Investor Connect
Why the UK’s creative industries are an extraordinary investment opportunity
Why the UK’s creative industries are an extraordinary investment opportunity
In the last five years, Creative UK has invested over £31 million into hundreds of extraordinary creative businesses. Our flagship fund Creative Growth Finance - delivered in partnership with Triodos Bank – offers loans between £100,000 and £1m* to post-revenue businesses operating in the sector.
As a blueprint for investment in the sector, the results speak for themselves. Our portfolio is twice as productive as the national average, and one in five go on to be acquired.
Revenues are increasing 75% per year on average, and CGF investees have gone on to secure over £19m in third-party funding.
More about the sector
The sector is made up of a range of exciting industries, including gaming, film, TV, tech (including immersive tech), advertising, architecture, publishing, music and much more. It also includes businesses who might be described as SaaS, tech-enabled, B2C and B2B and entertainment.
Owing to its large returns, the creative industries was recently named a priority for investment in the UK Government’s Modern Industrial Strategy. The sector contributes £145 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) to the UK annually, and last year, the Chancellor set out the aim of nearly doubling business investment in the sector by 2035 – from £17bn to £31bn.
Thanks to our talent and creative excellence, the UK is the world’s second-largest destination for creative sector Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), after the USA.
Growth-ready businesses looking to connect with investors
One in ten businesses operating in the UK today are part of the creative industries – and there has never been a better time for investors to connect with sector. We’re well on our way. Thanks to interventions such as the Create Growth Programme (CGP) - designed by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to support creative businesses to scale and become investment ready - right now, there are thousands of opportunities for exciting investment in regions across the UK. Research has found that creative SMEs have a significantly higher appetite for growth than businesses in other sectors (72% vs 59%). And with Creative UK currently undertaking further discovery work to understand what SMEs from a range of sector verticles need from investment, the potential for connection, opportunity and growth could be significant.
Success stories
Here are just some examples of creative businesses who have delivered strong return on investment.
Dimension Studio
Dimension Studio is a creative technology and virtual production company working across real-time filmmaking, volumetric capture, digital humans and immersive experiences. Using tools such as Unreal Engine and real-time 3D workflows, the studio supports film, TV, live events and location-based experiences. Dimension operates from studios in London and Newcastle and has supported many high-profile productions, including For Those About to Die, Wicked parts 1 and 2, and Mercy.
Creative UK invested £1 million through Creative Growth Finance across two rounds from late 2021, supporting team growth, technical development and the expansion of Dimension’s creative capabilities.
As a result of the investment, Dimension scaled creative and technical output across screen and immersive projects. They also successfully launched a live events division, providing digital versions of venues, extending venues through LED screens, interactive media experiences and more. One of its first partnerships was with Outernet, an immersive live events space in central London.
In 2025, Dimension Studio were acquired by global design and experience agency Journey, gaining access to international networks, clients and larger creative opportunities.
With an ARR of 18.4%, Dimension Studio demonstrates how investment into an ambitious virtual production company can provide clear commercial value and exit potential.
Huey Games
Huey Games is a Manchester-based independent game studio and specialist porting and co-development partner. Founded by experienced industry developers, the studio helps bring games to multiple platforms using its proprietary HueyCore™ technology, alongside developing its own original projects.
Creative UK’s Creative Growth Finance fund invested £235,000 into Huey Games in 2022, following the company’s participation in Creative UK Games Scale Up and Evolve support programmes.
Since the investment, Huey Games has grown and sharpened its focus as a specialist co-development and console porting studio. The funding supported further development of the platform and enabled the team to expand, increasing delivery capacity and allowing the studio to take on a larger and more consistent pipeline of client projects. Notable recent projects include Hell Let Loose and Little Nightmares II.
Huey Games has delivered a solid return on investment, achieving an ARR of 8.3% by strategically pivoting its business towards a scalable service-led model.
NewTerritory
NewTerritory is a London-based brand experience studio designing how people experience brands across physical, digital, service and spatial touchpoints. The studio works beyond traditional visual identity, helping organisations create experiences that feel consistent, meaningful and human. Its work spans sectors including aviation, automotive, hospitality, wellbeing and financial services.
Creative UK investment provided the breathing space to invest ahead of growth, rather than being limited by short-term cash flow. This allowed NewTerritory to make key hires, take on larger projects and strengthen how the business operated day to day. Post-investment, Creative UK’s deep knowledge of agency business models meant they understood the unique ups and downs inherent to the industry, which made working with the portfolio team much easier right from the start.
Because of the investment, the team were able to take on larger and more complex client work, and deepen long-term client relationships. They also expanded sector focus and ambition.
In 2025, NewTerritory were acquired by global creative group geniant, allowing them to access international clients while retaining creative identity.
NewTerritory’s 11.2% ARR reflects the value of their creativity and strategic thinking in focusing on end-to-end brand experiences.
Grid Finder
Grid Finder is an esports and competitive racing platform connecting sim-racing communities across PlayStation, Xbox and PC. It helps players find leagues, track results and organise competitions in popular racing titles like F1 25, Gran Turismo 7 and Forza Horizon 6, all in one place.
They received £100,000 equity investment from Creative UK through the North East Culture and Creative Investment Programme, helping unlock a further £325,000 in matched private investment.
As a result, they grew the team and accelerated product development and built confidence with partners and investors.
In 2024, Grid Finder were acquired by US-based RAFA Racing Club in a seven-figure deal.
Grid Finder delivered a 1.4x return over two years, showing how a focused, niche gaming platform can create value and attract acquisition by serving a clearly defined community.
Deadgood
Deadgood is a Newcastle-based furniture and interiors company known for bold design and ethical production. Its products are made largely in Britain, with sustainability and durability built into the design process. Deadgood has designed office interiors and furnishings for clients like Google, PwC, Adobe and the BBC.
Deadgood received a loan investment through Creative UK’s Culture and Creative Investment Programme, alongside support from Innovate UK’s Creative Catalyst grant.
As a result of the investment, they accelerated new product development, with a bold new collection unveiled at Clerkenwell Design Week 2025 – including dynamic, design-forward tables and swivel chairs, and an eco-friendly beanbag. They also built improved digital tools for bespoke design and specification and increased production capacity to meet demand.
Deadgood achieved a 16% ARR while staying true to its distinctive design values, showing that a furniture brand can scale commercially without compromising its identity.
Orbital FX
Orbital FX is a North East-based prop and costume fabrication studio working across film, TV, immersive experiences and themed entertainment, and has contributed to major entertainment franchises, such as the Star Wars and Marvel universes. The studio combines hands-on craft with technical engineering to deliver high-quality practical effects.
Following participation in Creative UK’s North East Create Growth Programme, Orbital FX secured £100,000 investment from the Culture and Creative Investment Programme (CCIP) to support equipment upgrades and capacity building.
As a result of the investment, they were able to upgrade equipment and workshop capability, and take on larger and more ambitious commissions. Recent projects have included a restoration of the original Boba Fett blaster prop from Empire Strikes Back.
Orbital FX achieved a 15% ARR by sticking to what it does best – high-quality craft and fabrication – and by scaling its capabilities around that.
Wake The Tiger
Wake The Tiger is the world’s first “Amazement Park®” – a large-scale immersive art experience based in Bristol. Visitors explore a fictional world called Meridia through interactive installations, playful environments and layered storytelling. The experience is self-guided, multi-sensory and designed to appeal to families, adults and schools alike.
Through the Creative Growth Finance fund, Creative UK invested £500,000 into the business, supporting the realisation and early scaling of this ambitious and unique creative venture.
As a result of the investment, Wake the Tiger expanded the Bristol site, increasing the size and depth of the experience. New spaces, storylines and interactive elements were unlocked – which built and sustained visitor demand and secured repeat audiences. The team then announced a second flagship venue at Westfield London, opening in 2026, with the 80,000 sq ft London site is set to become Europe’s largest immersive art experience.
Wake The Tiger shows how early belief and patient investment can help an unconventional creative idea grow into something with national scale.
Polybox
Polybox is a Newcastle-based AI analytics platform helping marketing agencies make sense of campaign data across multiple channels. The platform automates reporting and insight generation, reducing manual work and helping teams focus on creative and strategic decisions.
Polybox secured a £500,000 investment round including funding from Creative UK’s North East Culture and Creative Investment Programme, alongside regional funds and angel investors.
The investment supported development of advanced AI-driven real-time reporting tool, which brings together data from 700+ sources like Google Analytics, Meta, TikTok and HubSpot into a single dashboard. They also developed an AI-powered chatbot that lets users query campaign data in natural language and get insights on demand, as well as expanding their team to speed up product development and delivery.
Polybox demonstrates how creative-tech businesses can grow by solving practical, everyday problems for agencies.
Connect today!
Sign up to Creative UK’s Investor Club Newsletter for regular updates on how you can connect or chat to our team to find out more and make a connection!
Growth-ready businesses we have worked with already
Here are some examples of the kinds of businesses looking to connect to investors and unlock the next stage of growth.
