The Create South East Programme is designed to support creative businesses working in Kent, Essex, or Sussex. The programme aims to help build your confidence as a founder to make decisions on investment, IP, business structures and growth plans. 

The programme offers company founders the chance to gain expert insight through workshops and coaching / mentoring. There are two support offers; Stage 1 for businesses looking to establish solid foundations for future growth, Stage 2 for more mature companies seeking to refine their growth strategy and explore different routes to investment.

Every creative company is unique so we have devised an application process that enables us to get to know more about your business and tailor our support to suit your needs.

Eligible companies should be based in the Essex, Kent or Sussex, and have a registered commercial company operating in the creative industries.

Freelancers, sole traders or charities/CIC’s without a commercially trading limited company arm are not eligible for this programme.

If you are eligible, we invite you to complete the Expression of Interest form via the button below. A member of the team will check your Expression of Interest form to confirm your eligibility and then invite you to submit a full application.

Stage 1

Our Stage 1 programme aims to support businesses looking to bolster their business foundations through optimising their IP, market knowledge and networking connections, to grow to the next level of their business development. This programme will take place over the course of 6 months and will be a hybrid of in person and online events, including allotted coaching hours to gain unique feedback on your business.  

Stage 2

Our Stage 2 programme focuses on helping established businesses elevate their entrepreneurial knowledge and catapults them into the world of commercial investment through a deeper understanding of what investors are searching for, and identifying this within their business. This 6-7 month programme runs through a series of in person and online workshops, as well as additional learning and networking opportunities to help businesses find their space within the sector. This programme includes the help of a dedicated 1-2-1 mentor, to work with you along your growth journey and develop your unique business plan.

This programme of activity has been designed to enable companies to access investment and has been modelled on Creative UK’s successful Evolve programme, where 70% of participants achieve investment after taking part. More information about Evolve is available here.

We anticipate that you would need to commit to around 3 days per month. You will get out of it what you put in, and we will support you every step of the way. We understand how tough it is being a business owner and that your time is precious so we will ensure that your time is used carefully.

This programme is free to the business as the activity has been funded by Create South East through the Create Growth Programme. The programme has a financial value of approximately £10k.

• I’m interested in joining the programme
• I’ve read the FAQs
• Complete an Expression Of Interest form
• Feel free to ask us any additional questions by getting in touch

Create South East is part of a wider Department of Culture, Media and Sport initiative which you can read more about here.