Developing your creative business

Develop your creative business

Creative industries are a vital part of Derbyshire's economy, and to make sure that your business can achieve its potential, there are many programmes and organisations that offer you free advice and support.

The types of business that can access this support include advertising, architecture, the arts, crafts, design, film, video, interactive software, music, the performing arts and publishing, and there is support available at all stages of growth, from new start up to established business.

Resources for creative businesses

Creative Enterprise Toolkit - launch your own creative business
NESTA has created an enterprise resource toolkit which encapsulates tried and tested approaches to teaching enterprise skills for creative individuals thinking about setting up in business. The toolkit includes practical handbooks, worksheet activities and case studies to guide you through the stages of researching and establishing a new creative business.

Artists Marketing Grants
Derbyshire Arts Partnerships offers grants of up to £500 to help artists in Derbyshire to find a market for their work.

Headspace
We love this free and ever evolving online resource and community made specially to support those trying to earn a living through their creativity.  Headspace has been designed for people thinking about, already running, or supporting those who run, creative businesses- check it out!

Coaching
A number of people have asked recently about where they might go to find a coach.  The coaching industry is still unregulated, which can make it difficult to identify someone good and reputable.   Whilst we can’t endorse any one particular coach, the following professional bodies have directories of coaches who meet their accreditation requirements:
Association for Coaching
International Coach Federation
Association of Professional Executive Coaches and Supervisors
Relational dynamics 1st


Organisations who can help

Arts and Business East Midlands
Arts and Business East Midlands is the world's most successful creative network, it helps business people support the arts and the arts inspire business people.

Artsquest
A website which has an excellent guide to employment. 'How to become self employment' lists the main points you should consider in the early stages of starting out as self-employed.

Arts Training Central
Arts Training Central is the regional training centre for the arts and creative industries in the East Midlands. It provides a range of facilities, advisory services and training programmes in support of professional development of artists, performers and creative practitioners in the region in ways that will help them to increase their prospects for income and employment.

Business Link
Providing local access to information, advice and support needed to start, maintain and grow a business.

Creative Greenhouse
The Creative Greenhouse helps and supports artists and creative businesses based in North Nottinghamshire and North Derbyshire (Chesterfield, North East Derbyshire and Bolsover).  The Greenhouse offers a lot of its services through its website: details of the latest news and events, funding and skills development opportunities, an online resource library with useful links and downloads, an opportunity to profile your company in our business directory and showcase feature, as well as detail the latest job and tender opportunites. If you haven’t got time to look at the website don’t fear as we’ll send you an e-newsletter which highlights the current content. We also offer localised networking events. 

Creative Industries Network (CIN)
CIN is run by, and for, the creative businesses and individuals in Derbyshire, Membership benefits include: CIN enable creative enterprises to collectively have a stronger voice within Derbyshire's economy. CIN gives the opportunity for creatives to mix informally, giving the chance to learn from each other, share skills and generate business.

Creative and Cultural Skills
Sector Skills Council website, Creative and Cultural Skills provides training and advice for the sector.

Derbyshire Chamber and Business Link (DCBL)
DCBL is part of a national network providing an impartial advice and information service to help companies grow and succeed.  Information is also avaialbe on the Chamber website www.derbyshirechamber.com where there is a wealth of information that may be of interest, including the grantnet database, proving information about grants that are available to business.

Derbyshire CAN
Derbyshire Contracts Advice Network provides advice and support on contracts and tendering for voluntary and community sector organisations

Design Factory
Design Factory Offers marketing and selling opportunities, marketing grants, a business start-up guide and one to one support for designer/makers and manufacturers based in the East Midlands. Design Factory, launched in April 2005 will champion the regional craft and design sector creating a collective voice for the industry that is associated with high quality, innovation and inspiration. Design Factory will market and promote a selected network of design-led makers and manufacturers and will have a great influence in innovating and encouraging the commercial and successful growth of creative businesses. From graduates to new start-ups to fully established businesses, Design Factory offers membership tailored to support designers/makers at whatever stage of development. Selection for designer/maker memberships is carried out by an independent panel of industry professionals. This takes place throughout the year in March, June, September and December. An annual subscription of £50 guarantees full membership benefits.

Designer Forum
Set up by East Midlands Textile Association (EMTEX) to support fashion and design business. The programme provides business and design support to designers, freelancers, companies, undergraduate and graduates operating within the East Midlands fashion and textiles industries. The support includes a freelance directory, access to a CAD bureau, the East Midlands Design Resource Centre, an incubator unit, business support and advice, seminars and workshops, career management, access to UK & European funded projects, support provided through access to projects aimed at assisting our member companies, a quarterly newsletter.  

EM Media
EM Media has both a strategic role in promoting the media and film industries and in supporting access, and a delivery role focusing on sustainable business growth. They offer a wealth of support to media based enterprises.

East Midlands New Technology Initiative- Creative Industries Network
The Creative Industries Network provides small and medium sized businesses working in the Creative Industries with a range of support, to purchase equipment and to develop high-level skills across the whole range of Interactive Multimedia activity.

Peak Directions
Peak Directions is a new portal based service provided by the Peak District Rural Delivery Pathfinder. Peak Directions contains information and links to services that support enterprise amongst businesses and communities within the Peak District.

Princes Trust
Offers support for people between 18 and 30, including a low interest loan of up to 4,000, marketing support and specialist advice, ongoing advice from a volunteer business mentor, networking opportunities and promotional opportunities.