South West Screen announces £1.1m funding boost

South West Screen has announced a £1.1 million project to grow the film, television and interactive media sectors in the South West of England and develop a powerful international profile.
South West Screen will lead a project to build the media industry’s capability and global reputation.
The project is supported by a range of private and public bodies. The South West of England Regional Development Agency has provided £500,000 of funding with additional partners including BBC, Business Links, Channel 4, the European Social Fund, Pact, Skillset and UK Trade & Investment.
Four collaborative Regional Media ‘cluster’ Groups are operating in Bournemouth, Bristol, Cornwall, Gloucester and Plymouth. These groups have already started to implement business development plans supported by South West Screen, and representatives from media companies across the region will co-operate and share ideas. Nearly 1000 companies and freelancers are already engaged with the Regional Media Groups, including BBC, E3 Media, Granada, Icon Films, Spider Eye, Touch Productions and TwoFour Productions.
A recent Burns Owens Partnership report revealed that in 2001 the media industries in the South West provided £3.7 billion revenue in the region. With thriving companies operating in the region, the South West has a strong platform from which to compete at international level.
Caroline Norbury, Chief Executive at South West Screen, said: “The South West has a dynamic, creative and innovative media sector, which has the capacity to grow and build on its existing national and international reputation.”
She continued: “The region has become renowned for creative talent, distinctive programmes and films, and cutting-edge technological expertise and facilities. Our goal for 2010 is for the region’s media businesses to be flourishing on a global level, bringing long-term employment, increased revenues and diverse cultural value to the region.”
Dafydd Williams, sector manager for creative industries at South West RDA, said: “This region has a long-standing reputation for attracting imaginative and innovative people and today around 89,000 people are employed in creative industries.
“The RDA sees its role in encouraging the growth of creative industries, including media, as vitally important. We have invested around £5m during the past three years to support media businesses and we now have the strongest sector outside London.
“This project will enable us to build on the existing media skills base, and develop a pool of expertise that will help companies to grow their business and compete on an international stage.”
(GB)