The South East Partnership has been awarded a share of the Department for Culture Media and Sport’s (DCMS) Create Growth Programme’s £17.5 million fund. The partnership is a group being managed on behalf of the South East Creative Economy Network (SECEN) and the fund will benefit creative, high growth potential businesses.
The Create Growth Programme for the South East and Essex will launch in January 2023. Access to the programme is likely to close in October 2024, and all funding must be spent by March 2025.
The funding means that businesses can potentially benefit from expert support to help them secure the investment they need to expand. They will also have access to national and regional angel investor networks that are interested in creative industry investment opportunities.
Eligible Essex businesses will fall into one of the following sub-sectors:
- Augmented Reality
- Artificial Intelligence
- Design and designer fashion
- Extended Reality and gaming
- Film
- Music
- Performing and visual arts and CreaTech
- Radio and photography
- TV
- Video
- Virtual Reality
Businesses within the South East Partnership’s local authority areas which meet the eligibility criteria will also be able to apply for a share of £7 million in grants.
Companies which apply for finance will need to demonstrate their potential to scale rapidly and become sustainable through private investment. The investment fund and investor building activities will be delivered by the UK’s innovation agency, Innovate UK.
Cllr Graham Butland, Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Devolution, the Arts, Heritage and Culture, said: “We are delighted to be part of the successful bid led by the South East Partnership, and to be among one of only six regions in England to receive a share of the Create Growth Programme Funding.
“Here in Essex, we have many world-class creative businesses which is why we are particularly excited about the programme as it will have real value in enabling creative business to transform and grow.”
Eligible businesses can register their interest by emailing: info@createsoutheast.org.uk.