Helping local businesses secure commercial opportunities within Hertfordshire's growing Film & TV industry.
The screen industries are booming in Hertfordshire, and behind every blockbuster is an army of small businesses powering the production from behind the scenes. For a vast array of SMEs - from sound designers to security, animators to accountants - the industry represents a previously untapped market with serious growth and expansion potential.
Hertfordshire's Create Growth Programme is aimed at businesses from all sectors, that have big ideas but limited access to the right networks, funding or commercial know-how. Whether you’re already supplying the Film & TV industry or looking to tap in, this programme offers tools, insights and high-value connections to help your business grow. Learn about the programme's four-pronged approach below.
Create Growth is a national programme, led by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in partnership with Innovate UK. The programme is run locally by Hertfordshire Futures and delivered by Hertfordshire Growth Hub, ESTU, Royal College of Art and the University of Hertfordshire.
Mandatory 1st Stage:
Scale & Growth Assessment
Creative SMEs start their journey here with access to Hertfordshire Growth Hub's fully funded Business Growth Assessment.
This comprises a 1-2-1 meeting with one of their experienced Growth Account Managers lasting up to two hours. Using a powerful growth diagnostic tool, it measures business strength across 12 key growth areas.
Mandatory 2nd stage:
Supply Chain Innovation Programme
This intensive 8-week programme is delivered by Estu and the Royal College of Art, in association with industry influencers and Hertfordshire’s major studios. The programme supports business leaders looking to grow their presence within Hertfordshire's film and TV sector, teaching them how to innovate, increase sales and secure new commercial opportunities for their business.
Optional extension:
New Product Development Support
Get personalised, one-on-one help from the University of Hertfordshire to quickly develop new, high-value products or services. This support is designed to help your business grow and scale. The University will provide customised assistance to launch your new product or service.
Optional extension:
Investment Readiness Support
Join finance masterclasses and get one-on-one mentoring from Hertfordshire Growth Hub and Innovate UK Business Growth. These sessions cover the basics to help your business grow and become ready for investment.
Ready to take the first step?
"Joining the Create Growth Programme has been hugely valuable to my business and I recommend it wholeheartedly to other companies whether starting up or established like mine.
"The support and advice from the Hertfordshire Growth Hub and the rich learning experience provided by Estu gave me the tools and the impetus to successfully reshape the direction of my business in a rapidly changing creative sector. The many networking opportunities it provides, the expert mentoring in product innovation and the advice with funding have been key in helping us launch our new venture in the AR industry, growing the company in this exciting new area.”
Jason White, Weave VFX
"The Create Growth Programme provided invaluable opportunities to promote our business in forums that were previously unavailable to us.
"The feedback from my company director on my personal growth was incredibly encouraging. The programme not only helped me develop a new business idea, including £4,000 university of Hertfordshire accelerator support, but it also empowered me to take it to the next level. We are now in the process of pitching this idea to META, and the experience has been a significant milestone in our journey."
Lisa Courts, Special Protection Services Ltd
The video below explains the programme in more detail. It was created by King Bee Animation who graduated from the programme in 2024.
