Find out about the events happening for creatives across Cornwall.

Over the coming weeks we will be hosting a series of drop-in online webinars where you can meet the Create Growth Programme Team in the South West, hear more about the programme and get support with the application process.  

We will also be attending various events across the region where you can drop in, have a cuppa, meet the team and learn more about the Create Growth Programme.  

Learn more and register for events on our Cornwall events page.

Contact Us

If you meet the programme requirements, we invite you to complete the expression of interest form (button below). Once we have confirmed that you are eligible, our team will invite you to submit a full application form.

For more information on completing your expression of interest form, click here.

Who is delivering Cornwall Create Growth Programme?

FAQs

Make sure to read the FAQs before submitting your EOI. 

You can read the FAQs here.

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.

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

In April 2024, this intensive, nine-month support scheme kicked off with a launch event held at the beautiful Market Hall Plymouth, welcoming each of the five creative businesses taking part in 2024’s third cohort, Kernow Awenek Tri (Creative Cornwall Three).

Meet the third cohort.

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

Meet the fourth cohort for Cornwall’s Create Growth Programme, who are going through Stage 1 – a six month programme of support to introduce investment and business support.

Meet the cohort here. 

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

Meet the businesses who have taken part in Cornwall’s Create Growth Programme.

Meet the Cornwall Create Growth Programme alumni.