Wandsworth Council, in collaboration with Creative United, has officially announced the return of its pivotal business support programme for the borough’s creative sector in 2025. The initiative, known as Re:Create, marks its fourth consecutive year, building upon its successful pilot launch in 2021.
Bolstered by a substantial £34,000 in funding provided by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Re:Create is strategically designed to empower artists, makers, designers, musicians, and other creative business owners operating within Wandsworth. The core objectives of the programme are to significantly enhance participants’ business skills, foster greater confidence in their professional endeavors, and ultimately contribute to increased income generation.
Supporting the Creative Ecosystem in a Key Year
The relaunch and call for applications for the 2025 programme commenced on June 24th at the historic Half Moon pub in Putney. This timing is particularly significant as Re:Create is highlighted as a vital component of Wandsworth’s broader efforts during its designated year as the Mayor’s London Borough of Culture 2025. The programme underscores the council’s commitment to nurturing and strengthening the local artistic and creative business sector, recognising its essential contribution to the borough’s cultural vibrancy and economic health, particularly in the spotlight of the upcoming cultural year.
Investing in the creative economy is seen as a key driver for innovation, community engagement, and job creation. Programmes like Re:Create provide the targeted support necessary for creative individuals and small businesses to professionalise, expand their reach, and improve their sustainability. The funding secured from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund directly facilitates the delivery of these critical resources to the local level.
Programme Structure and Benefits
The Re:Create programme for 2025 offers multi-faceted support tailored to the specific needs of creative entrepreneurs. A central feature is the provision of intensive one-on-one coaching. Forty selected creative businesses will benefit from four hours of individual coaching and expert advice delivered by seasoned industry professionals during the Autumn of 2025. This personalised guidance is intended to help participants address specific business challenges, develop strategic plans, and gain insights from experienced mentors.
Beyond the intensive coaching for the selected cohort, the programme ensures broader access to valuable resources for the entire creative community in the borough. All creative businesses based in Wandsworth are eligible to gain access to a series of networking events. These gatherings provide crucial opportunities for peer-to-peer learning, collaboration, and forging connections within the local creative network and with potential partners or clients. Additionally, all registered creative businesses in the borough will receive access to a free bespoke e-learning toolkit, offering flexible, digital resources to build business acumen at their own pace.
Track Record of Impact
The Re:Create programme has established a positive track record since its inception. Over its previous three years, the initiative has successfully provided support to more than 150 local individuals working within the creative industries. An evaluation conducted on last year’s programme cohort estimated a significant collective impact, suggesting that an additional £100,000 was generated in income or revenue across the participating businesses. This empirical evidence highlights the tangible economic benefits the programme delivers to the borough’s creative sector.
This demonstrated success underscores the value of targeted business development support for creatives, who often possess strong artistic skills but may require assistance with commercial aspects such as marketing, finance, business planning, and expanding their market reach. The continued investment in Re:Create reflects confidence in its model to deliver meaningful outcomes for participants and the wider Wandsworth economy.
How to Apply
Creative entrepreneurs based in Wandsworth who are interested in participating in the Re:Create 2025 programme are encouraged to apply. Eligibility criteria require applicants to be creative business owners or aspiring entrepreneurs residing or operating within the borough. The application window is now open, following the launch event in June.
Prospective participants must submit their applications by the specified deadline of 5 pm on Friday, August 29, 2025. Detailed information regarding the application process, eligibility requirements, and programme specifics can be found through channels publicised by Wandsworth Council and Creative United. Successful applicants for the intensive coaching component will be notified and will commence their tailored support sessions in the Autumn of 2025, joining the wider creative community in accessing networking and e-learning resources.
The relaunch of Re:Create for 2025 signals continued commitment from Wandsworth Council and its partners to fostering a thriving creative economy, equipped to leverage the opportunities presented by the upcoming London Borough of Culture year and beyond.
