Funding and Support

Finding funding or support for your business can be a minefield but it doesn’t have to be!

There is a wide range of funding and support available to your business from advice through financial to academic and people support. Some of these options you may not have considered, were unsure if you were entitled to or generally weren’t aware of. However they may prove more beneficial to your business than you first thought.

Our advice

Although it may seem obvious, to ensure that you gain the most from any funding or support you may be entitled to, your first step is to be clear with what your objectives and requirements are, rather than thinking how much money can I get?

With clear objectives defined you can now begin to research and find the most appropriate support available. By approaching it in this way we hope that it will enable you to achieve your goals not where the funding or conditions may take you, as well as guaranteeing everyone’s time and resources are well spent.

How can Design Network North help?

Design Network North can support you through this process by determining whether we can help you with specific design related requirements or general advice. If we are unable to help, we will put you in touch with the right contact and organisation who can support your business. For more information or advice, click here.

RTC North Ltd have also been granted to deliver Innovation Vouchers which are designed to encourage collaboration between SMEs and knowledge based organisations, allowing businesses to use the vouchers to purchase support services and improve their competitiveness and efficiency. The total value of any one voucher will be at least £3,000, through to a ceiling limit of £7,000, depending on the project. For more information, click here.

Further insight

As part of February’s Design Network North’s Rise & Design event programme, Design Network North held an event on funding and support for design and innovation. The meeting was divided into three areas Support for Academia, Financial Support and Support Projects.

To view the presentations and video of the meeting, click here.

Follow the links under on the left hand side of the page for more information.