Our Enterprise Funds

To help you develop your own projects and entrepreneurial endeavours, we have a number of funds available for shows and business start-ups. Since we began, these funds have contributed over £300,000 to student and graduate enterprise. These have included a variety of businesses from Theatre in Education companies to bands, arts centres and hire companies. Some of our funds are also available for social enterprises.

While you are studying with us, and in your first year after graduation we have funds available to stage your own shows here and externally, including takin shows to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. This can also mean equipment loans.

When you leave, we'll continue to support you with a range of funds for new and growing businesses. These are designed to help you put the business plan you develop during your time here into practice. We have funds available at different stages, as your business develops. Graduates from every course have benefited from this support.

If you are interested in applying to LIPA Enterprise please email enterprise@lipa.ac.uk

Available

Funds

Applying for our funds is competitive, and operates in the same way as applying to other funding bodies. Although our funds can offer significant financial support, we also encourage you to find additional funding and can help you complete funding applications.

Show Fund
This fund is intended to support a one-off show, event or project. All current students and graduates within one year of leaving are eligible to apply for a grant or loan between £300 to £900.
Show Fund: Edinburgh
Similar to the standard Show Fund, this supports students and recent graduates who want to take shows to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Up to £1,200 is available to contribute towards venue hire costs.
First Year Out Fund
For students in their final year and graduates within one year of leaving, this fund helps those who want to start their own business in the UK. Between £500 and £1,500 is available as a grant or loan.
Graduate Business Development Fund
This fund follows on from the First Year Out Fund and is open to those who graduated between one and three years ago. Typically, this fund offers £1,000 to support an ongoing UK business which has been started by one of our graduates.
Sponsorship Fund
Established graduate companies are eligible to apply for our sponsorship fund if there will be suitable opportunities to promote our involvement in their activities. Graduates whose businesses have been running productively for at least three years can apply for this fund which offers £5,000 spread over three years or more.

Our Enterprise Funds

Available

Funds

Show Fund

Show Fund: Edinburgh

First Year Out Fund

Graduate Business Development Fund

Sponsorship Fund