Innovators in Coventry and Warwickshire Encouraged to Apply for £1.5 Million Funding

By Anushka Malhotra

1 minute 34 seconds

Investment

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Quick Read: Micro and small businesses in Coventry and Warwickshire's immersive and creative tech sectors are invited to apply for up to £1.5 million in funding from Innovate UK's new Launchpad competition.

Innovative micro and small businesses in the immersive and creative technology sector within Coventry and Warwickshire are being called to apply for a share of up to £1.5 million in funding.

A collaboration between Innovate UK, Warwickshire County Council, Coventry City Council, and the West Midlands Combined Authority aims to bolster innovation in the region's immersive and creative technology cluster.

Innovate UK has introduced a new Launchpad competition that offers up to £1.5 million in grants and business support to ‘New Innovators’ in Coventry and Warwickshire who have not previously sought assistance from the innovation agency.

Eligible micro and small businesses can apply for grants ranging from £25,000 to £50,000, with the application deadline set for 11 am on Wednesday, June 19.

The immersive and creative industries Launchpad invites applications for projects that develop and apply technologies in the following areas:

- Media technologies, including digital and mixed media

- Immersive technologies, such as augmented and virtual reality

- Game engine and virtual production, including 3D environments, simulations, and data visualisations

- Motion capture, including performance capture, gesture, and facial recognition

Cllr Martin Watson, Portfolio Holder for Economy at Warwickshire County Council, emphasised that this competition builds on the region's strengths in immersive and creative technologies. He stated,

“This Launchpad competition focuses on business growth by advancing innovation in immersive and creative industries. Our area is renowned for its video game development cluster, creating highly skilled jobs and opportunities. Over 1,000 high-quality games with globally recognized intellectual property have been developed here.”

He further highlighted the significance of the 'Silicon Spa' cluster in Warwick, Leamington, and Southam, which employs 15% of the UK’s games development talent and is recognised as the largest cluster outside Greater London by trade body UKIE.

Cllr Jim O’Boyle, Cabinet Member for Jobs, Regeneration, and Climate Change at Coventry City Council, expressed his support:

“This funding opportunity is a significant boost for a growing sector that develops new ways for people to interact with content and experiences. It can create new jobs in Coventry and Warwickshire and support companies with growth ambitions.”

He encouraged ambitious small businesses working with these technologies to review the information and consider applying for the grants.

For further details and the application link, click here.

What's new

School of Coding Secures Investment to Launch UK’s First AI Learning Lab in Birmingham

A fast-growing West Midlands digital training firm has secured a six-figure investment to launch what it claims will be the UK’s first AI Learning Lab, supporting regional upskilling and job creation.

The School of Coding, founded in Wolverhampton, has received backing from the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II (MEIF II), via fund manager Frontier Development Capital (FDC). The funding will be used to fit out its new central Birmingham tech hub, expected to create 50 new jobs within the next year.

Founded in 2017, the company delivers digital skills education to both young people and professionals, offering courses in cybersecurity, software development, AI, health tech, and digital entrepreneurship. It also runs nationwide coding classes for children and works with schools, councils, and education providers.

The new lab will act as a centre for innovation and learning, equipping individuals and businesses with practical skills to adopt AI technologies responsibly and effectively.

Photo Credit: School of Coding

Manny Athwal, founder and CEO of School of Coding, said:

“AI is here to stay, and we want to help people use it ethically and productively. This new hub in Birmingham will democratise access to digital education and support both personal and business growth in the tech economy. We see this as the first of many tech hubs across the UK.”

The company now operates in 17 countries, with offices in Telford, Dublin, and India, employing nearly 300 people worldwide, including 95 in the UK.

This latest investment builds on a previous round from MEIF in 2023, reinforcing the British Business Bank’s commitment to supporting scale-up businesses in tech and innovation.

David Tindall, Senior Investment Manager at the British Business Bank, said:

“We’re proud to support a business that's actively addressing the digital skills gap and championing innovation. This second round of funding demonstrates MEIF II’s mission to back high-growth firms driving change.”

Ryan Cartwright, of Frontier Development Capital, added:

“Manny and his team are creating real impact through digital education. We’re excited to support the UK’s first AI Learning Lab – a step that will help more regional businesses benefit from emerging technologies.”

By Anushka Malhotra

23 Apr

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