Cheshire East’s digital and creative sector set for £200k boost

A new partnership is set to give SMEs across part of Cheshire access to an investment fund worth £200k.

Cheshire East Council has teamed up with Creative England to launch the initial six-figure fund and unlock growth in the borough’s burgeoning digital and creative sector.

The cash boost forms part of the council’s wider digital growth programme, through which it aims to strengthen the area’s SME community with new opportunities, funding and specialist support.

Chunks of the £200k pot will be available for companies looking to grow through the development of new technology, products and services in fields such as web design, software development and e-commerce.

Applicants will need to demonstrate what the council calls “a clear market opportunity” and showcase an ability to generate further investment, as well as a strategy to either create or maintain jobs.

Funding will be made available as loans, equity investments and revenue-sharing arrangements.

The council’s Skills and Growth Company, a new arms-length business, will manage the digital growth programme. Its chairman, Cllr Paul Bates, said: “We are looking to support a small number of businesses with real growth potential and help them with a programme of intensive support and funding.

“The digital sector in Cheshire East is vibrant and growing and we are determined to help ensure this growth in sustained and that we have a thriving and world-class digital sector in Cheshire East.”

Denise Proctor, the chair of Weave – a taskforce launched with the aim of supporting the council’s drive to help creative and digital SMEs – welcomed the fund, which she said will offer the sector “a much-needed boost”.

She continued: “[The fund will] support some of our brightest minds to expand their businesses and grasp opportunities in this expanding field.”

The programme saw its launch at the Business Rocks conference, held in Manchester.