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 it's 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.

Programmes 

Focusing Creativity
Focusing Creativity
A free programme aimed at helping creative businesses to find the balance between their creativity and running a business. Participants attend business skills workshops on topics including:

  • producing a development plan
  • marketing
  • communication
  • finances. 

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. Please visit:

Arts in the Peak
Arts in the Peak offer a service, run by artists for artists that distributes news of events, funding and support to its members. It also aims to ensure that rural arts based enterprises have a voice in official strategies, polices and documents. New Environmental Economy New Environmental Creative Industries programme (NEE NECI) NEE NECI offers potential funding for any creative enterprise in the Peak District which uses the Peak District's quality environment in a sustainable way to promote their business through new creativity. In other words, it has been new, economic, environmental and creative, in whatever order you fancy - from felt jewellery to poetry on milestones Runs until June 2007.

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.

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.

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 Incubation Netowrk (EMIN)
EMIN is a highly practical network helping entrepreneurs and innovators develop successful new businesses. The network provides access to appropriate accommodation and support right across the East Midlands (in both university and none university based incubators). Whether you are wondering whether you have a viable idea, or you are recently established, we can put you in touch with a wealth of directly relevant expertise to help your venture succeed.

The Greenhouse
The Creative Industries Network for Chetserfield, North East Derbyshire and Bolsover (and North Nottinghamshire).  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.  Anyone in The Greenhouse areas working in the creative industries can use our services. 

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

Print Media Graphics Network
Print Media Graphics Network is a not for profit industry association driven by the needs of business to support and promote the East Midlands Print Media and Graphics sector in a number of ways which include sector profile raising, providing grants, training, seminars and conferences. They also can signpost printed related enterprises to other areas of support.

Shoutout
Shoutout is designed to be the voice of the creative industries within the UK East Midlands. It provides resources, networking opportunities and powerful promotion for creative practitioners and businesses across the region.  A group of creative industry and support agencies make up the Shoutout partnership. Collectively the partnership covers all sectors, offering support, guidance, development and investment opportunities. For more information about each of these partners, please see the Partners section.

Women's Enterprise Project
This is for women who are looking into starting a new business and women who are established inbusiness. contact Susan Scholes: 01629 814 881

Contact

Anthony Byrne - Creative Industries Support
email: anthony.byrne@derbyshire.gov.uk
phone: 01629 585 075