Creative businesses offered a last chance to learn from industry colleagues as free programme launches new round of growth sessions

Joseph Cox, creative director of Form Shop & Studio, with some of the products displayed at the Creative Pitch exhibition and conference held at the MKM Stadium in Hull

CREATIVE Growth Hull & East Yorkshire has already brought together 60 businesses to learn from experts and from each other about how to use great ideas to generate investment and expansion.

The programme will launch its sixth cohort on Tuesday 14 October at the University of Hull Business School. It will also introduce new participants to businesses which have already completed the programme at an awareness session on Tuesday 7 October at the Ferens Art Gallery in Hull. The seventh and final cohort will begin in January 2026.

Andrew Richardson, the programme manager at the HEY Business Growth and Skills Hub, said: “Our key message to businesses in the region’s creative industries has been to learn from those who have experienced the programme.

“They can then decide whether they want support to develop growth plans, advice on finding new markets and contracts, or help with understanding the finance and investment opportunities that might be the right routes forward for their specific business. There has also been a number of new collaborations launched between businesses who first met by taking part in the programme.”

Joseph Cox, creative director of Form Shop & Studio in Humber Street, Hull, exhibited in May at the Creative Pitch exhibition and conference held at the MKM Stadium. He told how the programme is helping the business expand from a stylish retail outlet to a wholesaler which will send products - many of them bearing iconic Hull brands and landmarks - nationwide and across the world.

Joseph said: “The shop is doing really well and we are happy with that but we also had a vision to build the wholesale side, move beyond the Hull products and create things around music and pop culture.

“Creative Growth gave us the opportunity to look at the business, my artwork, merchandise and designs, and develop that as a project. There are only three of us in the business and we open seven days a week but the programme has helped us take the time to consider where we are and think about the business and the next steps.”

Andrew added: “The programme is specifically tailored for local business founders who are looking to grow their creative businesses. It understands that businesses often have to manage conflicting business commitments and daily operational pressures, whilst at the same time managing the process of business growth.

“By using the advice, resources and learnings provided via the programme, and by sharing your own business experiences with other business leaders via peer learning, local creative business founders are supported to reexamine how they can develop their capacity and confidence to grow.”

The Creative Growth Hull and East Yorkshire programme is being delivered by the HEY Business Growth and Skills Hub in partnership with Hull City Council, East Riding of Yorkshire Council, and the University of Hull.

Businesses that enrol in cohorts 6 and 7 will be offered the opportunity to exhibit at a regional creative showcase event in March 2026. In addition they will be able to apply for an exclusive exhibitor package at the Creative UK Creative Industry summit in London early in 2026.

The programme supports Hull and East Yorkshire businesses that have been trading for at least two years and employ two people or more, including freelancers. To be eligible businesses must also be trading in one of the following creative sectors - advertising, marketing and PR, architecture, crafts, design and fashion, film, TV, video and photography, radio, IT, software, apps and video games, museums, galleries and libraries, music, visual and performing arts, and publishing and translation services.

To find out more and to register your place on the programme visit https://exec-education-hull.my.canva.site/creative-growth or email creativegrowth@heybusinessgrowthskillshub.com