About the Create Growth Programme
Create Growth is a national programme, led by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in partnership with Innovate UK. Hertfordshire Futures secured this programme to support creative sector SMEs with high growth potential. Offering business support, including assistance for those looking to access grant funding and investment, the programme has successfully supported 20 businesses who graduated the first cohort in June 2024 with the September cohort already begun, applications are now open for February 2025.
About the Create Growth Programme
Create Growth is a national programme, led by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in partnership with Innovate UK. Hertfordshire Futures secured this programme to support creative sector SMEs with high growth potential. Offering business support, including assistance for those looking to access grant funding and investment, the programme has successfully supported 20 businesses who graduated the first cohort in June 2024 with the September cohort already begun, applications are now open for February 2025.
Business Support in Hertfordshire
The programme’s business support package is led locally by Hertfordshire Futures and aimed at SMEs within the county's booming film and TV sector, and those looking to join the sector's supply chain. Businesses are invited to register now.
Programme Details:
Business Growth Assessment
Hertfordshire Growth Hub’s fully funded Business Growth Assessment has been designed to assess Ambition, Opportunity and Capacity within your business.
A 1-2-1 meeting with one of their experienced Growth Account Managers lasting up to two hours. The powerful growth diagnostic tool measures your business in 12 key growth areas.
Supply Chain Innovation Programme
This intensive 8-week programme is delivered by Estu and the Royal College of Art, in association with industry influencers and Hertfordshire’s major studios. The programme supports business leaders looking to grow their presence within Hertfordshire's film and TV sector, teaching them how to innovate, increase sales and secure new commercial opportunities for their business. Two successful cohorts have graduated this programme, and their journey can be seen here. The next cohort is scheduled to start in February 2025.
New Product/Service Development Support (Optional)
Intensive 1-2-1 support from the University of Hertfordshire to help speed your development of high-value products or services as a means of achieving growth/scale. The University will provide tailored support to enable the launch your business's new product/service.
Investment Readiness Support (Optional)
The Investment Readiness support from Hertfordshire Growth provides fully funded and impartial support on all aspects of business finance – whether you are looking to raise finance now or in a few years time.
The support is delivered through a mix of expert led workshops and tailored one-to-one support with our SME Access to Finance Adviser. The team can help with everything from guiding you on how to prepare a business plan and financial forecasting to finding and applying for the right finance option for your business (e.g. grants, loans, equity, angel investment, crowdfunding, debt funding, asset finance). A suite of finance templates and resources are also available.
Access to grant funding and investment
Grant funding
Investor Network
A Journey of Support
"The Create Growth Programme through the Hertfordshire Growth Hub has so many different touch points for businesses, from tools, advice, grants, support, and networks; it is highly valuable for your business, and I’d recommend that any Hertfordshire business applies.” - Martyn Niman, Owner of King Bee
Read Martyn's full story below.
