Creative UK launches critical new survey into creative funding and finance

DEADLINE EXTENDED – We are conducting research to investigate how creative businesses and organisations utilise finance, and we want to hear from you. Complete the survey HERE.

Do you wish to remove barriers so creative businesses and organisations, like you, can access funding more easily? Are you hoping that one day, there will be fairer and more equitable finance options for business growth? Do you have something to say to the UK Government?

New research is being undertaken by Creative UK in partnership with the Creative Policy and Evidence Centre (PEC) and BVA BDRC, supported by the Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Creative Industries Council and YouTube.

This research, titled Access to Finance, seeks to capture experiences and perspectives as to how creative businesses and organisations (e.g. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Not-for Profits, etc.) use finance and funding as they grow. It’s a critical window of opportunity to directly inform the thinking of the newly formed UK Government, and to describe the experiences of people like you working in the creative economy.

Have your voice heard and complete the survey today.

The research seeks to understand (please note, this is not a definitive list):

the extent to which finance is used by creative organisations

the types of finance being used

your reasons for accessing finance

the barriers you faced in the process

your type of organisation and key information about you e.g. your creative industry or region

Your experience is especially critical if you are a creative SME or organisation who:

Has a turnover equal to or less than £50m
Has an employee headcount equal to or less than 250 people

Things you need to know:

Research launch date: Thursday 18 July 2024

Research closing date – EXTENDED: Friday 13 September 2024

Methods of data collection: telephone and online submissions

Data gathering will be undertaken by Alligator (a sister fieldwork company of BVA BDRC) and Creative UK.

For any subsector of the Cultural and Creative Industries (see list of creative subsectors) with contributions from at least 100 organisations, the dataset will be shared in due course with the trade and/or representative body for that group.