Creative Business FAQs

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Eligibility

Am I eligible?

All details can be found on the creative business eligibility.

What types of projects will be eligible?

All details can be found on the project eligibility criteria.

Can I apply for a Creative Credit if we are a creative business?

No. Businesses working within the creative sector cannot apply for a Credit but they can be listed on our online gallerywhich displays information about all of the participating creative businesses.

What area does the programme cover?

A list of eligible boroughs can be found on the eligibility criteria.

Your main office must be based in one of these areas to make you eligible to be listed on the gallery.

If you are unsure if your business is in one of these areas, please use the postcode checker.

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Applying to be listed on the Creative Credits Gallery

How do I apply?

To apply to be listed in the Creative Credits gallery, please complete the online application form.

What's involved in the application process? What happens after we've applied?

To apply to be on the gallery you need to complete a short application form. This will be checked by NESTA to ensure you are eligible to participate as a creative business. If you are eligible your contact details will be transferred to the gallery and you will be emailed a password allowing you to log on and upload examples of work, a company description and brochure.

What's in it for my business?

Being listed on the gallery as one of the creative businesses participating in the programme gives you the chance to gain new business from the 150 companies allocated a Creative Credit. Each company must spend a minimum of £5,000 on their project and use a creative business listed on the gallery.

Does it cost anything?

No. It is free to be listed on the gallery.

When can I apply? When is the deadline for applications?

Applications from creative businesses will be accepted from 9am on the 1st of February 2010 and will close at midnight on the 1st of March 2010.

Am I guaranteed to get new business?

The 75 businesses that are allocated a Credit will be responsible for selecting the creative business they wish to work with. Therefore, being listed on the gallery does not guarantee that you will gain new business. To give yourself the best possible chance of being selected, we recommend creating an engaging profile on the gallery by uploading a business description, examples of past work and a brochure.

In what order are the businesses on the gallery displayed?

Position in the search results on the gallery is based on two elements. The first is how complete the profile is of the creative business. The second is participation in the Creative Credits research. Those companies that have fully updated their profile including: description, logo, all three examples and brochure upload, will appear higher up the search listings. Similarly, those creative businesses that have completed the recent research survey will appear higher than those that have yet to complete the questionnaire.

What size logo, pictures and brochures can I upload?

Company logo can be up to 1mb
Example pictures can be up to 1mb
Brochures can be up to 10mb

What is the best format to set up our images for upload?

Uploaded images should measure approximately 250 pixels by 250 pixels - You may want to factor in additional padding if your image is not square, as it may be cropped in the process of uploading. We recommend a minimum resolution of 125 pixels by 125 pixel to avoid pixellating your image.

I'm already on the gallery do I need to apply again for wave two?

No. You do not need to re-apply for wave two if you are already listed on the gallery. However, you do need to confirm that you have read and agree to our new terms and conditions. If you haven't already done so, please email creativecredits@nesta.org.uk to find out how to sign up to the new terms and conditions.

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Projects and creative businesses

How many Credits will be awarded?

In total, 150 Credits will be awarded. 75 were allocated in October 2009 and 75 will be awarded in March 2010.

What happens once a business is allocated a Credit?

Once selected to receive a Credit, businesses will choose the creative business they want to work with from the online gallery and then submit a project proposal to NESTA for eligibility checking.

Can we help the business we work with to scope out and complete their project proposal?

We expect that the creative businesses selected by those with a Credit will input into the project proposal to ensure that it will meet the required needs. Please note that all projects must meet the project eligibility criteria.

What happens if a project is found to be ineligible?

Those with a Credit will be asked to amend their project and resubmit their proposal to NESTA. This will continue until the project is deemed eligible under the project criteria. All proposals need to be approved by 16th April 2010. If an eligible proposal is not submitted to NESTA by this date the Credit will be withdrawn..

When will businesses find out if they've got a credit?

Businesses applying for the first wave of Creative Credits will be informed if they have been allocated a Credit by the 3rd of March 2010.

Can I contact the businesses that are receiving a Credit?

Yes. The business name, requirements and email contact address of those selected to receive a Credit will be listed on the website.

Do projects have to fulfil requirements or targets?

No. Projects completed under the programme do not need to meet any requirements or targets other than those set by the business commissioning the project.

What if a company changes project?

Those receiving a Credit can change their project at any time however all altered projects must still be deemed eligible by NESTA. If a completed project changes once it has been approved, the amended proposal will need to be resubmitted to NESTA for checking. If a project is found to be ineligible at the end of the project NESTA will not reimburse the £4,000.

How will Credit businesses choose a creative business to work with?

Those receiving a Credit are responsible for choosing the creative business they want to work with from the online gallery. A guide on how to select and work with a creative business will be provided to all those allocated a Credit. Creative businesses not listed on the gallery cannot be used. NESTA will not be providing any other services to match those receiving a Credit with a creative business.

What if I know some clients who might like to apply? Can I work with a business I've worked with in the past?

Under the project eligibility criteria, the programme is designed to help create new collaborations and relationships between companies. Therefore those receiving a Credit cannot choose a creative business that they have paid for work from in the past 5 years or one that is run or owned by a relative. You may contact prospective clients if you feel they would be interested in applying but bear in mind that because only 150 will be randomly allocated across all eligible applicants, they are not guaranteed to receive a Credit.

Are creative businesses approved or vetted by NESTA?

Creative businesses will be approved if they meet the eligibility criteria. NESTA will not be vetting the quality of work or practices of the participating creative businesses. It is the responsibility of those receiving a Credit to ensure they are happy with the creative business they have selected.

Can a creative business that is not in the gallery be selected for a project?

No. Creative businesses not listed on the gallery cannot be used for Creative Credit projects.

What happens if there is a dispute between my business and the business I'm working with?

All disputes regarding work and payment will need to be resolved between yourself and the business you are working with and NESTA will not be involved in resolving any disagreements that arise. It would be good practice to agree work, outcomes and payment in advance.

Should a dispute arise, those receiving a Credit will be able to change the creative business they work with once their project is underway as long as their new provider is also listed under the programme and they are only working with one creative business at any one time.

Can those with a Credit work with more than one creative business?

Yes. Up to 2 creative companies can be used for projects.

My company offers more than just creative services, can I still get involved?

Yes. As long as the majority of your business falls within one of the 13 types of creative business you can still be listed on the gallery even if you offer additional services that are not creative. A list of the types of activity that are classified as creative can be found on our eligibility criteria.

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Money and Funding

How much are the Creative Credits worth?

Each Credit is worth £4,000.

Do companies have to pay anything?

Those that receive a Credit will be required to contribute a minimum of £1,000 to their project.

What is the minimum project cost? Is there a limit to the amount companies can contribute?

The minimum project cost is £5,000. £4,000 of this is covered by the Credit and £1,000 is to be contributed by the company receiving the Credit. There is no upper limit on the amount of funds they can contribute to their project.

How and when do I get paid?

On completion of the project please use your usual system and payment terms to invoice the business you have worked with for the total amount. Once this has been paid, the business receiving the Credit can claim £4,000 from NESTA.

Why does the money go to the non-creative business and not direct to my company?

Due to the fact that those receiving a Credit need to make a minimum £1,000 contribution to their project, the £4,000 will be paid to them so that creative businesses that carried out the work only have to send one invoice for the total cost.

What if the project costs are more than expected?

NESTA will only reimburse Credit recipients for £4,000. If project costs are more than expected, payment of these costs will need to be paid by the business who commissioned the project.

What about VAT?

Those receiving a Credit will be expected to pay any VAT that is charged on the work done on their project.

Who is funding the programme?

The programme is being funded by the following organisations:

• National Endowment for Science Technology and the Arts (NESTA) - www.nesta.org.uk
  
• North West Development Agency (NWDA) - www.nwda.co.uk
  
• Manchester City Council (MCC) - www.manchester.gov.uk
  
• Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) - www.esrc.ac.uk
  
• Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) - www.ahrc.ac.uk
  

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Research

What is the research?

The Creative Credits programme is designed to stimulate business growth in Manchester by encouraging businesses to work in new, more creative ways. Because this is a world-first there are two aspects that we want to assess:

• The success of the Credit in incentivising collaboration between different types of business
  
• The impact of the new collaborations

  Therefore, those businesses taking part will be asked to take participate research which will help us evaluate the benefits of the programme. The research will help us better understand how creative companies can help stimulate growth in businesses outside of the creative sector.
  

Do I have to participate in the research?

As part of the terms and conditions of being listed on the gallery, creative businesses will be expected to participate in the research.

What will it involve? When will I have to participate?

All businesses taking part in the research will be asked to complete 5 short online questionnaires and a quick phone interview follow-up. These will be spread out over 2 years.

For the first wave, questionnaires will be sent out electronically in:

• November 09
  
• March 2010
  
• August 2010
  
• January 2011
  
• June 2011

  Some businesses will also be invited to become case studies involving more intensive interviews.
  

Who is carrying out the research?

Aston Business School (www.aston.ac.uk/abs) and Warwick Business School (www.wbs.ac.uk), two of the leading Business Schools in the UK.

Will my responses be anonymous?

Yes. All information provided will be treated confidentially and any information used in the public domain will be anonymous and not associated with the company in any way.