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Rediscovering the creative brief


Has the importance of the creative brief been lost? Has it become a bit of a chore, a piece of admin, just a form to be filled out? Jonathan Kirk believes there is a general lack of understanding as to its proper role and value.

15/10/2025


News


Read more >>

DBA Roundup


A roundup of industry expertise, exclusive resources, business support and tools for your design business.

08/10/2025


News


Read more >>

DBA Members’ Forum | October Summary


For October's DBA Members’ Forum, we were joined by three in-house design leaders who shared their sector-specific perspectives on how current market conditions, with rapid change and unpredictability, are shaping their businesses and influencing their design teams.

08/10/2025


News


Read more >>

New appointees to the DBA Board of Directors


We're delighted to welcome three new Directors to the DBA Board, voted in by the membership at our Annual General Meeting.

08/10/2025


News


Read more >>

Design events calendar


There are many industry events held every year to enrich your team and business. We've compiled a snap-shot of what's coming up.

15/09/2025


News


Read more >>

DBA Members’ Forum | August Summary


At August's DBA Members’ Forum we were joined by Lucy Mann and Nick Farrar, Founder and CEO of Shaped By for a great conversation about how to use August to build momentum for your new business pipeline through September and beyond. This is an August to do list!

06/08/2025


News


Read more >>

Discover! Creative Careers Month 2025: how to get involved


Could you provide design career experiences for 11-18-year-olds this November? Find out more about Discover! Creative Careers Month and help inspire the next generation of talent into design.

05/08/2025


News


Read more >>

What led you to a career in design? How could you inspire others?


Whether you are a small company or a large employer, could you inspire young, diverse talent to consider a career in design? Here's how DBA member BAGGI helped young people Discover Creative Careers.

16/07/2025


News


Read more >>

DBA Members’ Forum | July Summary


At July's DBA Members’ Forum we were joined by Rama Gheerawo and Clive Grinyer for the top line on their latest books. Here’s a brief summary of what was discussed in the meeting.

09/07/2025


News


Read more >>

DBA Members’ Forum | June Summary


In June's DBA Members’ Forum we had an interesting and inspiring conversation on the topic design education particularly in higher education. Here's a summary of the conversation.

03/06/2025


News


Read more >>

Main Content

ricardo-gomez-angel-bdd97nzg-5s-unsplash-copyInnovate UK is looking for “innovative and ambitious ideas, which would realistically and significantly meet a societal need that has emerged or increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic or the need of an industry that has been severely impacted and/or permanently disrupted”.

UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £20 million to respond to these needs in UK and global communities.

 

Innovate UK is looking for ambitious ideas for projects which can be:

  • scaled up quickly
  • delivered during this lock-down period
  • started by June 2020
  • and last up to six months. 

Launched on 3 April, the deadline for applications is 17 April 2020 at 12pm. There is a streamlined application process for 100% up-front grants of up to £50k.

Ideas can come from any industry and be niche. Whilst solutions are likely to feature cross-cutting digital solutions, they could come from and impact on diverse sectors, for example healthcare, financial services, transport or creative services. 

If you have ideas for solutions across priority areas that you could foresee through to commercialisation, or if you have clients who you can support and shape their R&D processes to help get these products to market quickly you can apply for a grant of up to 100% of your project costs up to the maximum of £50k (paid in advance of the project start date) from Innovate UK.

Your proposal must focus on a clear need and the proposed innovation to address it. You must have the ability to deliver the project during the working restrictions of Covid-19 pandemic.

Key details: 

  • competition closes 17 April at 12pm
  • full funding up front
  • project length 3-6months
  • funding cannot be used for sustainability of a business
  • sole traders will not be eligible.

Your application must demonstrate:

  • a clearly innovative and ambitious idea, which would realistically and significantly meet a societal need that has emerged or increased due to the Covid-19 pandemic or the need of an industry that has been severely impacted and/or permanently disrupted
  • that you have the capacity and capability to deliver the project successfully and on time during the working restrictions of Covid-19
  • the ability to start your project no later than June 2020
  • value for money

 

Image credit: 

Brennan Burling | Unsplash

Rediscovering the creative brief


Has the importance of the creative brief been lost? Has it become a bit of a chore, a piece of admin, just a form to be filled out? Jonathan Kirk believes there is a general lack of understanding as to its proper role and value.

15/10/2025


News


Read more >>

DBA Roundup


A roundup of industry expertise, exclusive resources, business support and tools for your design business.

08/10/2025


News


Read more >>

DBA Members’ Forum | October Summary


For October's DBA Members’ Forum, we were joined by three in-house design leaders who shared their sector-specific perspectives on how current market conditions, with rapid change and unpredictability, are shaping their businesses and influencing their design teams.

08/10/2025


News


Read more >>

New appointees to the DBA Board of Directors


We're delighted to welcome three new Directors to the DBA Board, voted in by the membership at our Annual General Meeting.

08/10/2025


News


Read more >>

Design events calendar


There are many industry events held every year to enrich your team and business. We've compiled a snap-shot of what's coming up.

15/09/2025


News


Read more >>

DBA Members’ Forum | August Summary


At August's DBA Members’ Forum we were joined by Lucy Mann and Nick Farrar, Founder and CEO of Shaped By for a great conversation about how to use August to build momentum for your new business pipeline through September and beyond. This is an August to do list!

06/08/2025


News


Read more >>

Discover! Creative Careers Month 2025: how to get involved


Could you provide design career experiences for 11-18-year-olds this November? Find out more about Discover! Creative Careers Month and help inspire the next generation of talent into design.

05/08/2025


News


Read more >>

What led you to a career in design? How could you inspire others?


Whether you are a small company or a large employer, could you inspire young, diverse talent to consider a career in design? Here's how DBA member BAGGI helped young people Discover Creative Careers.

16/07/2025


News


Read more >>

DBA Members’ Forum | July Summary


At July's DBA Members’ Forum we were joined by Rama Gheerawo and Clive Grinyer for the top line on their latest books. Here’s a brief summary of what was discussed in the meeting.

09/07/2025


News


Read more >>

DBA Members’ Forum | June Summary


In June's DBA Members’ Forum we had an interesting and inspiring conversation on the topic design education particularly in higher education. Here's a summary of the conversation.

03/06/2025


News


Read more >>