Creative business support and funding

Networking helps Northern Ireland creative businesses find collaborators, clients and new markets. It gives you an opportunity to join established groups or attend targeted events to build relationships and share expertise.

There is a wealth of organisations in Northern Ireland actively supporting creative connections:

• the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce
• Invest Northern Ireland
• the Federation of Small Businesses
• the Institute of Directors
• Women in Business
• Young Enterprise Northern Ireland
• Arts & Business Northern Ireland

Find out how to get involved in Northern Ireland business networks.

Collaborative networking can be particularly helpful to creative businesses to help improve business performance, products and staff skills and win new business. Read about business growth through collaboration.

Networking beyond Northern Ireland

Digital Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN) is a UK-wide network that provides a place for creative innovators to meet, share ideas and shape the future. It promotes funding and collaboration opportunities and delivers insights into technology trends and developments.

European Creative Business Network assists creative entrepreneurs to do business together across Europe and find new markets. Trade shows, conferences, seminars and networking events organised by trade associations, professional bodies and business support organisations also offer a good opportunity to meet new contacts and network.

Trade shows, conferences, seminars and networking events organised by trade associations, professional bodies and business support organisations also offer a good opportunity to meet new contacts and network.

Finally, new technologies are increasingly enabling new ways of networking for businesses, so consider online platforms like LinkedIn creative groups, Discord servers for games developers, and Behance for design portfolios to tap into networking opportunities right across the globe.