Your creative business. Our support. Let’s make it happen. BSU Boost

Looking for a way to take your creative or community business idea to the next level? BSU Boost is here to help. It’s an innovative social impact initiative designed to support freelancers, micro creative businesses and community organisations across Bath and beyond.

Find out more

Think of us as your partner in growth

We bring expertise in bid writing, project management, risk management, and policy development – so you can focus on what you do best: creating and making an impact.

We’ll work with you to develop a strong funding application. If the bid is successful, we don’t just walk away – we roll up our sleeves and help with governance, monitoring, financial management, and reporting.

And because we know cashflow can be a challenge, we’ll support delivery alongside you and help you build policies and pipelines that strengthen your organisation for the future.

Is BSU Boost for you?

If your project or research is based in Bath & North East Somerset (or within 10 miles), and it offers public benefit, education opportunities, or alternative routes into learning, you’re in the right place.

We love projects that:

Deliver social, cultural, or economic impact
Apply creativity and innovation to local or global challenges
Promote new ideas that spark change
Build lasting partnerships that make a difference

And we prioritise working with people who are underrepresented in the arts and creative industries, BSU graduates, micro-business owners, and those with a history of engaging with BSU.

What does success look like?

Our pilot project with Little Lost Robot shows what’s possible. Together, we co-wrote a successful bid, navigated due diligence, and developed Ofsted-regulated community learning provision. We helped set up systems and policies, facilitated cashflow, provided expert advice, and even loaned equipment and furniture.

The result? A stronger organisation, new skills, and a thriving community project.

Why does it work?

Because BSU Boost isn’t just about funding – it’s about creating a support system. As Juliet Webb from Little Lost Robot puts it: “It’s like a life support system for an organisation working anywhere within a placemaking capacity… a pathway of access into resources you don’t know you need until you need them.”

The impact speaks for itself. BSU Boost drives social inclusion, growth, skill development, and wellbeing. It opens doors to education, builds networks, and supports green and digital skills. We’ve seen improved community wellbeing and even reports of a drop in crime.

Why are we doing this?

At Bath Spa University and The Studio, we believe in creating opportunities for everyone. BSU Boost helps increase social inclusion and mobility, supports skill development and employment, and strengthens our region. Together, we can tackle big challenges – starting locally.

What BSU Boost isn’t

It’s not a training programme, a course, or just a bid writing service. It’s a partnership.

Ready to find out more?

Follow The Studio on socials or drop us an email for a chat: s.pottinger@bathspa.ac.uk

FUNDING BODIES, TRUSTS & FOUNDATIONS We want to hear from you too!

We're disrupting traditional funding models to help more applicants access funding, and help funding bodies reach more applicants. If you work at a funding body, trust or foundation for the arts, culture and creative industries and would like to find out more about what we're doing at BSU Boost, please register above or email: s.pottinger@bathspa.ac.uk