City of York Council's joint bid with Science City York has won two-years' financial support to drive innovation for business and residents, as part of the National Endowment for Science, Technology and Arts (NESTA) Creative Council Programme.

Under the scheme, the council will promote new ways of working, identify potential savings, and finding new ways of improving sustainability and working. Similarly, Bristol City Council has welcomed the success of its own bid, which aims to encourage community interest companies (CICs) and community land trusts by connecting activists, and entrepreneurs with investors, in a practical way.