SM9727 - Creative Industry Business Start-up

What will I learn on this module?

This module is an optional module for students on the MA Creative and Cultural Industries Management who are thinking of starting up a creative industry business after graduation The focus of this module is to support you in developing your business idea into a real-life venture. To do this we will introduce you to venture creation topics with a focus on sales and marketing through weekly lectures. You will then apply these topics in creating a business plan for your own venture.
As well as learning how to develop your own venture you will explore what it is to become an entrepreneur. To support you in becoming an entrepreneur will also cover topics which will support the development of your entrepreneurial capabilities. Example topics which may be covered are:

Venture development topics

Lean start-up
Business model canvas
Developing your product/service portfolio
UK Company law and business structures
Developing business strategies
Customer profiling and market segmentation
Marketing for venture creation
Digital marketing
Sales processes for venture creation


Entrepreneurial capabilities topics
Goal setting and growth
Developing critical reflection techniques
Developing a growth mindset
Experiential and self-directed learning
Principles of coaching

How will I learn on this module?

You will learn through Lectures and workshops which are in the form of action learning sets and through your own experience of developing your venture. The lectures will provide you with an introduction to the theoretical topics which will enable you to develop your venture. The action learning sets are small group workshops which allows you and your peers to work through the challenges and complexities of running a venture and becoming an entrepreneur. These action learning sets allow you to use your venture to decide which are the most relevant topics for your learning, and allow you to practise these topics which will develop your learning further.

How will I be supported academically on this module?

Support will be provided to you by a member of academic staff leading the module with subject specialists contributing to the topics

Support will include you being assigned a facilitator who is an academic member of staff with expertise in business start-up. This facilitator will provide you with feedback throughout your time on the module.

The module is supported by a Teaching and Learning Plan which outlines the weekly sessions as well as providing guidance on the tutor-guided independent learning and suggestions for the student independent learning. The eLp will be used as a resource for lecture and seminar materials as well as serving as a communication hub for relevant course information, assessment submission and discussion boards.
You will be provided with a specialist electronic reading list that comprises of various materials including reports, book chapters and journal article that showcases the application of a variety of subject materials.

What will I be expected to read on this module?

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

What will I be expected to achieve?

Knowledge & Understanding:
• Demonstrate your understanding of sales and marketing processes within the context of new venture development. (MLO1)

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
• Demonstrate the ability to apply sales and marketing processes to your own venture and evaluate the impact. (MLO2)

• Evaluate critically the appropriateness of different approaches to solving problems and propose solutions to problems arising from developing your own venture. (MLO3)

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
• Value curiosity, collaboration and analysis as keystones in the creation of new knowledge and practice necessary for an entrepreneurial career. (MLO4)

How will I be assessed?

Formative assessment (MLO1,2,3,4)
You will be required to run your own action learning group session either individually or in a small group.

You will be required to report on your business activity.

You will receive feedback on the above through your action learning sets.


Summative assessment

You will be assessed through:
A video pitch on your marketing and sales plan. You will need to develop a plan which is presented as a 5 minute video pitch.
20% of the module (MLO1,2,3,4)

An individual 3000 word portfolio worth 80% of the module.
This assignment in is two parts;
• First you will need to critically analyse how you have developed a marketing and sales process in order to develop your venture.
• Second you will include a reflective piece on the development of your entrepreneurial capabilities in doing the former.

Pre-requisite(s)

N/A

Co-requisite(s)

N/A

Module abstract

We have designed this module to prepare you to develop your own venture and use it as a practical application for your entrepreneurial learning. The module will focus on how engaging in sales and marketing can provide opportunities for you to develop your own entrepreneurial capabilities as well developing and sustaining your venture.

Through the action learning set you and your peers will work together on the challenges and complexities of developing a venture and becoming an entrepreneur. Using this method of learning allows you to direct and tailor your learning to enable a more transformative experience. Through this transformative experience you will be supported through specialist support from academic staff who have experience is business start-up.

Course info

Credits 30

Level of Study Postgraduate

Mode of Study 2 years Part Time
1 other options available

Department Northumbria School of Design, Arts and Creative Industries

Location City Campus, Northumbria University

City Newcastle

Start September 2025

Fee Information

Module Information

All information is accurate at the time of sharing. 

Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.  

Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.

 

Useful Links

Find out about our distinctive approach at 
www.northumbria.ac.uk/exp

Admissions Terms and Conditions
northumbria.ac.uk/terms

Fees and Funding
northumbria.ac.uk/fees

Admissions Policy
northumbria.ac.uk/adpolicy

Admissions Complaints Policy
northumbria.ac.uk/complaints