DBA Member Forum | June Summary
At our latest DBA Member Forum, we explored navigating uncertainty and making confident decisions in a shifting economic and political landscape.
Main Content
At our latest DBA Member Forum, we explored navigating uncertainty and making confident decisions in a shifting economic and political landscape.
What is the EU AI Act?
The transparency rules of the EU AI Act will come into effect in August 2026. HK Law's Alexandra Clapp explains the AI Act, the transparency obligations and what these mean for your business.
The era of the Client Partner has begun
Client service helps generate serious returns and it's time to recognise its value. The Client Partner era has begun.
DBA Roundup
A roundup of industry expertise, exclusive resources, business support and tools for your design business.
Agency marketing is changing: here’s what’s working
Don’t let your marketing sit on the ‘too difficult’ pile – the nature of ‘sustainable marketing’ has shifted in recent years and this is good news for design agencies.
In Focus: Staff cost to fee income ratio
DBA Expert Mike Almandras explores a key metric you should be looking at to set your design business up to be profitable.
New Designers 2026
The UK's largest graduate design event is back this summer and you can secure a free trade ticket for the event today.
DBA Member Forum | May Summary
At our May Member Forum, we were joined by Diageo's Jeremy Lindley, Phoenix Studio's Jonny Westcar, Gunpowder Consulting's Lucy Mann, and Else's Warren Hutchinson, as we explored how AI is reshaping DBA Member businesses.
Why design businesses can no longer afford to run their channels in isolation
In today’s market, creative and design-led businesses face an increasingly complex challenge: how to stand out, stay relevant, and grow in an environment where attention is scarce and competition is relentless. TDC PR's Tim Duncan outlines a holistic approach to standing out.
Podge Beach Club Summer Party
Podge & the DBA are joining forces this Summer to bring you an evening of conversation, creativity and cocktails on Tuesday 9 June, 5.30pm til late, at the Podge Beach Club Summer Party at Century Club in Soho, London.
Main Content
Innovate 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
Full details and application info:
https://apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk/competition/583/overview
Image credit:
Brennan Burling | Unsplash
DBA Member Forum | June Summary
At our latest DBA Member Forum, we explored navigating uncertainty and making confident decisions in a shifting economic and political landscape.
What is the EU AI Act?
The transparency rules of the EU AI Act will come into effect in August 2026. HK Law's Alexandra Clapp explains the AI Act, the transparency obligations and what these mean for your business.
The era of the Client Partner has begun
Client service helps generate serious returns and it's time to recognise its value. The Client Partner era has begun.
DBA Roundup
A roundup of industry expertise, exclusive resources, business support and tools for your design business.
Agency marketing is changing: here’s what’s working
Don’t let your marketing sit on the ‘too difficult’ pile – the nature of ‘sustainable marketing’ has shifted in recent years and this is good news for design agencies.
In Focus: Staff cost to fee income ratio
DBA Expert Mike Almandras explores a key metric you should be looking at to set your design business up to be profitable.
New Designers 2026
The UK's largest graduate design event is back this summer and you can secure a free trade ticket for the event today.
DBA Member Forum | May Summary
At our May Member Forum, we were joined by Diageo's Jeremy Lindley, Phoenix Studio's Jonny Westcar, Gunpowder Consulting's Lucy Mann, and Else's Warren Hutchinson, as we explored how AI is reshaping DBA Member businesses.
Why design businesses can no longer afford to run their channels in isolation
In today’s market, creative and design-led businesses face an increasingly complex challenge: how to stand out, stay relevant, and grow in an environment where attention is scarce and competition is relentless. TDC PR's Tim Duncan outlines a holistic approach to standing out.
Podge Beach Club Summer Party
Podge & the DBA are joining forces this Summer to bring you an evening of conversation, creativity and cocktails on Tuesday 9 June, 5.30pm til late, at the Podge Beach Club Summer Party at Century Club in Soho, London.