When you can apply
The fund is open now, and closes at midday on 15 December 2025.
BFI will award funding to one organisation to deliver a Business Development training programme in the three nations from April 2026 and to March 2029.
What the fund supports
This fund supports the design and delivery of a new programme of Business Development Training to support the growth and development of screen sector businesses across Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Your programme should seek to support companies that are unlikely to be fully financed by the market at an early stage and so require National Lottery support.
Primarily these would be small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) and start-ups in the screen sector that are producing creative content to tell a story and engage an audience.
Participants in the programme may include:
- film and TV companies
- games companies
- businesses working in VR and AR
- distribution, exhibition, and digital technology businesses that support the screen sector
Participating businesses should overcome barriers to growth through improved commercial skills, better access to finance and new connections to networks and support.
Who can apply
Your organisation must be a legally constituted organisation centrally managed in the UK. You’ll need:
- experience delivering similar business development training programmes at scale
- expert knowledge of the UK screen sector
- relevant commercial and business expertise
- connections to relevant screen sector stakeholders, including investors and training providers
- to be able to deliver a single programme across the three nations
Get help with your application
We can provide assistance to applicants who have access requirements and need some support in order to make an application. See Access support for BFI funding applicants.
How to apply
Read the fund guidelines carefully before applying.
If you have any questions about this fund or your application, email skillscoordinator@bfi.org.uk.
About BFI National Lottery funding
Since the very first National Lottery draw in 1994, public support — raised directly through National Lottery ticket sales — has funded more than 670,000 projects, raising more than £46 billion for good causes.
As a recipient, it is important to publicly acknowledge the source of this funding throughout the lifespan of the project. Effectively communicating that it is supported by BFI National Lottery funding ensures those engaging with the work recognise the value and benefit of this unique Good Cause funding.
Therefore, if your application is successful, you will be responsible for prominently crediting BFI National Lottery funding and thanking National Lottery players.
As such, you are encouraged to ensure that elements of your project/s which have the potential to engage a broad public audience are capitalised on, in order to communicate this message. More details will be supplied once an award has been made.