Applications Open!
Unlock Your Creative Business Potential
Are you a creative business in the East Midlands with ambitions to grow?
The Create Growth Programme, offers fully funded workshops and mentoring to help
your business scale, innovate, and thrive.
What's Included
- Workshops covering business growth, strategy, innovation, marketing, and AI
- One-to-one and group mentoring with experienced creative professionalsMentoring Kick off Group Session
- Building Your Confidence
- Mentoring Small Cohort
- Marketing & Branding
- Mentoring Small Cohort Funding
- Mentoring Small Cohort
- AI for Creative Businesses / Communication
- Mentoring Actionable Steps Group Session
Meet the Speakers:
Shamshad Walker
Marketing & branding
Diane (Erudita) Yates
Building Your Confidence
Laura Mallaburn
Funding Your Business
Jenny Cross
AI for Creative Business & Communication
Filomena Rodriguez
Group mentoring sessions
Who Can Apply?
Open to creative businesses and sole traders registered with HMRC in these
sectors:
- Advertising & Marketing
- Architecture
- Crafts, Design & Fashion
- Film, TV, Video & Radio
- Photography
- IT, Gaming & Software
- Publishing
- Museums, Galleries & Libraries
- Music, Performing & Visual Arts
Freelancers, sole traders, or limited companies in these sectors are eligible.
Final Derby Cohort – Secure Your Place!
Location: The Cavendish, University of Derby (City Centre)
Dates: October 2025 – January 2026
Application deadline: 19th September
Workshops:
- Building Your Confidence – Diane Yates
- Marketing & Branding – Shamshad Walker
- Funding Your Business – Laura Mallaburn
- AI for Creative Business & Communication – Jenny Cross
Mentoring: Three group sessions with Filomena Rodriguez focused on practical
growth strategies.
Programme Schedule:
- Kick-off: 02/10/2025
- Workshops: 08/10, 23/10, 13/11, 08/01
- Mentoring: 16/10, 30/10, 09/12, 29/01
Why Join?
Tailored insights for creative businesses
Networking with like-minded innovators
Practical tools and strategies to scale
Wraparound mentoring support