The Create Growth Programme has recently opened for applications for this year’s round in 12 Create Growth Programme areas with funding for small businesses in the creative industries.
UK registered micro, small and medium enterprises in the creative sector can apply for a share of up to £8 million for innovation projects to grow their business. This funding is from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).
The programme opened to applications on Monday 31st March 2025 and has a deadline for applications of 11:00am on Thursday 29th May 2025.
The areas are:
1. Devon.
2. Greater Manchester.
3. Hertfordshire.
4. Hull and East Yorkshire.
5. Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Greater Lincolnshire.
6. Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.
7. North-East of England.
8. Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.
9 South-East England.
10. West of England and Cornwall.
11. West Midlands, and
12. West Yorkshire.
Create Growth aims to help creative businesses explore new innovative projects as a stimulus for growth. It provides a package of targeted support to high-growth creative businesses to scale, build investor networks and reach their potential.
If you have a micro business or small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) in a creative sector and you have clear plans to grow your business, you can apply for a100% funded small grant of £20,000 to £50,000 (or a large grant of £50,000 to £200,000 with match funding required).
Applicants must have an innovative and ambitious idea that demonstrates a clear growth opportunity. It must be new to your business and applicants must be able to show that they can make it commercial within 12 months of receiving the support.
In the UK, a microbusiness is typically defined as a small business with fewer than 10 employees. It often has a turnover of under £2 million and a balance sheet total of not more than £2 million. Alternatively, a business might also be considered a microbusiness if it uses less than 100,000 kWh of electricity and less than 293,000 kWh of gas annually.
A small or medium-sized enterprise is normally defines as a business with fewer than 250 employees and a turnover of no more than £44 million or a balance sheet total of no more than £38 million.
Further information is available on the GOV.UK website.
