Two innovative Bath businesses are receiving online peer and mentoring support under a scheme to help creative firms across the West of England to help them respond to the impact of Covid-19.
Funnel Music, which is pioneering a new way of creating and marketing music, pictured, and digital studio Moresoda are among 20 creative companies making up the latest cohort in the West of England Combined Authority’s (WECA) Creative Scale Up programme.
The scheme is already providing online peer and mentoring support to help businesses respond to the unique challenges presented by the pandemic, with business resilience being a key topic for the first group of 16 creative firms.
West of England Metro Mayor Tim Bowles said the Creative Scale Up programme was set up to support the region’s wonderful creative businesses to grow.
“In response to Covid-19 we’ve made crucial changes to the programme to ensure our creative sector gets the support it needs to survive and emerge stronger,” he said.
“The entrepreneurs and artists we’re working with have told us it’s reminding them they’re not alone but part of wider network of creative businesses.
“I know our latest participants will also find new ways of working together to survive and thrive, cementing the West of England as an excellent home for the creative industries.”
One of the firms taking part in the first programme is Bath-based arts practice and gallery Waller and Wood. Co-director Carole Waller said the firm had gained valuable support.
“Creative Scale Up has been amazing for us – helping us to really focus on what’s next. It was very hard to stay focussed in the time of the pandemic but the flexibility of the programme meant we could ‘pivot’ within it,” she said.
Funnel Music was set up to meet the changing demands of an increasingly diverse industry. Driven in part by digital, it is developing a funnel not only for talent but equally for services and professionals through a shared outcome agreement that means it is able to develop artists for longer and with less debt.
Moresoda uses growth-driven design to create outstanding websites and e-commerce stores.
The third round of the programme is now open. Creative firms from across Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire have until August 28 to apply. The programme includes:
- £6,000 grant to spend on mentoring
- Dedicated peer support network
- Training tailored to the specific business development needs.
- Business development grants of up to £2,000
The Creative Scale Up draws on the support of local industry experts, all keen to support participants. It is also supported by national partners, including Creative England, Scale Up Institute, UK Business Angels Association and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport.
It forms part of WECA’s targeted business support programme to help kick-start the regional economy following the coronavirus outbreak
Creative businesses interested in joining the Creative Scale Up programme should email creativescaleup@westofengland-ca.gov.uk to request an application.
