Make and Trade Grant Fund

Background to the grant

Over the last 25 years, the creative industries have progressed from being a fringe activity to a key part of the UK and world economy. It is recognised that a strong creative and cultural sector can help diversify a city centre offer and increase vibrancy. This can have a transformational effect, driving sustainable development and complementing existing retail and leisure activities.

Derby has long been recognised as a city of innovation and creativity. Artistic and cultural production as a broad scope of activities have the potential to provide an overall experience that encourages social interaction, increases visitors, inspires greater civic pride and builds a positive identity for the city.

Need

Research undertaken with creative businesses identified that the current workspace offer within Derby caters mainly to digital and design businesses. The limited workspace supply for artists and makers is over-subscribed and inadequate in its facilities.

More workspaces including co-working, small studio units or maker spaces that offer areas for storage, exhibition, making and opportunity for public engagement are required. It was also noted that small creative enterprises often operate independently, but there is a desire from practitioners to be part of collective spaces within the city centre.

Definition of creative industries

The creative industries are those industries which have their origin in individual creativity, skill and talent. For this fund the main focus will be on businesses occupied in the production of creative originals such as fashion, jewellery, crafts, visual arts and other types of making. We will also consider businesses involved in film, video, photography, music, illustration, publishing and design.

About the fund

Derby City Council has secured funding to help address the need for workspace and support creative businesses to develop their practice in the city centre. This pilot Make and Trade initiative aims to enable the development of new workspaces and studios in empty or under-used city centre buildings for makers and artists alongside the wider creative industries sectors.

Funding can be used to cover your relocation and fit-out costs for a property where you will be the leaseholder. The principal basis for funding awards will be 50% of your costs with a cap of £10,000.

We also welcome applications from small groups of creative businesses who would like to collectively occupy a single property. Funding allocations above the £10,000 cap for this type of project will be considered on a case-by-case basis. For this type of project, email mike.brown@derby.gov.uk to discuss your proposal before applying.

Relocation and fit out costs we will consider supporting through the fund include:

• initial clearing and cleaning of the space
• transport costs for any specialist equipment you will need to relocate to the space
• fit out of working environment such as work benches and storage. You should explain why this is necessary and appropriate to your type of business
• purchase of specialist equipment particular to your business. You should explain why this is necessary and appropriate to your type of business (please note, this excludes purchase of IT equipment)
• deposit required by the landlord
• costs associated with updating your marketing to reflect your new address
• if your space is public facing you can include costs for branding your space such as window vinyl and shop signage.

Priority location for funding

The grant funding aims to cluster creative business activity within a defined area. The priority location for the funding is the Cathedral Quarter BID area. Proposals outside of this area will be considered, with decisions based on the level of contribution to the key outcomes of the Make and Trade Grant Fund.

Eligibility

Organisations and individuals will be eligible to apply for the Make and Trade Grant Fund if they are planning to take out (or have recently taken out), a lease on a property in Derby City Centre. You can apply for funding if:

• You are planning to take space in Derby City Centre but are not currently a leaseholder – you should have identified a property and be in contact with the landlord or agent. You can apply before you have signed the lease, but any approved grant funding will only be released once you can provide evidence that you are the leaseholder on the defined property.
• You are already the leaseholder on a property – you must have taken out the lease within the six months prior to the date of your application. We will only consider new costs associated with your relocation and fit out. We cannot retrospectively fund costs you have already incurred.

Make and Trade Project Outcomes

• Support start-up businesses, retain talent and grow the creative economy in Derby.
• Bring new creative businesses with innovative ideas into the city centre.
• Utilise underused city centre space, turning liabilities into assets.
• Encourage footfall, increase vibrancy and support placemaking in Derby City Centre.

How to apply

The grant fund is a rolling programme with no application deadline. This means you can apply when you are ready to do so. However, it should be noted that the total funding available is £170,000 and once this has been fully allocated, the grant fund will close.

To apply, you will need to complete the Application Form and Appendix A. Please provide concise responses to the information requested and ensure you answer all the questions.

We are working with partners that can provide business support and advice. We expect this to include specialist advice around property and lease issues. If you feel this would be of use prior to submitting your application, email mike.brown@derby.gov.uk to discuss your needs.

Budget breakdown

Please provide a breakdown of all the relocation and fit out costs you would like to be considered for funding. Remember, the Make and Trade Grant Fund will only contribute 50% of the costs stated in your application up to a maximum of £10,000, so ensure you detail all your costs not just what you want us to fund. Please ensure you provide details of how you will fund the remaining 50% costs not covered by the grant, and whether this funding is approved or in process.

Submitting your application

Once you have completed your application, please sign the declaration and collate all relevant supporting information. These should then be emailed to mike.brown@derby.gov.uk.

What happens next

On receipt of an application, Derby City Council will undertake an initial eligibility check to determine whether the project can move to assessment. This eligibility check will include the following verification:

• application is fully complete
• eligibility status of applicant.

If your application is incomplete, we will notify you of any outstanding information required. You will be given a set time to return this information. Failure to provide this information within the given time may mean your application does not progress to assessment.

We will use the responses you provide to the Information Questions and Finance Questions to assess whether there is a genuine need for the level of funding requested. To achieve this, we will consider the relevance and eligibility of each of your stated relocation and eligibility expenses. It is the responsibility of the applicant to make a clear and concise case to justify their funding request. Following assessment, the grants panel will make one of the following recommendations:

• Fund at the level requested.
• Fund at a lower level than requested.
• Not to fund.

What if my application is not approved?

There is no right to appeal, and the Council's decision is final. We will provide details of why your application was rejected or funded at a lower level than requested within our decision letter.