There’s lots of help available for designers and design-led businesses who want to innovate and grow – and much of it is free. This tool can show you where to go to get the advice and support you need from the government’s innovation infrastructure.
Visit Innovate and grow, the interactive tool for businesses at http://innovateandgrow.designcouncil.org.uk. It includes information for design start ups as well as for more established companies looking to develop into new markets. The tool is a beta version at the moment and we’ll be adding more content in coming weeks.
Innovate and Grow will identify where the innovation infrastructure partners can help you with:

Starting a business
If you’re starting a business or a consultancy, even if you are a freelancer working on your own, there are lots of things to consider. Have you thought about how to protect your intellectual property? Do you know how industry standards might help you? Here’s a quick guide to some sources of advice to help you navigate your way.
Developing a new product or service
New products and services are vital to make businesses grow – but developing them can be a long and tricky process. Here you can find some sources of advice on everything from effective collaboration to protecting your IP, which should make the process a little smoother.

Getting to market
Managing the manufacturing process can be complicated, whether you’re a product designer or are in the fashion business. And finding the best, and fastest, routes to market here and abroad can be tough. In this section you can find more information to help you in this key stage of your business’s development.

Growing your business
Managing the manufacturing process can be complicated, whether you’re a product designer or are in the fashion business. And finding the best, and fastest, routes to market here and abroad can be tough. In this section you can find more information to help you in this key stage of your business’s development.

The Design Council is part of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills innovation infrastructure, a network of partner organisations that provide advice, information and services to UK businesses.