South West agencies join forces with Channel 4

Channel 4, the South West Regional Development Agency and South West Screen are joining forces to help bring new creative talent in the area to the small screen, as well as supporting existing talent.
A pilot project, called 4SouthWest, will help individuals and small companies bring ideas for programmes to fruition. They will be guided by two of the South West’s most successful independent television production companies, Touch Productions in Shaftesbury and Twofour Productions in Plymouth.
Creative Industries is an increasingly important sector in the South West and is estimated to contribute at least £1 billion to the region’s economy and employs at least 90,000 people.
As part of its Creative Cities strategy, Channel 4 committed a business development package of cash and in kind support worth £160,000 in total to Touch and Twofour. The funding was subject to the companies attracting further funding from other agencies, which led to a cash injection of £107,000 from the South West of England Regional Development Agency, and additional support from South West Screen. Touch and Twofour are contributing a total of £106,000 into the project.
Stuart Cosgrove, Channel 4 Director, Nations & Regions, said: "We recognise the importance of the television industry in the South West and by investing in this project we hope to encourage greater business-to-business working relationships and help Touch and Twofour act as a ‘warehouse’ for other creative talent in the region.”
South West Screen, the public agency responsible for leading the strategic development of film, television and digital content in the South West, will be managing the project.
Caroline Norbury, Chief Executive of South West Screen, commented: "Channel 4 and South West RDA have shown their confidence in the South West region by funding this creative industries initiative and the investment is a great opportunity for the region to promote itself as a centre of excellence for the media. We will be monitoring the implementation of the business model very closely to evaluate its impact and learn lessons to ensure future funding for the region.”
(GB)