This document provides a summary of upcoming events, funding opportunities, and other resources for UK creative businesses. It lists various grants, loans, and investments available from public and private sources. It also advertises networking and skills training events happening in August and September 2015 around the UK focused on topics like the internet of things, virtual and augmented reality, and digital media.

1. Creative, Digital & Design
Business Briefing
A digest of useful information for UK businesses seeking
funding and support, updated monthly
August 2015
@KTN_Creative

2. Brought to you by the following
organisations:

3. Contents
• Upcoming events
• KTN events
• Public funding calls
• Other public funding
• Public investment
• Private financing
• Other financing mechanisms
• Launching a new business?
• Non-financial support for your business
• Training & skills
• Useful reports

4. Upcoming Events
Pure London – London, 2-4 August
Manchester Digital Creatives – Manchester, 18 August
Turing Festival – Edinburgh, 21-22 August
360D – Glasgow, 3 September
Legends of Gaming Live – London, 4-6 September
3D-Print and Scanning Roadshow – Solihull, 7 September
GREAT WEEK Creative Industries and Global Projects - Milan
Expo, 7-11 September
Innovate 2015 – London, 9-10 November

5. Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN) Event
12.30-15:00, Wednesday 16 September – Digital Catapult Centre, 101
Euston Rd, Kings Cross, London NW1 2RA
Key feature: An informal information sharing session designed to support
digital companies and learn more about Innovate UK and the Digital
Catapult. This session will include representatives from across Innovate
UK’s programmes highlighting a range of upcoming funding opportunities
for digital companies, researchers and academic institutions working across
a diverse range of sectors.
Please note: If you are interested in giving a 5 minute presentation, slots
are given on a first come first served basis at the event.
More info on: Digital Catapult
Digital Business Drop-In

6. Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN) Event
5.30pm – 8:30pm Wednesday 30 September – Urban Innovation
Centre, Future Cities Catapult, One Sekforde St, London EC1R 0BE
Key feature: Innovate UK's IC tomorrow programme, in partnership with
the Knowledge Transfer Network, is hosting an exclusive Smart Spaces
Speed Networking event to connect leading industry partners with
entrepreneurs developing innovative sensors and analytics solutions to
better manage resources, deliver services more effectively, and enhance
experiences for their customers.
How to apply: If you are a digital company and would like to be considered
for this opportunity or are an established brand and would like to attend as
an industry partner further details, more info on IC tomorrow.
Smart Spaces Speed Networking

7. Public funding calls
Key feature: Investment by the Department for Culture, Media and
Sport (DCMS) in a single collaborative R&D project to demonstrate
the capability of the Internet of Things (IoT) in a city region. Projects
must be collaborative and led by a local authority or local enterprise
partnership (or an equivalent body outside England). Projects should
involve at least one local authority, one local enterprise partnership
and several businesses.
Scale: up to £10m
Closes: 23 September 2015
More info on: innovateuk.org
Internet of Things - cities demonstrator

8. Public funding calls
Key feature: This Centre for Defence Enterprise (CDE) themed
competition is on behalf of UK intelligence agencies: MI5, GCHQ and
MI6. The internet of things, as a network of multiple connected
sensors, capable of communicating with their environment, creates
security challenges. This competition is looking for research proposals
to identify innovative technologies or approaches to meet these
challenges.
Scale: Up to £1 million is available for phase 1 of this competition. A
number of projects will be funded between £60,000 to £90,000 for a
duration of around 3 months.
Closes: 29 October 2015
More info: gov.uk
Security for the internet of things

9. Public funding calls
Key feature: investment by the Department for Business, Innovation
and Skills (BIS) in collaborative R&D projects and feasibility studies
(delivered by Innovate UK on behalf of BIS) to stimulate developments
in autonomous vehicles and connected transport systems.
Scale: up to £20m
Briefing: Register here for a briefing event and here for a briefing webinar
– both on 4 August 2015
Closes: 23 September 2015
More info: innovateuk.org
Connected and autonomous vehicles

10. Public funding calls
Key feature: Innovate UK is offering up to six businesses a maximum
of £35k each to encourage innovation around VR/AR across the
themes of music, retail, healthcare, education, construction and tactile
technology.
Scale: up to £35k for 6 businesses
Closes: 18 August 2015
More info on: innovateuk.org
Virtual and Augmented Reality

11. Public funding calls
Key feature: This Centre for Defence Enterprise (CDE) themed
competition seeks research proposals to develop a prototype solution
to provide an unstructured and open-source data analytics platform for
defence.
Scale: £250,000 of funding is available for this Phase 1 competition, with
a further £2 million potentially available for Phase 2.
Closes: 13 August 2015
More info on: innovateuk.org
Open source big data insight

12. Public funding calls
Key feature: This Centre for Defence Enterprise (CDE) themed
competition seeks to address the challenge of providing information
about the layout and situation inside a building using novel
techniques, remotely.
Scale: £650,000 of funding is available for this Phase 1 competition.
Closes: 10 September 2015
More info on: innovateuk.org
What’s inside that building?

13. Public funding calls
Key feature: This CDE themed competition seeks research proposals
for innovative approaches to improve the way humans interact with
data to allow them to understand what’s going on in cyberspace.
Scale: £500,000 of funding is available for Phase 1 of this competition.
Closes: 10 September 2015
More info on: innovateuk.org
Understand and interact with cyberspace

14. Public funding calls
Key feature: Investment to stimulate the development of innovative
new products, services and systems that disrupt the institutional long-
term care model. This SBRI competition is open to large enterprises,
SMEs, micro businesses, entrepreneurs, third sector, public and
private sector.
Scale:
• Up to £4m
Closes: 26 August 2015
More info on: innovateuk.org
The long-term care revolution national challenge

15. Public funding calls
Key feature: Investment in collaborative research and development
projects to stimulate innovation in response to Malaysia’s urbanisation
challenges.
Scale: Up to £14.4m
Closes: 30 September 2015
More info on: innovateuk.org
Malaysia-UK Research and Innovation Bridges
Competition

16. Public funding calls
Key feature: Innovate UK is to invest up to £10 million in collaborative
research and development and feasibility studies to accelerate the
commercialisation of highly innovative technologies for civil
aerospace.
Scale: Up to £10m
Briefing: There will be a webinar briefing event for potential applicants on
15 July 2015.
Closes: 9 September 2015
More info on: innovateuk.org
Game-changing technologies for aerospace

17. Public funding calls
Key feature: Investment of up to £1m in innovative research and
development projects centred on the emerging cluster of digital media
businesses in Edinburgh.
Scale:
• Funding of up to 70% of eligible costs for industrial research projects,
with estimated project sizes ranging between £100,000 and £120,000.
Closes: 26 August 2015
More info on: innovateuk.org
Edinburgh digital media Launchpad

18. Public funding calls
Key feature: Investment in feasibility studies to stimulate innovation across
four enabling technology areas that underpin future UK growth: advanced
materials; biosciences; electronics, sensors and photonics; and information
and communication technology (ICT).
Scale: up to £3m
Closes: 2 September 2015
More info on: innovateuk.org
Technology inspired innovation

19. Public funding calls
Key feature: The H2020 programme is the major funding opportunity for R&D
initiatives across Europe running up until 2020. There is a strong emphasis on
creative industries, design and digital technologies. All calls will be published
in October 2015.
Info days: ICT 2015 – Lisbon, 20-22 October
The key EC Info Day of 2015 for all calls under ICT (under which many are
relevant to creative, digital and design businesses). A great way to meet
potential partners, programme officers and to find out more about calls.
Registration is free but fills up fast.
KTN will be running a number of events in London and Europe in 2015-16 to
help UK businesses learn more about relevant calls and to help find partners
to build consortia. More info on the KTN Creative, Digital & Design portal.
H2020

20. Public funding calls
Key feature: Innovation voucher scheme funding for start-up, micro, small
and medium-sized enterprises to work with an external expert to gain the
knowledge to innovate and grow.
Scale:
• Up to £5k voucher for SMEs
Closes: 20 October 2015, 12:00
More info on: innovateuk.org
Innovation Vouchers – Round 13

21. Public funding calls
Smart 2015/16 – Round 3
Key feature: A grant scheme which offers funding to small and
medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to engage in R&D projects in the
strategically important areas of science, engineering and technology.
Scale:
• Proof of market - up to £25k - 60% of project cost
• Proof of concept - up to £100k - 60% of project cost
• Prototype development - up to £250k - up to 45% of project cost
Closes: 24 September 2015
More info on: innovateuk.org

22. Creative England film production funding
Key feature: Creative England now offers two strands of film production
funding for both feature and high-end TV drama.
• Lottery-based Production Fund: this is targeted at feature films with
budgets of up to £2m and looking to experiment with innovative
approaches; the fund has doubled from £500K to £1m for 2014/2015.
• West Midlands Production Fund: invests in the production of feature films
and high-end TV drama from companies based in the West Midlands as
well as from producers looking to establish a base to film in the region.
Circa £4m funding available for 2015, with a maximum investment of £1m
per project.
More info at creativeengland.co.uk
Public funding calls

23. Other public funding
• Creative Europe - here you can find relevant information concerning
funding opportunities within the Creative Europe programme.
• Arts Council of Wales – offer a selection of arts grants for creative
professionals and organisations.
• Wellcome Trust Arts Awards – offer two levels of funding to encourage
collaboration between arts and science.
• Screen Yorkshire – Yorkshire Content Fund – production finance
available; can invest £1m+ in individual film or TV dramas that will be in
production by December 2015.
• Arts Impact Fund - a new £7million initiative offering repayable finance
to arts organisations working in England.

24. Other public funding
• Creative Industry Finance - Delivered by Creative United and funded by Arts
Council England, this programme is designed to assist creative and cultural
enterprises in securing access to loan finance from £2,500 upwards.
• Funding Central and Finance Funder - Online guide to over 4,000 grants,
contracts and other forms of finance: fully searchable based on finance type,
scale and your geographical location; especially good for businesses seeking
charitable or grant funding.
• Creative Scotland Open Project Funding - This fund supports the arts, screen
and creative industries, with projects that help them explore, realise and
develop their creative potential.
• Creative Skillset - Creative Skillset directs collective investment through the
Skills Investment Fund to create new and innovative training in priority skills
and in-demand roles to ensure growth in the UK’s Creative Industries.

25. Public Investment
Nesta Impact Investment Fund
Key feature: An equity investment fund investing in social ventures with
innovative products or services that are addressing some of the UK’s most
pressing challenges. Investments are made in areas that tackle:
• the health and wellbeing of an ageing population
• the educational attainment and employability of children and young people
• the social and environmental sustainability of communities.
Scale: between £150k - £1m
Closes: on-going
More info on: Nesta Investments

26. Public Investment
Arts Impact Fund
Key feature: Funded by Arts Coucil England, Bank of America Merrill Lynch,
Esmee Fairbairn Foundation and Nesta, the Arts Impact Fund is a new
£7million initiative set up to demonstrate the potential for social investment in
arts. It offers repayable finance to arts organisations working in England that
can show how they are sustainable, have great artistic ambitions and have a
positive impact on society in at least one of the following areas: citizenship &
community, young people & educational attainment, health & wellbeing.
Scale: between £150k - £600k
Closes: on-going
More info on: Arts Impact Fund

27. Private financing
Balderton has a track record of helping entrepreneurs build substantial
businesses – with more $250m+ exits in the past five years than any
other European venture firm
Connect Ventures, London – invest in mobile, internet and digital
media businesses; invest at the early stage and focus on seed
investments; investment size ranges from £200K-£600k
Index Ventures, London, San Francisco & Geneva – venture capital
firm making investments in information technology and life sciences
companies, since 1996 they have teamed up with technology
entrepreneurs in more than 30 countries

28. Private financing
Notion Capital, London – invest in B2B Cloud & SaaS companies who
have sustained 100% Year-over-Year growth; investment areas
include adtech, communications and collaboration tools, ecommerce,
enterprise software, fintech and security; portfolio raised over £200m
in 2014
Hoxton Ventures, partners with founders seeking to invent new
market categories or transform large, existing industries; their sweet
spot is internet, mobile and software startup investing - up to $2m
The Business Finance Guide, expertise from over a million members
in businesses, finance providers and advisory firms and organisations

29. Private financing
• Better Business Finance is an excellent tool for identifying the right
type of finance at all stages of a business as well as identifying
providers who can help. This section provides a searchable
directory of information about the members of the UK Business
Angels Association, what services they provide and how to contact
them.
• British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association provides an
explanation of different types of financing and other resources for
entrepreneurs.
• The UK Business Angels Association is the national trade
association representing angel and early-stage investment in the
UK.

30. Other financing mechanisms
Crowdfunder.co.uk – UK’s largest crowdfunding network having
launched 1000’s of projects and raised over £2m, platform launched
by KEO digital and partners include Nesta and Creative England
Funding Circle – an online marketplace which allows savers to lend
money directly to SMEs; the first site to use peer-to-peer lending for
business funding in the UK; as of February 2014 Funding Circle has
facilitated £223 in loans to SMEs
Crowd2Fund – a crowdfunding platform designed to enable a range of
funding options, from loans to equity
SyndicateRoom – equity crowdfunding platform for investing in UK
startups backed by experience business angels

31. Launching a new business?
• The Open Data Institute runs a start-up programme that helps
start-ups build business models around open data
• Tech City UK offers advice and support to start-ups looking for
guidance in and around London. It has launched its Digital
Business Academy. Tech City UK can also endorse visa
applications to help recruit talent to Britain.
• Innovate UK - IC tomorrow connects start-ups and SMEs with
leading commercial partners and investors, through funded
contests, events, and strategic matchmaking opportunities.
• Transmit Start Ups provide financial support and mentoring to
creative and digital entrepreneurs that would not normally be
available via traditional banking relationships.

32. Launching a new business?
• School for Creative Start-ups - delivers programmes that teach
people how to start and run better businesses.
• AIM Start Up Loans - Government supported start-up loans for the
Creative Industries.
• Seedcamp is a London based accelerator that provides startups
with seed money, mentorship, office space, support over a year
long programme.
• The British Business Angels Association can help put you in touch
with relevant business angel investors

33. Are you an existing business seeking
non-financial advice or support?
• Nesta’s creative business mentor network offers ambitious
businesses looking to grow one-one mentoring with some
of the creative digital sector’s most successful leaders
• The UKTI offers advice to help with exporting
• Tech City UK can help advise on inward investment
• The Digital Catapult can help you showcase your business

34. Are you an existing business seeking
advice or support?
• Subsidised costs to work with a specialist to build and
deliver business growth – GrowthAccelerator
• Use the IP Health check to identify commercial IP in your
business
• AngelList – helps source angel investors
• Interactive Scotland is a Scottish Enterprises project
providing specialist expert advice to all Digital and
Creative Businesses across Scotland
• Grant Thornton provide a specialist service for R&D tax
relief/ credits claims

35. Personal Data and Trust Network
A digital business network to build and nurture a community that
brings together industry, the public sector, funders, research
organisations and innovators to support the UK in becoming the
global leader in trust and responsible innovation with personal data.
For more information and to join, visit the Digital Catapult website

36. Training and skills
• Training in Open Data from the Open Data Institute
• Digital Business Academy – via Tech City
• Digital Project Management – via @IABUK
• Digital Acceleration – via @hyperisland_uk
• Digital training – via @Econsultancy – e-marketing courses
Develop your skills with these world-class courses:

37. Useful reports/ market research
• Nesta – Creativity vs Robots
• Nesta – Skills of the Datavores: Talent and the data revolution
• Digital Catapult – Trust in Personal Data: A UK Review
• Government Office for Science – Internet of Things Review
• ICO’s - guide to good data protection practice
• AoP’s - Digital Landscape 2015 report

38. Useful reports/ market research contd.
• Ernst & Young - Landscape of UK Fin-tech report
• GP Bullhound – European Billion Dollar Companies 2015
• CB Insights & KPMG - Venture Pulse Q2’15 (Global Analysis of
Venture Funding)
• Nesta – 8 trends in alternative finance
• ICAEW – Corporate Financier June 2015
• Tech City – Future Fifty

39. Something else we've missed?
Please let us know: cdd@ktn-uk.org
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