Celebrating four years of the University of Warwick’s Creative Futures programme

Connecting, supporting and acting as a gateway between the University and the region’s creative cluster, Creative Futures delivers impact through a creative industries network: 500 companies, an incubator based at 1 Mill Street that has supported 35 start-ups with 420 hours of business coaching, 250 referrals, seen 35 new jobs created and raised £2.6 million worth of investment.

Creative Futures marked a significant milestone at an event held at the Glasshouse in Jephson Gardens,

Leamington Spa, and hosted by Professor Stuart Croft, Vice Chancellor, University of Warwick.

The event launched a compelling new video celebrating the successes of Leamington Spa’s creative cluster and University of Warwick’s partnerships over the past four years, working with Warwickshire County Council and 1 Mill Street to foster collaboration with the diverse creative industries in Coventry and Warwickshire.

Clare Green, Associate Director, said: “We are so proud to work with and support the UK's most creative minds with strengths in design, software consulting, games development, digital marketing, VR & AR, film & TV. It is amazing to be part of a globally significant creative and digital cluster, which is the UK’s largest outside Greater London – and growing.”

If you’re a creative and digital business, here are some of the ways you can engage:

Unlock R&D funds and encourages new ideas and industry-academic collaborations. Projects are industryled, short term collaborations that spark innovative ideas, new products and partnerships that lead to future funding opportunities. http:// warwickinnovationdistrict.com/ creative-futures/research

• Mill Street Exchange. Drop in and gain access to business support specifically around space, finance and talent and securing student placements and interns.

• Become part of the incubator. Benefit from a six-month intensive support programme and one-year membership at Mill Street.