Creative Futures Incubator

A free 6 month incubator for early stage and start-up creative & digital businesses.

What is the Creative Futures Incubator?

A free 6 month incubator for early-stage and start-up businesses to develop entrepreneurial skills, test and launch their creative & digital business as well as providing business advice, mentoring and networking to support the growth of creative ideas, enterprises and innovation.

  1. A years’ membership at 1 Mill Street with 6 months’ worth of business support, mentoring and advice to develop and launch your business. This is equivalent to up to £10,000 worth of space and support.
  2. 1:1 coaching to empower you with the monthly focus and accountability you need to break through your own limitations.
  3. A tailored package of support and agreed milestones to equip your climb towards developing your business.
  4. Exclusive access to the University of Warwick’s experts, mentors and graduate entrepreneurs
  5. Hands-on learning through guest speaker talks, events and live interviews.
  6. A strong sense of community with a network of peers who share similar entrepreneurial interests and aspirations.

  1. You must be motivated and determined to build or start a business in the West Midlands and be able to demonstrate why you would benefit from being part of the Leamington Spa creative cluster.
  2. This programme is open to graduates, alumni, early stage, start-up and SMEs. Current students are not eligible.
  3. Applications can come from individuals (a lead applicant) or teams with a maximum of five co-founders or team members.
  4. The business team must be primarily based in the West Midlands during their time on the programme.
  5. Successful businesses will need to be both creative & digital from various sectors including screen, gaming, VR, AI, performing arts, marketing and events, PR and design businesses.
  6. Each cohort will be made up of a mix of the following business types;
    Creative Tech, Creative Products, Creative Production or Creative Content

Submissions must include:

  1. Application Form including details of your Business Vision, what makes you different and how you will attract, engage and sell to customers
  2. CV for the lead applicant and any other team members*.
  3. Financial Forecast – Please use our financial forecast template and request the explainer video for guidance.
  4. 5 Images which best represent your work*
  5. 3-min video explaining your business, your vision and introducing the team*.

*Files should be sent via email or WeTransfer to creativeanddigital@warwick.ac.uk

Interviews will take place week commencing 9th or 16th March 2026

All candidates will be informed by 20th March

Successful candidates will be invited to join the Cohort Meetup on 26th March, 5pm in Leamington Spa

Onboarding into the cohort and Mill Street will take place on 30th March

Key Information

Deadline

Our 12th Cohort

Tuesday 3rd March 2026, at midday

Location

1 Mill Street,

Royal Leamington Spa,

CV31 1ES

Do you have a creative business?

Leamington Spa is the UK’s largest creative cluster outside Greater London and Creative Futures provides an exciting opportunity for any business to develop entrepreneurial skills, test, launch and pitch ideas and get 6 months of free space and support to develop your creative enterprises.

Space & Support

Mentoring

Networking

Community

Space & Support

Mentoring

Networking

Community

          I have gained so much from the Creative Futures experience and my business has grown in bounds!

Katie Jones, Founder, Design by Katie Jones

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Contact us

Book a 15-min discovery call to discuss the Creative Futures Incubator and application process, or email creativeanddigital@warwick.ac.uk

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Contact us

Book a 15-min discovery call to discuss the Creative Futures Incubator and application process, or email Clare.E.Green@warwick.ac.uk.

A lady in conversation at a conference.

Get updates from Warwick Innovation District

Innovation is happening all the time – We’d like to keep you up to date. Sign-up for the latest news direct to your inbox and we’ll keep you informed of the latest opportunities, events and more.

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