Creative Game Changers Press Release

New Scottish Entrepreneurial Digital Support Programme Offers Collaborative Approach to Help Creative Game Changers Thrive in the Post-Pandemic World

Glasgow, Scotland, 4, October 2021

In a post-pandemic world full of new challenges, we need to consider a fresh approach to supporting creative businesses, offering current and relevant information to truly aid with sustainability and growth. Creative Game Changers (CGC), a pilot programme developed in partnership with The Future Economy Company (FEC) and Skills Development Scotland (SDS), is a leading-edge entrepreneurial digital support programme designed to arm participants with advanced skills in creative, critical and digital thinking with the aim of fast-tracking their development and allowing them to realise their full potential in this new world. The programme is funded under the Scottish Government’s Creative Digital Initiative.

Kicking off their three-pronged application process later this month, the Creative Game Changers programme is looking to recruit a small cohort of exceptional, Scotland-based participants who are forging their own path, shaping their own approach and finding new ways to do things in response to the changing landscape.

Those accepted onto this user-driven, virtual course will focus on the recovery, impact, digital reach and growth of their creative businesses. The programme, which will be shaped specifically around the needs of the programme’s participants, will include regular interactive masterclasses hosted by some of the UK’s most experienced entrepreneurs and top educators, followed by facilitated group discussions.

Participants will take an active role in a collaborative enquiry day alongside programme leads Medeia Cohan and Rachael Brown to determine the course content, thus ensuring the programme’s optimal relevance and impact for the participants.

‘For this programme, we were determined not to assume that we knew what these Game Changers needed. They’re taking an entirely new approach to their businesses so we wanted to create a space where they could tell us how we could best nourish them’ says CGC Programme Lead, Medeia Cohan.

In addition to the course content, participants will also have access to a host of ‘Shepherds’ specialising in a range of subjects who are available for 1:2:1 consultations to support participants across their journey on the course.

‘Creative Game Changers is a chance for entrepreneurs who’ve not yet found their most appropriate business support mechanism to curate their own development experience. They’re being offered space to be heard and quality care to assist them with their development,’ offers Rachael Brown, CEO of The Future Economy Company.

Applications are expected will open in early October and will be accepted through a rolling admission process, meaning that strong applicants will be accepted as soon as they are selected, thus the programme could fill up before the November 1st deadline. In short, don’t wait to apply.

The application process includes three rounds of consideration including an online application, a virtual interview and lastly a selection panel of Game Changers will select the programme participants.

The selection panel includes digital expert, Andrew Davis, Equator, Chief Creative Officer, Jamie Jefferson, Key Sector Manager for Creative Industries at Skills Development Scotland, David Martin and Hey Girls Founder, Celia Hodson. Additional panellists will be revealed soon.

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Ideal Participants:

This programme was thoughtfully developed for creative businesses and individuals that have found a new approach to business or pivoted their business models or product offers, identified new routes to market, new customers or new opportunities. Those who are ambitious, perhaps don’t seem to ‘fit’ elsewhere and have the ability and tenacity to thrive in the current climate, with a little tailored support.

This programme could be for you if you run a creative business or operate as a sole trader or freelancer and are working on a creative recovery plan, need digital support to take things to the next level, have the potential to grow or to create jobs in the current climate or can demonstrate multiple impacts, across social, creative, environmental & economic measures in Scotland.

The programme will actively seek out applicants who demonstrate the following:

• Business resilience
• New approaches to reconnect and build new markets in pursuit of recovery
• Potential to pivot successfully
• New routes to market, new customers or new opportunities
• Ambition and a creative approach

More about the Creative Digital Initiative:

The Creative Digital Initiative (CDI) has been established to provide support to creative and cultural businesses to help them develop their digital capabilities in response to the limitations imposed by Covid-19. Focused on the needs of SMES and micro-businesses, it builds on some existing programmes of support as well as providing grants to enable organisations and businesses to invest in skills and resources.

The CDI has been established to:

• Drive income generation and sustainability
• Build business resilience through diversity of offer
• Increase sector innovation and generate and share new models

It is targeted at SMEs and micros working in the creative industries and activity will run from January through March, offering opportunities for organisations and businesses to engage with different aspects of the support programme. Participants can be any type of business, as long as they sit within the Scottish definition of the creative industries. We are particularly keen to support businesses that have leadership or a workforce that is representative of our diverse population, or provide products and services to diverse audiences. 

The programme has been developed through a partnership of Scotland’s enterprise agencies (Scottish Enterprise, Highlands & Islands Enterprise, South of Scotland Enterprise, Business Gateway), Skills Development Scotland, Creative Scotland and the Scottish Government.