Supported by the Government’s Regional Growth Fund, the £1 million is available in the form of interest free loans of between £60,000 and £100,000. It is open to SMEs who are looking to develop new software, applications and content for the following expanding markets:
- Cross Platform TV development
- feature film production
- Healthcare
- Government Services
- Games, Interactive Entertainment and Mobile Content
- Business To Business
- E-Learning
- Mobile applications
Creative England’s Director of Business Development, Jim Farmery, said:
“Creative businesses bring energy, enterprise & innovation to cities and regions across England. Our funds support companies with innovative ideas for content development that have commercial potential but are struggling to get off the ground.”
Creative England’s first business investment fund is helping SMEs in a variety of sectors all across the UK. In Birmingham, this ranges from Portal Entertainment creating thrillers for the digital age to Soshi developing a Facebook based virtual music festival game. The Floow, in Sheffield, are creating a smart phone application to capture and analyse location information and driver performance data for third party organisations for use by third parties, primarily insurance companies and car manufacturers.
Creative England’s Business Investment Fund 2 is open to SMEs based in the North, West Midlands and far South West (Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Bristol and Bath). It can offer companies very preferable terms – interest free loans and deferred repayments as well as working with successful applicants to ensure the business gets everything it needs in terms of advice and support to make the project work.
Application is a simple two stage process: applicants are required to complete a simple on-line expression of Interest.
Read the guidelines and information on how to apply
The deadline for registrations of interest is: 21st August 2013.
Recognising the importance of the creative industries outside London as key drivers of economic growth and innovation in core cities and regions across England, Creative England aims to ensure a dynamic, thriving and economically successful future for the sector.
Source: Creative England
