CREATIVE INDUSTRIES FUND: FAST START BUSINESS GROWTH PILOT

1. Title: CREATIVE INDUSTRIES FUND: FAST START BUSINESS GROWTH PILOT2. Awarding Authority: Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, GB Tel: 0300 321 4357. Email: support@innovateuk.ukri.org.3. Contract type: Service contract4. Description: The Awarding Authority is to invest up to £2.5 million in innovation projects.The aim of this competition is to provide a package of targeted support for growth so ambitious, creative businesses can reach their potential.This package is designed to help creative businesses to explore new revenue streams by creating new products, services or IP which respond to changing market conditions.Your proposal must:be from the creative industries or support the creative industriesfocus on a clear opportunity and the proposed innovation to address itdemonstrate the impact funding and support can have to the growth plan of your businessIf your application is successful, you must work with an EDGE advisor to maximise your project’s impact.In applying to this competition, you are entering into a competitive process. This competition closes at 11am UK time on the deadline stated.Who can applyYour projectYour project must:have total eligible costs up to £25,000end by 31 March 2022last between 3 and 6 monthsLead organisationTo lead a project your organisation must:be a UK registered micro or small businesshave not previously received funding from InnovateUKbe from the creative industries or support the creative industrieshave a demonstrable ambition for growthcarry out its project work in the UKintend to exploit the results from or in the UKFor more information on company sizes, please refer to the company accounts guidance. This is a change from the EU definition unless you are applying under EC de minimis. If you are applying for an award funded under European Commission Regulations, the definitions are set out in the European Commission Recommendation of 6 May 2003.SubcontractorsSubcontractors are allowed in this competition.Subcontractors can be from anywhere in the UK and you must select them through your usual procurement process.You can use subcontractors from overseas but must make the case in question 5 for why you could not use suppliers from the UK.You must provide a detailed rationale, evidence of the potential UK contractors you approached and the reasons why they were unable to work with you.We expect all subcontractor costs to be justified and appropriate to the total eligible project costs. We will not accept a cheaper cost as a sufficient reason to use an overseas subcontractor.A participant cannot subcontract their own directors, secretaries, or persons with significant control.Number of applicationsYou can only apply for this competition once.Special Drawing Rights (and de minimis where applicable)The UK-EU Trade Cooperation Agreement (TCA) has agreed on small funding allowances under the Special Drawing Rights (SDRs).These are for awards up to SDR of 325,000 (approximately £335,000) given to a single beneficiary over a rolling 3 fiscal year period.You must complete and provide Innovate UK with a declaration as part of your response in question 2.The declaration asks you to tell us about any awards, including those made under de minimis and SDR, (from any source of public funding) over a rolling 3 fiscal year period.If you have received an award under de minimis for the same period, this will be added to your total allowance under SDR. This means that the total award must not exceed approximately £335,000 (325,000 SDR) for any one organisation. You must declare this allowance to any other funding body who requests it.EC Commission rules now only apply in limited circumstances. Please see our general guidance to check if these rules apply to your organisation.Further informationFurther information about the UK Subsidy Control requirements can be found within the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation agreement and the subsequent BEIS guidance. Or you can see our general guidance on Special Drawing Rights and EU de minimis awards.If you are unsure about your obligations under the UK Subsidy Control regime or the de minimis rules, you should take independent legal advice. We cannot advise on individual eligibility or your legal obligations.If there are any changes to the above requirements that mean we need to change the terms of this competition, we will tell you as soon as possible.Your proposalThe aim of this competition is to provide a package of targeted support for growth so ambitious creative businesses can reach their potential.Your project must:offer a clearly innovative and ambitious ideabe new to your business, with a demonstrable impact to your growth plancreate a new revenue stream, for example new products, services or IPrespond to the changing market conditions, such as new modes of audience consumption, or the adoption of new technologies within the sectorbe market ready within 12 months of receiving supportbe able to start rapidlyrepresent value for moneyWe welcome applications which can demonstrate benefit to the wider creative industries sub sector or regional cluster.We want to fund a portfolio of projects, across a variety of creative subsectors from every part of the UK.Specific themesThe creative industries are defined by Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). Your project must focus on one or more of the following subsectors:advertising and marketingarchitecturearts and culturebroadcasting including sportcraftsdesignfashionfilmgamesmusicpublishingProjects we will not fundWe are not funding any project:supporting business as usual (BAU) activitieswithout evidence their proposed innovation is expected to lead to significant and positive economic or societal impact, or value for money that will be achievedthat does not address how potentially negative outcomes, for example on the environment, would be consideredwithout research and development or innovation, for example the creation of information-only websitesinvolving primary production in fishery and aquacultureinvolving primary production in agriculturenot allowed under special drawing rightsnot allowed under de minimis regulation restrictionswhose activities relate to the purchase of road freight transportsubsidies dependent on export performance – for example giving a subsidy to a baker on the condition that they export a certain quantity of bread to another countrysubsidies that are dependent on domestic inputs usage- for example if we insisted that a baker use 50% UK flour in their product5. CPV Code(s): 79000000, 799000006. NUTS code(s): UKK, UKK1, UKK147. Main site or location of works, main place of delivery or main place of performance: South West (England), Gloucestershire, Wiltshire And Bristol/Bath Area, Swindon.8. Reference attributed by awarding authority: Not provided.9. Estimated value of requirement: UK registered micro and small businesses in the creative sector can apply for a package of support to grow their business. This package includes ongoing support from Innovate UK EDGE and funding of up to £25,000 for innovation projects.Project sizeYour project’s total eligible costs must be up to £25,000FundingWe have allocated up to £2.5 million to fund innovation projects in this competition.You can claim 100% of eligible project costs up to the maximum of £25,000.Funds will be released in two instalments:Total grant less £5,000 will be paid in advance of the project start date.The remaining £5,000 will be paid at the end of the project, on receipt and approval of statement of expenditure, and completion of a three-month action plan with your EDGE advisor.10. Competition closes: 16.6.2021 (11:00:00).11. Address to which they must be sent: For further information regarding the above contract notice please visit: 12. Other information: Funding type Grant14 May 2021 Online briefing event17 May 2021 Competition opens16 June 2021 11:00am Competition closes27 August 2021 Applicants notifiedBefore you startWhat we ask youThe application is split into 3 sections:Project detailsApplication questions.Finances1. Project detailsThis section provides background for the assessors and is not scored.Application teamDecide which organisations will work with you on the project. Invite people from those organisations to help complete the application.Application detailsThe lead applicant must complete this section. Give your project’s title, start date and duration.Equality, diversity and inclusionWe collect and report on equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) data to address under-representation in business innovation and ensure equality, diversity and inclusion across all our activities.You must complete this EDI survey and type ‘EDI survey completed’ within your answer. The survey will ask you questions on your gender, age, ethnicity and disability status. You will always have the option to ‘prefer not to say’ if you do not feel comfortable sharing this information.Project summaryDescribe your project briefly and be clear about what makes it innovative. We use this section to assign experts to assess your application.Your answer can be up to 400 words long.Public descriptionDescribe your project in detail, and in a way that you are happy to see published. Do not include any commercially sensitive information. If we award your project funding, we will publish this description. This could happen before you start your project.Your answer can be up to 100 words long.ScopeDescribe how your project fits the scope of the competition. If your project is not in scope, it will be rejected and not sent for assessment. Your answer can be up to 400 words long.2. Application questionsThe assessors will score your answers for questions 3 to 6. Questions 1 and 2 are not scored.Do not include any website addresses (URLs) in your answers.Question 1. Project partners location (not scored)Where are the organisations within your project team registered?Please state the name of each organisation along with its full registered address. If you are working with an academic institution this doesn’t need to be included.Question 2. Special Drawing Rights declaration (not scored)Please download the declaration template. You must complete this, declaring any awards, including those made under de minimis and Special Drawing Rights (SDR) subsidies, (from any source of public funding) over a rolling 3 fiscal year period.You must also keep all documentation relating to this and other de minimis awards for a period of 10 years and be prepared to release it to any public funding body which requests it.Please write “declaration attached” in the text box.You must submit a copy of your special drawing rights declaration as an appendix. It must be in an A4 PDF format. The font must be legible at 100% zoom.Question 3. The idea (scored out of 20).Your answer can be up to 400 words long.What is the problem you wish to solve, who is it a problem for, and what is innovative about the approach or technology?You should consider the following in your answer:the specific need you propose to address and who would benefit from it in the immediate and longer termthe specific innovation you propose to develop and how this is different and better than alternative solutionsany previous technical and business planning work you may have conducted in relation to the proposed project, and your freedom to operatethe size of the opportunity and your route to market, (such as partnerships and business models)Question 4. Impact and added value (scored out of 35).Your answer can be up to 400 words long.What will be the impact of receiving the grant, to your business, how will the UK benefit, and why do you need public funding to help you succeed?You should consider the following in your answer:the outputs of the project in terms of specific deliverables and where will you have moved your business from and toexpected impacts on society, the economy and the environment, what potential negative impacts have you considered if anywhy public funding is necessary and value for money, for example, is there a lack of private investment or market failureQuestion 5. Business planning and resources (scored out of 35).Your answer can be up to 400 words long.Who is in the team, what is your capability to deliver a solution?You should include in your answer a description of:what combination of resources you can access, describe the main people involved, including their relevant track records, and any other critical internal and external resources including subcontractorsyour capability to deliver in the required timeframe given your existing business activities or constraintshow you will deliver outcomes and impact beyond the life of the projectQuestion 6. Workplan and costs (scored out of 10).Your answer can be up to 400 words long.What will you do with the grant funding. How will you manage the project effectively, and risks appropriately?You should include in your answer a description of:what will the funding be spent on, explaining the project work plan including technical approaches, main work packages, specific milestones, and project management.the main risks, Covid-19 pandemic working constraints, interdependencies, impact, and mitigation strategy. You should pay particular attention to how you will mitigate project delivery risks with your immediate and extended teams (e.g., supply chain, end users), do they have the right infrastructure in placethe roles of individuals/organisationsa breakdown of costs aligned with tasks. Where possible describe how best value for money has been decided (for example quotation comparison)wider support you may need during or after the project that you do not currently have access to e.g., domestic, and international partnerships, private finance, export advice3. FinancesEach organisation in your project must complete their own project costs, organisation details and funding details in the application.For full details on what costs you can claim see our project costs guidance.Background and further informationThis competition is supported by the Creative Industries Council – a forum of government, creative businesses, and other creative organisations.Contact usIf you need more information about how to apply email support@innovateuk.ukri.org or call 0300 321 4357.Our phone lines are open from 9am to 11:30am and 2pm to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays).Innovate UK is committed to making support for applicants accessible to everyone.We can provide help for applicants who face barriers when making an application. This might be as a result of a disability, neurodiversity or anything else that makes it difficult to use our services. We can also give help and make other reasonable adjustments for you if your application is successful.If you think you need more support, it is important that you contact our Customer Support Service as early as possible during your application process. You should aim to contact us no later than 10 working days before the competition closing date.Support from Innovate UK EDGEIf your application is selected, you will be contacted by a growth specialist at Innovate UK EDGE. This service forms part of the package of support.The advisor will review your business to check that you are eligible for support.Successful applications then receive a grant offer letter and must work with their advisors on a 3-month action plan.TKR-2021517-EX-1614072# funding opportunity