Creative Industry Businesses – Get Ready for Business Growth!

by | Apr 23, 2023 | Business Support Programmes

Get Ready for Business Growth, from the British Library, is an Arts Council England funded programme designed to help creative businesses looking to grow. It is bespoke to each business’s needs and entirely free.

I’m delighted to have been asked to deliver the Building Your Brand and Creating a Marketing Strategy modules.

How does it work?

The BIPC select 25 high-growth businesses in the creative sector every three months from across the UK to give specialist support and tailored one-to-one advice. The programme is digitally run, and the one-to-one meetings with the consultants are by video conference.

It has nine modules, including:
Getting the growth mindset
Good governance & building purpose into your organisation
Refining your business model & growth strategy
Product & service innovation
Maximising your intellectual property (IP)
Building your brand Creating a marketing strategy
Financial planning for growth
Business and IP research

Why Get Ready for Business Growth?

Businesses might be looking to become more financially resilient, entrepreneurial or implement a new business model. Through one-to-one sessions and workshops, the British Library work with each business to help them fulfil their growth potential. They will also get automatic membership to the Growth Club, where they will have the opportunity to network with other high-growth, scale-up business owners and keep in touch with their Relationship Manager.

Other benefits of the Growth Club include:

Quarterly peer-to-peer networking events
Press and PR opportunities
Opportunities to speak at Start-up Stars events
Group mentoring
Meet the Buyer events
Complimentary tickets for Inspiring Entrepreneur events.

What are the requirements?

Businesses must be based in the UK with a turnover of £100,000 or more and can commit to a minimum of 20 hours over three months.

Eligible businesses must be in the creative sector and fall under one of these categories:
Advertising and marketing
Architecture
Crafts
Design
Fashion
Film, TV, video, radio and photography
IT, software and computer services
Publishing Museums, galleries and libraries
Music, performing and visual arts

The programme runs until the second quarter of 2024. Click here to find out more and apply for your place.