Apply for Create Growth N2 support during the upcoming Application Day on April 30th.
We are delighted to announce that funding for the Create Growth N2 (CGN2) business support project has been extended for another year, giving even more creative and digital businesses in Nottinghamshire the opportunity to benefit from tailored business growth support.
So far, the project has engaged over 130 businesses, helping them to unlock new opportunities for growth, innovation, grant funding and investment readiness, with support including:
- Growth and Innovation Workshops and expert mentoring from NTU
- Access to the University of Nottingham’s VIP Studio to explore the power of adopting innovative immersive technologies
- Guidance and support to help secure Innovate UK and Arts Council funding
- Hot House investment readiness support in partnership with Kaiku.
If you are a founder or business leader with big ambitions, now is your chance to get involved. Join us on April 30th 2025, for our next application day, your gateway to CGN2 support. Application days are a chance for you to get to know the CGN2 support team and for us to learn more about you, your business priorities, and your ambition and potential to scale.
You will take part in interactive guided sessions that will support you to:
- Think Bigger! about your growth potential
- Test your business model and product market fit
- Start the journey of aligning your vision with available grant funding and investment opportunities
- Understand the scope, eligibility, and grant application process for the new Create Growth Round 4 Innovate UK Grant competition with potential to unlock up to £50,00 of unmatched grant funding. (Closes 29th May)
Secure your place on the next Application Day
Date: 30th April 2025
Time: 10am – 2pm
Venue: Nottingham Business, NTU, Newton Building, Floor 2, Room NEWN29A
Booking Link: Click here to sign up
Programme highlights to date
- Nottinghamshire businesses have secured over £650,000 in Innovate UK grant funding
- 7 businesses selected to exhibit at the Big UK Creative Summit in London (March 2025)
- 3 businesses pitched to investors as a result the support
- 10 businesses received investment readiness support via the Hot House, in partnership with Kaiku
- 12 creative and marketing agencies benefitting from Agency Springboard growth support, delivered in partnership with GYDA
Project eligibility
Businesses must be from the creative and digital sectors and trading in or have a significant presence in Nottinghamshire.
What type of businesses are we looking to support?
We encourage applications from businesses that are looking beyond business as usual, are competitive, keen to innovate and are open minded to accessing finance through either; equity investment, loans applying for Innovate UK or other grant funding.
Ideally, we are looking for businesses that have been trading for at least 2 years and employ a minimum of 2 people (can include freelancers). However, we will also consider applications from pre revenue business that have developed a minimum viable product for an innovative new product or service.
Create Growth N2 recent funding successes
| Business | Founder | Focus | Funding |
| Shades Dancewear | Stacey Green and Laura Grant | Inclusive Dance Apparel | £75,000 |
| Shades Dancewear | Stacey Green and Laura Grant | Inclusive Dance Apparel | £30,000 |
| Creo | Franek Siejeck | Graduate Talent | £50,000 |
| Seamless Source | Chathura Sudharshan | Fashion Supply Chain | £50,000 |
| Non Such Theatre | Edward Booth | Immersive Theatre | £30,000 |
| Chronic Insanity | Joe Strickland | Immersive Theatre | £30,000 |
Project funding & partners
The Create Growth N2 project is funded by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, and is delivered in partnership with Nottingham City Council, Nottinghamshire County Council, Nottingham Business Venture, University of Nottingham, and Nottingham Trent University. To find out more, visit https://creategrowthn2.co.uk/.
More details about the DCMS Create Growth Programme Competition 4 application process can be found here: