Three-year plan aims to harness creator economy growth in area

Screen Yorkshire has unveiled a three-year plan to keep the economic value generated by local screen industry activity in the region in the long term.

The regional funding agency warned attracting productions to the area is not enough in a rapidly changing media landscape and its proposals build on the past decade of growth, strengthening Yorkshire’s position as one of the UK’s leading centres for screen content.

A key element of the strategy is moving Yorkshire beyond a production service economy towards a stronger creator economy. The agency will support the region’s companies and talent to originate ideas, develop content, retain IP and build businesses capable of competing at national and global levels.

As well as these priorities, other key elements of the plan are:

• Leading and connecting Yorkshire’s screen ecosystem
• Winning and retaining production
• Developing and keeping people and careers
• Unlocking and future-proofing investment
• Unlocking wider economic value

Sustainability and inclusivity will run across all areas of the strategy, it added. Screen Yorkshire will continue to attract and support film and TV production through its film office and the Yorkshire Content Fund, the latter of which has invested more than £24.4m in local screen productions.

Caroline Cooper Charles, chief executive of Screen Yorkshire, said: “The next phase is about more than bringing productions to Yorkshire. We want to create the conditions for ideas to originate here, for businesses to grow here and for more of the intellectual property and long-term value created by our screen industries to stay here.

“This strategy is about building on everything Yorkshire already does brilliantly while making sure our screen sector is resilient, ambitious and ready for what comes next.

“By 2029, we want Yorkshire to be known not only as one of the best places in the UK to make content, but as a place where content is created, owned and grown.”

Tracy Brabin, mayor of West Yorkshire, added: “I’m proud to back this ambitious new strategy, which will help ensure that more of the jobs, investment, ideas and creative spark that’s created in Yorkshire stays in Yorkshire.

“By helping local businesses grow and giving more creatives the chance to build brilliant careers in our screen industries, we’re building a stronger, brighter region for the whole world to see.”