DBA Roundup
A roundup of industry expertise, exclusive resources, business support and tools for your design business.
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A roundup of industry expertise, exclusive resources, business support and tools for your design business.
DBA Members’ Forum | July Summary
In our July DBA Members' Forum we talked about right-sizing, how to spot it might be necessary, and what action to take. Here’s a summary of the conversation.
New DBA board directors appointed at AGM
At the DBA’s Annual General Meeting on Thursday 27 June, the membership voted in three new board directors.
DBA Members’ Forum | June Summary
In our June DBA Members' Forum we talked about profitability with a specific focus on recovery rates and client servicing. Here’s a...
DBA Members’ Forum | May Summary
In our May DBA Members’ Forum we discussed financial benchmarking, bringing together expert advice and drawing on some in-agency examples. Here’s a summary of the conversation.
DBA Design Effectiveness Awards 2024 | Winners shortlist announced
We’re delighted to announce the shortlist of winning entries for the DBA Design Effectiveness Awards 2024. Congratulations to the agency and client partnerships who will be taking home Bronze, Silver and Gold awards at our live event this autumn.
Delivering value for money – a complex challenge
In 2014, 66% of clients considered their agency to be good value for money but this has decreased to only 45% in 2024. This is an important message to agencies because value for money is a key ingredient of any successful client/agency relationship. So, why the decline?
DBA Members’ Forum | April Summary
In our April DBA Members' Forum, we were joined by Jonathan Kirk, author of Up to the Light’s annual What Clients Think report. Here...
‘What Clients Think’ report: the annual snapshot of client/agency relationships
The 10th annual 'What Clients Think' report by Up to the Light, in association with the DBA, has been launched. Based on 675 in-depth client interviews, the report gives a unique view into client/agency relationships. Access the report and associated resources.
New Designers
The UK's largest graduate design event is back this summer and you can secure a free trade ticket for the event today.
Main Content
Innovate UK is looking for “innovative and ambitious ideas, which would realistically and significantly meet a societal need that has emerged or increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic or the need of an industry that has been severely impacted and/or permanently disrupted”.
UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £20 million to respond to these needs in UK and global communities.
Innovate UK is looking for ambitious ideas for projects which can be:
- scaled up quickly
- delivered during this lock-down period
- started by June 2020
- and last up to six months.
Launched on 3 April, the deadline for applications is 17 April 2020 at 12pm. There is a streamlined application process for 100% up-front grants of up to £50k.
Ideas can come from any industry and be niche. Whilst solutions are likely to feature cross-cutting digital solutions, they could come from and impact on diverse sectors, for example healthcare, financial services, transport or creative services.
If you have ideas for solutions across priority areas that you could foresee through to commercialisation, or if you have clients who you can support and shape their R&D processes to help get these products to market quickly you can apply for a grant of up to 100% of your project costs up to the maximum of £50k (paid in advance of the project start date) from Innovate UK.
Your proposal must focus on a clear need and the proposed innovation to address it. You must have the ability to deliver the project during the working restrictions of Covid-19 pandemic.
Key details:
- competition closes 17 April at 12pm
- full funding up front
- project length 3-6months
- funding cannot be used for sustainability of a business
- sole traders will not be eligible.
Your application must demonstrate:
- a clearly innovative and ambitious idea, which would realistically and significantly meet a societal need that has emerged or increased due to the Covid-19 pandemic or the need of an industry that has been severely impacted and/or permanently disrupted
- that you have the capacity and capability to deliver the project successfully and on time during the working restrictions of Covid-19
- the ability to start your project no later than June 2020
- value for money
Full details and application info:
https://apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk/competition/583/overview
Image credit:
Brennan Burling | Unsplash
DBA Roundup
A roundup of industry expertise, exclusive resources, business support and tools for your design business.
DBA Members’ Forum | July Summary
In our July DBA Members' Forum we talked about right-sizing, how to spot it might be necessary, and what action to take. Here’s a summary of the conversation.
New DBA board directors appointed at AGM
At the DBA’s Annual General Meeting on Thursday 27 June, the membership voted in three new board directors.
DBA Members’ Forum | June Summary
In our June DBA Members' Forum we talked about profitability with a specific focus on recovery rates and client servicing. Here’s a...
DBA Members’ Forum | May Summary
In our May DBA Members’ Forum we discussed financial benchmarking, bringing together expert advice and drawing on some in-agency examples. Here’s a summary of the conversation.
DBA Design Effectiveness Awards 2024 | Winners shortlist announced
We’re delighted to announce the shortlist of winning entries for the DBA Design Effectiveness Awards 2024. Congratulations to the agency and client partnerships who will be taking home Bronze, Silver and Gold awards at our live event this autumn.
Delivering value for money – a complex challenge
In 2014, 66% of clients considered their agency to be good value for money but this has decreased to only 45% in 2024. This is an important message to agencies because value for money is a key ingredient of any successful client/agency relationship. So, why the decline?
DBA Members’ Forum | April Summary
In our April DBA Members' Forum, we were joined by Jonathan Kirk, author of Up to the Light’s annual What Clients Think report. Here...
‘What Clients Think’ report: the annual snapshot of client/agency relationships
The 10th annual 'What Clients Think' report by Up to the Light, in association with the DBA, has been launched. Based on 675 in-depth client interviews, the report gives a unique view into client/agency relationships. Access the report and associated resources.
New Designers
The UK's largest graduate design event is back this summer and you can secure a free trade ticket for the event today.