Guidance

Digital Growth Grant

Guidance on the Digital Growth Grant.

• From: Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (2017 to 2023)
• Published: 11 April 2022
• Last updated: 23 January 2023
  Show all updates

  1. 23 January 2023

     Withdrawn guidance and updated page to reflect that the grant competition has now closed.

  2. 10 August 2022

     Added document - Digital Growth Grant Competition: Clarification and further information.

  3. 29 July 2022

     Updated invitation to application document.

  4. 20 July 2022

     Updated invitation to application document.

  5. 15 July 2022

     Updated finance form to amend an error in cell calculations.

  6. 14 July 2022

     Added guidance section.

  7. 27 June 2022

     Page update to reflect competition is now open.

  8. 25 May 2022

     Added 'Guidance for potential bidders' section.

  9. 11 April 2022

     First published.

This guidance was withdrawn on 23 January 2023

The application period for the Digital Growth Grant has now closed.

Introduction

Early in 2022, the value of the UK’s tech sector passed $1 trillion. The UK is only the third country in the world to have a tech sector reach this valuation. The UK has created more unicorns than any other country in Europe. The government is committed to making the UK the best place to found and grow a tech business and securing the UK’s status as a global science and technology superpower.

In 2022, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) ran the Digital Growth Grant competition, inviting bids to accelerate the growth of tech start-up and scale-up ecosystems across the regions and nations of the UK.

Please see details of the grant objectives below.

Objectives

The objectives of the Digital Growth Grant will be based around:

1. Deliver support services to the digital sector, particularly in transformative/emerging technologies. These services should address key challenges faced by a wide range of tech companies from the seed funding stage to series A/B, their first or second round of financing.

2. Grow regional support networks for tech startups and scaleups. Activities should deliver concrete improvements in three of the areas that were identified in DCMS’s Regional Ecosystems report as crucial to the success of the digital economy. These are: investment, innovation and business growth. Support should be tailored to local needs and tech specialisms, and should be developed in partnership with local bodies and existing tech groups.

3. Ensure founders and firms can access digital entrepreneurship and investment readiness training, with tailored advice to help develop their skills to start and grow a tech business.

4. Clearly signpost startups and scaleups to existing initiatives in the private and the public sector across the UK that can help them access finance, talent and markets.

Timelines

Timelines are indicative only and subject to change.

1. June 2022: Applications open.

2. August 2022: Applications close.

3. September 2022: Successful bidder notified.

4. April 2023: Successful bidder to begin activities.

5. April 2025: Funding end date.

Relevant documents

Digital Growth Grant: Invitation to application (NOW CLOSED)

PDF, 1.12 MB, 24 pages

Digital Growth Grant: Grant funding agreement (NOW CLOSED)

PDF, 303 KB, 26 pages

Digital Growth Grant Competition: Clarification and further information

PDF, 119 KB, 4 pages