A new initiative to support creative business development and artistic innovation has been launched for students, staff and alumni at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

The Creative Enterprise Development Office (CEDO) will offer one-to-one clinics, workshops and funding to help with company, career and project development and to bring ideas to life.

Professor Stephen Broad, Director of Research and Engagement at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, said: “The Creative Enterprise Development Office nurtures the varied paths taken by creative practitioners, providing them with invaluable industry-specific knowledge and guidance.

“If they want to kickstart a new project or business, CEDO will offer tailored support and funding opportunities to help them realise their vision.

“We’re looking forward to working with artists and nurturing a new wave of artistic exploration and entrepreneurial spirit across the RCS community.”

The Creative Enterprise Development Office offers:

Advice & guidance

One-to-one Creative Clinics

Led by RCS Associate Rachael Brown. These open, friendly clinics are available to the whole RCS community, to chat about anything related to your creative career or life as a freelancer or business founder.

Legal clinics, 30 minutes

Hosted by Philip Hannay, Cloch Solicitors supporting legal questions directly related to creative careers and practice.

Financial clinics, 30 minutes

David Nicholls, Brett Nicholls Associates is available to help with any general finance or accounting questions directly related to creative careers, self-employment and setting up businesses.

Industry guest clinics

Throughout the academic year, invited guests and leaders from the creative arts will offer specialist advice and guidance on a particular industry, discipline or practice.

Workshops

Online sessions designed to help get ideas, projects, companies and collaborations off the ground and into the world. Topics included in the online workshops:

• How to write strong funding applications
• Costing and pricing your work
• Managing burnout
• Handling your IP as a creative freelancer

The CEDO workshops will run once a month throughout the academic year.

Visit for more information and booking.

Funding

The Ideas Fund for students

Students can access resources and support to explore new ideas, produce their own work, extend their practice and take their first steps into creative enterprise.

Awards are a fixed rate of £500 and up to two awards can be made monthly throughout the academic year.

Upcoming deadlines are:

• Wednesday 30 October 2024
• Wednesday 27 November 2024

Read the guidelines and make an application.

The Company Creation Fund for staff

Designed to help staff take their first steps towards the development of a creative enterprise, this competitive fund is intended for company creation and business development and can support research and development activities related to starting up an enterprise. It is not intended for creative project development.

Awards can be up to £2,000 and applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.

Read the guidelines and make an application.

Keep up to date with funding opportunities by signing up for the CEDO newsletter.

CEDO was established in response to the recommendations within the Entrepreneurial Campus Blueprint (2023).