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Creative UK North East

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Creative UK works with regional partners in the North East to deliver tailored business support and investment opportunities for creative and cultural practitioners, freelancers, organisations and SMEs based in the region.

Currently, we have two distinct programmes running. Our inaugural programme is the Culture and Creative Investment Programme which is the first of its kind, offering a combined package of specialised investment in the form of loans and equity, as well as grants, a challenge fund and a tailored programme of business support. It is open to freelancers and businesses working in the culture and creative industries in North Tyneside, Northumberland and Newcastle, and funded by the North East Combined Authority.

The second ongoing initiative is the North East Create Growth Programme. Designed as an intensive investment readiness programme, it caters to businesses with ambitious goals for securing commercial investment. This opportunity is available to businesses in Newcastle, Gateshead, North Tyneside, Northumberland, County Durham, Sunderland, or South Tyneside and is funded by the DCMS.

Both programmes are led by industry experts, provide practical and valuable business support at every stage of the growth journey. Discover the tailored support that suits your creative aspirations!

North East Create Growth Programme

A 6-9 month programme of tailored investment readiness support and mentoring

Investment

Equity and debt investment up to £150,000 provided by the Culture and Creative Investment Programme.

Open Access Support Events

A series of tailored support workshops and events designed to help elevate your business

Grants

Small grants aimed at helping businesses get the tools to grow

Business Planning Support

Help for businesses to engage an expert to support with their business planning and strategy

North East News and Case Studies

A look at some of the businesses we've supported with our programmes of support and investment.

Resource Hub

The North East resource hub is your one-stop destination for a wealth of information and tools to empower and inspire you.

Creative Enterprise

A bespoke set of initiatives for ambitious screen businesses to access connections, training and networks to achieve business growth

If you’re not sure which support is best for your business, get in touch with us at northeast@wearecreative.uk where we can talk about your options and book a 1-2-1 call. Follow us on LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter) to keep up to date with the latest Creative UK news.

 

Meet the Team

Charlotte BondAssociate Director of Regional Programmes

Charlotte is the Associate Director of Regional Programmes. She manages and oversees all the regional programmes Creative UK runs.

Carol Bell, OBEAssociate Regional Director, North

Carol is a freelance Associate Director for the North. Her role at Creative UK is to provide overall strategic guidance, leadership and management/development of key partnerships focusing primarily on the North of England, and where appropriate, national opportunities to increase the profile of Creative UK’s work and ability to impact a positive future for the creative sector, its businesses and the people who work within it.

Kristian ForemanLead Programme Manager

Kristian is Lead Programme Manager for Creative UK’s North East activity, notably managing the delivery of the North of Tyne Culture and Creative Investment Programme (CCIP) and the North East Create Growth Programme (CGP). He works on the development of the North East offer and maintaining the support networks in place for programme participants. 

Charlotte is the Associate Director of Regional Programmes. She manages and oversees all the regional programmes Creative UK runs.

Carol is a freelance Associate Director for the North. Her role at Creative UK is to provide overall strategic guidance, leadership and management/development of key partnerships focusing primarily on the North of England, and where appropriate, national opportunities to increase the profile of Creative UK’s work and ability to impact a positive future for the creative sector, its businesses and the people who work within it.

Kristian is Lead Programme Manager for Creative UK’s North East activity, notably managing the delivery of the North of Tyne Culture and Creative Investment Programme (CCIP) and the North East Create Growth Programme (CGP). He works on the development of the North East offer and maintaining the support networks in place for programme participants. 

Katie MitchellProgramme Manager

Katie Mitchell is a Programme Manager in the North East for Creative UK. She manages the evaluation, reporting and monitoring of the North East programmes as well as overseeing the delivery of our events, workshops and interventions.

Dale GlenisterProgramme Coordinator

Dale is a Programme Coordinator in the North East for Creative UK. She works in the administration, recruitment, marketing and delivery of the North East’s programmes. She also works with Stephen to support the delivery of events, workshops and interventions.

Stephen McGrotherProgramme Coordinator

Stephen is a Programme Coordinator in the North East. He plans, develops and delivers events, workshops and interventions across the North East programmes as well as working with Katie and Dale on the monitoring, reporting and administration of the programmes.

Katie Mitchell is a Programme Manager in the North East for Creative UK. She manages the evaluation, reporting and monitoring of the North East programmes as well as overseeing the delivery of our events, workshops and interventions.

Dale is a Programme Coordinator in the North East for Creative UK. She works in the administration, recruitment, marketing and delivery of the North East’s programmes. She also works with Stephen to support the delivery of events, workshops and interventions.

Stephen is a Programme Coordinator in the North East. He plans, develops and delivers events, workshops and interventions across the North East programmes as well as working with Katie and Dale on the monitoring, reporting and administration of the programmes.

Sasha CollingtonInvestment Manager

Having joined the Investment team recently, Sasha brings with her 15 years of experience working within the Film industry, including seven years as MD of her own company. Sasha has an Executive MBA obtained from Saïd Business School and is passionate about helping founders from within the creative sectors, having formerly been one herself.

Jackie BoydPortfolio Manager

Jackie has been with Creative UK since 2015 and during this time has worked across our Investment and Programme teams supporting creative businesses at various stages of growth. Jackie has helped the development of our investment portfolio which includes over 450 businesses. Jackie is now responsible for managing parts of this portfolio and supporting our investee businesses through their growth journey.

Kate MayallMarketing Manager, Programmes

Kate is the marketing manager for Creative UK’s work supporting the creative industries, spanning business support, film & tv development, and Filming in England. Kate is highly experienced in devising and executing marketing campaigns, project managing programmes and supporting on the management and delivery of online and virtual events.

Having joined the Investment team recently, Sasha brings with her 15 years of experience working within the Film industry, including seven years as MD of her own company. Sasha has an Executive MBA obtained from Saïd Business School and is passionate about helping founders from within the creative sectors, having formerly been one herself.

Jackie has been with Creative UK since 2015 and during this time has worked across our Investment and Programme teams supporting creative businesses at various stages of growth. Jackie has helped the development of our investment portfolio which includes over 450 businesses. Jackie is now responsible for managing parts of this portfolio and supporting our investee businesses through their growth journey.

Kate is the marketing manager for Creative UK’s work supporting the creative industries, spanning business support, film & tv development, and Filming in England. Kate is highly experienced in devising and executing marketing campaigns, project managing programmes and supporting on the management and delivery of online and virtual events.

Being part of the Creative UK Create Growth Programme has opened us to a new community of creative entrepreneurs in the North East, each embarking on an exciting development and fundraising journey.

The 1-2-1 mentoring has been excellent and contributed to Rezon’s further development and investment strategy over the last six months.

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It’s great to have Creative UK on board as a strategic investor, supporting Venture Stream’s award-winning e-commerce and digital marketing business. With their support, we’re now able to expand our commitment to people-first strategies. Our team has always been at the heart of our business, and we look forward to continuing our journey with the financial support of Creative UK, one of the leading backers of talent and innovation in the creative and digital economy.

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Sign up to our mailing list

Please fill out the form below to express your interest in Creative UK North East. Once submitted, you will be added to our mailing list and begin to receive programme updates and other opportunities in the region from our partners.


Creative UK North East’s programmes have been developed with and funded by North East Combined Authority and Department of Media, Culture and Sport to increase the sustainability of the creative industries in the North East.