Introducing our Stage 2 cohort of incredible creative businesses joining us in 2025 for a series of workshops, connect events, and mentoring. This cohort includes an array of businesses from production and animation studios, to creative advertising and publishing. We will be sharing their ongoing success and journey’s since the programme on our news page. Here is a run-down of our exceptional businesses:
Artist Surfaces is a specialist supplier of handcrafted painting panels. They offer museum grade warp free supports and surfaces for artists, galleries and museums. Artist Surfaces was set up with the principle of offering museum grade surfaces at affordable prices. Their aim is to give artists the opportunity to develop their practice in a practical and sustainable way.
Beakus is an established animation studio based in Lewes, East Sussex, founded by experienced director and producer Steve Smith. They create original distinctive animation for clients including BBC, Sky, Disney, Google, The Guardian, The Welcome Trust, The British Library, and The Science Museum. Their work spans commercials, explainers, feature film sequences, museum content, and children’s TV series.
CALMR® is a Brighton-based wellness brand designing wearable tools for mental and physical health. Their flagship ‘Hug’ garments use deep pressure stimulation (DPS)—the power of touch—to calm the nervous system and support emotional regulation. Customers range from neurodivergent children to therapists, overstimulated workers, and wellness professionals.
Coolit transforms personal cooling for injectable medicines into beautiful lifestyle objects. Coolit ‘One’ is a portable case designed to safely carry injection pens and needles at the optimal temperature with no need for freezing or batteries. Coolit uses the highest quality materials and sustainable construction to ensure life-long use. Over 200 million individuals use injectable medicines on a regular basis.
Forever Video is an agency of highly technical and passionate creatives delivering scalable production values. Their strong storytelling has connected them to local and international industries, world leaders, A-List talent, and global media outlets.
Forever Video’s clients include the BBC, ITN, and many AV events companies, who trust them to handle their marketing and logistical needs so they get the best results.
Improbable occupies a vital space in the landscape of UK theatre. At the heart of their artistic practice is improvisation. Whether in performance, rehearsal or development, the practice and philosophy of improvisation is at the core of their creative process, even when working on classic plays or operas.
Indigo Productions is an award winning creative agency; specialising in film, animation and photography of the highest quality. At Indigo we don’t do traditional corporate video. Having honed their craft at a leading London film school, and over 20 years in the creative industry, their work has a distinctive cinematic quality and the highest production values. This is what we like to call ‘film for business’.
My dad didn’t lose his dignity to cancer – he lost it to the nappy he wore. In his final months he was left feeling humiliated, degraded and suffering painful skin infections. My mum, his primary carer, was unseen – physically and emotionally drained by the experience. Joyvié exists to end that. We’re developing a patent-pending faecal incontinence brief that transforms how care is delivered and, more importantly, how dignity is preserved.
Co-founded by fashion designer Lucy and AI engineer Jason, Mildbury offers an AI-driven SaaS platform that automates garment pattern making. The tool transforms design drawings directly into production-ready patterns, significantly speeding up fashion design development. Backed by Innovate UK AI Solutions grant funding and pre-seed investment, Mildbury is designed for global users, from fashion students to established enterprise brands.
To lead a singing group, a conductor needs strong keyboard skills and/or an accompanist and a room with a piano. This restricts who can run choirs and where they can rehearse. Music Integration Services are developing a responsive virtual accompanist for a fraction of the cost with a novel, intuitive interface, usable without any technical knowhow.
NeoViews, a deep-tech startup in sports analytics, revolutionises the industry by providing football clubs and broadcast media with an affordable, AI-driven platform for real-time performance, tactical, and game analysis. NeoViews automate analytics generation and streamline workflows, transforming how football clubs and media access tactical insights, cutting down hours of manual labour to seconds.
PaintnGo is an exhilarating and imaginative large-scale wall painting experience designed for all ages and abilities. The Experience operates at an intersection of experiential leisure, wellness, and accessibility. Their mission is to create a welcoming, community-focused environment that fosters magical moments of creative connection for everyone.
Playtest Games specialises in playtesting products with kids and families. They regularly test products for some of the biggest kids’ brands (CoComelon, Bluey, Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles, Barbie); these include apps, games, TV games and web-based experiences for Paramount, BBC and Sky Kids.
Ponder, Create. is the next generation of Post Production. They are a Brighton based post facility that’s spear-heading new workflows and technologies for high volume television production. Their bespoke online platform allows them to provide a unified experience from pre to post – connecting every aspect of a production together.
Raven AV is a group of multi-discipline consultants specialising in complex audiovisual design, commissioning, and content creation, consisting of 3 permanent directors, and a cohort of trusted freelancers. With experience across themed entertainment, location based marketing, live music touring, and theatre, they’ve designed all manner of spaces for all types of clients.
Scribble & Daub creates beautiful illustrated paper products designed to be kept and treasured. They use the finest materials and artisan processes to offer a collection of cards & decorations that are tiny hand-painted works of art, for stylish gifting, celebrations & correspondence.
Tatty Devine is the go-to brand for original and fun statement jewellery. The cult jewellery label was born in 1999 in the heart of East London by founders Harriet Vine MBE and Rosie Wolfenden MBE who have become renowned for their boundary-pushing jewellery designs that blur the lines between fashion and art.
The UK Creative Festival brings together the creative industries and emerging talent from across the UK. Set against the backdrop of Margate, our annual event is a celebration of UK creativity and innovation hosting the Creative Circle Awards, and a hive of opportunity with a free to attend careers fair for the next generation.
Worlds Better is a specialist sustainability consultancy for the live events and experiential industries. Founded by Chrissie Beck in 2022, the company helps event businesses define and achieve their sustainability goals through tailored services including carbon measurement, sustainable event planning, sustainability certifications, and training.
E: createsoutheast@wearecreative.uk
