Creative Business Development Briefing - April 2015

2. Contents
• Public funding calls
• Other public funding
• Private financing
• Other financing mechanisms
• Support resources
• April events
• April events by Sector
• Sector organisations
• Functional organisations
• *Create UK
• Other information
• Sign up for monthly updates

3. Public funding calls
Creating smart products from smart materials
Key feature: Investment in collaborative R&D projects to encourage the
development of smart products that use a combination of functional, hybrid
and multiple materials.
Scale:
• Up to £6m
Programme: Collaborative research and development
Timeline: competition opened 16 March, registration closes 29 April and
competition closes 06 May
More info at innovateuk.org

4. Public funding calls
Better interactions between people and machines –
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships
Key feature: Investment in Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) in the
area of user experience (UX) to encourage new, enhanced forms of
interaction between computing systems and the people who use them. This
KTP competition also runs in parallel with a competition for feasibility
studies (see following slide).
Scale: up to £1m available
Programme: KTPs – opportunity for businesses of any size to work with
academic institutions.
Timeline: competition opened 7 November 2014, and the deadline for
applications is noon on the 15 April 2015.
More info at innovateuk.org.

5. Public funding calls
Enhancing user experience using personal data
Key feature: Investment to support new ways of enhancing user
experience in the digital economy.
Scale: up to £2m
Programme: Feasibility Studies – must be collaborative and business-led,
open to companies of any size.
Timeline: registration closes 29 April, competition closes 06 May.
More info available at innovateuk.org

6. Public funding calls
Enhancing user experience in retail
Key feature: Investment to support new ways of enhancing user
experience in retail.
Scale: up to £4m
Programme: Collaborative research and development
Timeline: Competition opens 16 March, registration closes 29 April,
competition closes 06 May.
More info available at innovateuk.org

7. Public funding calls
Enhancing customer experience in rail travel
Key feature: Innovate UK & the FutureRailway programme are investing to
support business innovation in digital technologies that improve the
customer experience in the UK and international rail markets.
Scale: up to £6m
Programme: Collaborative research and development
Timeline: competition opens 09 March, registration closes 15 April,
competition closes 22 April.
More info available at innovateuk.org

8. Public funding calls
Smart 2015/16 - Round 1
Key feature: A grant scheme which offers funding to small and medium-
sized enterprises (SMEs) to engage in R&D projects in the strategically
important areas of science, engineering and technology.
Scale:
• Proof of market - up to £25k - 60% of project cost
• Proof of concept - up to £100k - 60% of project cost
• Prototype development - up to £250k - up to 45% of project cost
Closes: 21st May 2015
More info on: innovateuk.org

9. BFI Film Fund
Each year the BFI Film Fund invests over £26m of Lottery funds to support
film development, production and distribution activity in the UK.
• Applications are welcomed for film projects in all genres, and BFI are
committed to promoting diversity in the filmmakers they support.
• The fund also supports: a) independent UK distributors to help ensure that
the best British and specialised films connect with a wide range of
audiences across a range of platforms b) sales companies that are
launching new UK films at key international film festivals and markets.
Applications can be made to the Film Fund at any time, and you should
expect to receive an initial response within six to eight weeks. Full application
guidelines available here.
Public funding calls

10. Creative England film production funding
Key feature: Creative England now offers two strands of film production
funding for both feature and high-end TV drama.
• Lottery-based Production Fund: this is targeted at feature films with
budgets of up to £2m and looking to experiment with innovative
approaches; the fund has doubled from £500K to £1m for 2014/2015.
• West Midlands Production Fund: invests in the production of feature films
and high-end TV drama from companies based in the West Midlands as
well as from producers looking to establish a base to film in the region.
Circa £4m funding available for 2015, with a maximum investment of £1m
per project.
More info at creativeengland.co.uk
Public funding calls

11. Public funding calls
Creative Industry Finance
Delivered by Creative United and funded by Arts Council England, this
programme is designed to assist creative and cultural enterprises in
securing the finance they need to successfully develop and grow into
sustainable businesses.
Creative businesses can receive up to 12 hours free expert business
advice, with advisors that can help with investment readiness,
strengthening business skills and identifying new revenue streams. Access
to loan finance from £2,500 upwards is available from their various Lending
Partners, with low interest rate options and affordable repayment
schedules.
For more info – incl. eligibility criteria – please see the Guidance section of
their website or email info@creativeindustryfinance.org.uk

12. Public funding calls
Nesta Impact Investment
Key feature: An equity investment fund investing in social ventures with
innovative products or services that are addressing some of the UK’s most
pressing challenges. Investments are made in areas that tackle:
• the health and wellbeing of an ageing population
• the educational attainment and employability of children and young
people
• the social and environmental sustainability of communities.
Scale: between £150k - £1m
Closes: ongoing
More info on Nesta Investments

13. Public funding calls
Nesta Arts Impact Fund
Key feature: A £7m initiative set up to demonstrate the potential for
social investment in arts - the fund offers repayable finance to arts
organisations working in England that can show how they are
sustainable, have great artistic ambitions and have a positive
impact on society.
Scale: repayable finance between £150K - £600K
Timeline: applications accepted from 15 April, 2015
More info on artsimpactfund.org

14. Public funding calls
Open Project Funding
Key feature: This fund supports the arts, screen and creative industries, with
projects that help them explore, realise and develop their creative potential, widen
access to their work, and enrich Scotland’s reputation as a distinctive creative
nation connected to the world.
Scale:
• For applications up to £15K - decisions will take up to 8 weeks from the date
application form received.
• For applications over £15K – decisions will take up to 12 weeks.
• For applications over £100K (up to a maximum of £150K) - prior approval
required from Creative Scotland before applying.
Opens: all applications accepted from 31st October 2014
More info at creativescotland.com

15. Public funding calls
Horizon 2020 ICT-19-2015
Key feature: R&D funding of new or emerging technologies (e.g. 3D and
augmented reality technologies) for digital content creation to support the
creative and media industries and for unlocking complex information and
media and interacting with them.
Scale: €561,000,000
Closes: 14th April 2015
Click here for a complete briefing on Horizon 2020.
Further info: Horizon 2020 website, UK list of National Contact Points for
Horizon 2020 and the Enterprise Europe Networks

16. Public funding calls
Horizon 2020 ICT-20-2015
Key feature: This challenge encourages public procurement of innovative
solutions to address the needs of the digital learning ecosystem in making
better use of educational cloud solutions, mobile technology, learning analytics
and big data, and to facilitate the use, re-use and creation of learning material
and new ways to educate and learn online.
Scale: €561,000,000
Closes: 14th April 2015
Click here for a complete briefing on Horizon 2020.
Further info: Horizon 2020 website, UK list of National Contact Points for
Horizon 2020 and the Enterprise Europe Networks

17. Public funding calls
Vocational Learning Technology Fund
Key feature: This UFI call offers early-stage funding to organisations with
current projects which demonstrate the potential for using digital technology in
novel and imaginative ways to develop new services or improve access or
delivery of adult vocational learning (including assessment). This fund will
provide support for ventures to develop their ideas into a more robust digital
products or services.
Scale: Successful applicants can each expect to receive grant funding of
between £15,000 and £50,000.
Timeline: This programme is open for Stage 1 applications 7th April -15th May
2015 (deadline 9am). All applications for funding must be made online.
Full details and how to apply available at ufi.co.uk

18. Other public funding
• Arts & Humanities Research Council – the AHRC offers postgraduate
and research funding opportunities which include opportunities in
knowledge exchange and partnerships and international research.
• Creative Europe - here you can find relevant information concerning
funding opportunities within the Creative Europe programme. .
• Arts Council of Wales – offer a selection of arts grants for creative
professionals and organisations.
• Screen Yorkshire – Yorkshire Content Fund – production finance
available; can invest £1m+ in individual film or TV dramas that will be in
production by December 2015.

19. Private financing
• Better Business Finance is an excellent tool for identifying the right type
of finance at all stages of a business as well as identifying providers who
can help. This section provides a searchable directory of information
about the members of the UK Business Angels Association, what
services they provide and how to contact them.
• British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association provides an
explanation of different types of financing and other resources for
entrepreneurs.
• The UK Business Angels Association is the national trade association
representing angel and early-stage investment in the UK.

20. Other financing mechanisms
• Crowdfunder.co.uk – UK’s largest crowdfunding network having launched
1000’s of projects and raised over £2m, platform launched by KEO digital
and partners include NESTA and Plymouth University
• Funding Circle – an online marketplace which allows savers to lend
money directly to SMEs; the first site to use peer-to-peer lending for
business funding in the UK; as of February 2014 Funding Circle has
facilitated £223 in loans to SMEs
• Kickstarter.com – a global crowdfunding platform based in the United
States; the company’s stated mission is to help to bring creative projects
to life; since launching in 2009, 7m people have pledged $1bn, funding
70,000 creative projects

21. Support resources for businesses
• AIM Start Up Loans - Government supported start-up loans for the
Creative Industries.
• Creative skillset – supports businesses within the Creative Industries to
develop skills and talent
• East London Small Business Centre - ELSBC is a not for profit
organisation dedicated to helping businesses reach their entrepreneurial
potential through one to one business support and loan funding.
• Growth Accelerator – works with businesses from a diverse range of
sectors; key eligibility criteria include fewer than 250 employees and
annual turnover under £40m.

22. Support resources for businesses
• NESTA’s Creative Business Mentor Network - offers ambitious creative
companies one-to-one mentoring with some of the creative sectors most
successful business leaders.
• Seedcamp - a London based accelerator that provides startups with seed
money, mentorship, office space, support over a year long programme.
• School for Creative Start-ups - delivers programmes that teach people
how to start and run better businesses.

23. April Events
Digital Business Drop-In – London, 02 April
Creative Industries Hustings – London, 08 April
Venturefest East Midlands – Leicester, 14 April
Disruptive and Emergent IPR Management Practices in the Arts - London, 21 April
Creative Industries Federation, UK Roadshow – Manchester, 27 April
Technology Innovators Forum (Film Trade) – Los Angeles, 28th – 29th, April
Finance your Creative Business – Manchester, 30 April

24. April events by sector
• Advertising: D&AD Judging Week, 19-23rd, London
• Architecture: Architecture for an ageing population, 21st, London
• Arts and Culture: BABE 2015: Bristol Artists Book Event, 11th – 12th , Bristol
• Crafts: Ledbury Spring Weekend, 25th-26th, Herefordshire
• Design: The Value of Design research, 22nd-24th, Paris
• Fashion: Vogue Festival 2015, 25-26th, London
• Film: Belfast Film Festival, 16-25th, Belfast
• Games: Quo Vadis, 21-23rd, Berlin
• Music: Brighton Music Conference, 11-12th, Brighton
• Publishing: The London BookFair, 14-16, London
• Technology: FT Digital Media 28-29 April, London
• TV: MIPTV, 13th, Cannes
Please note this is an indicative list and not comprehensive.

25. Organisations by sector
• Advertising: IPA, Adassoc
• Architecture: RIBA
• Arts and Culture: Arts Council England
• Crafts: Crafts Council
• Design: British Design Council
• Fashion: British Fashion Council
• Film: BFI, Screen Yorkshire
• Games: UKIE, TIGA
• Music: BPI, UK Music
• Publishing: PA, PPA
• Technology: InnovateUK, TechUK, TechCityUK,
• TV: PACT, DTG
Please note this is an indicative list and not comprehensive.

26. Organisations by function
• Academic: AHRC, RCUK Digital Economy
• Government: DCMS, BIS Industrial Strategy
• Innovation: Knowledge Transfer Network
• Policy: Nesta, Creative Industries Federation
• Skills: CreativeSkillset, CCS
• Trade: UKTI, British Council
Please note this is an indicative list and not comprehensive.

27. • Key findings from the recent DCMS Creative Industries Economic Estimates report
include: the GVA of the creative industries is now worth £76.9bn per year to the UK
economy which equates to £8.8m per hour; in 2012 the creative economy provided
2.6m jobs (1 in 12 UK jobs).
• Click here to read Creative Industries Council’s strategy, Create UK
• Go to www.thecreativeindustries.co.uk website for sector specific data and information
• Visit https://app.hiive.co.uk/talent/ to find employees or join the workforce
• Read Innovate UK’s Creative Industries Strategy 2013-2016 highlighting convergence,
data and transactions as key pillars of innovation.

29. Other Information
• Applications now open for the Near Now Fellowship 2015/16 - Applications are
invited from a broad range of creative practices including artists, writers,
curators, designers, hackers, developers, architects, producers, technologists,
publishers and arts professionals. Deadline 10 April.
• The KTN’s Design Special Interest Group has recently launched the report
"Design and Data Visualisation: Good practice in the communication of
information". This report highlights the broadening scope of data visualisation in
innovation and showcases a range of contemporary practitioners.
• Scotland’s Cultural Enterprise Office maintain a comprehensive list of
organisations and websites providing support to creatives working in Scotland
• Trade body TIGA has published a free report designed to help students
understand how they can improve their chances of finding employment in the
games industry. Download the Leap 2014 report here.

30. Other Information
• According to forecasts from eMarketer, the UK tablet market will reach a
significant milestone in usage this year whenthe majority of the country’s
consumers—50.3% of the population—will use a tablet at least once per
month. Although this figure is expected to rise to almost 60% (40.2 million
tablet users) by 2019, the dramatic growth the UK tablet audience has
experienced in recent years will drop significantly in 2015 as adoption nears
saturation.
• Following the Chancellor’s March Budget 2015, the Creative Industries
Federation has compiled a list of the corporate tax relief measures announced
to support the creative economy.
• Seeking to identify the most promising technology startups from within the
creative industries, Pitch@Palace 3.0, the third event in a series spearheaded
by HRH The Duke of York, took place on 23 March 2015. The shortlist of 42
companies is available here and a list of the 14 finalists (including the winners)
is available here.

31. Something else we've missed?
Please let us know: creativeindustries@ktn-uk.org
Sign up for monthly updates

32. Thanks
laura.scanga@ktn-uk.org
Head of Creative Industries