£60m creative boost sparks UK growth, with West Midlands in the mix

West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker has welcomed the UK Government’s £60m funding boost for creative industries across the UK.
The funding, announced at a summit in Gateshead, will support creative businesses across the UK, including the West Midlands.
It aims to boost sectors such as video game studios, grassroots music venues, and film exports.
Parker said: “The West Midlands is bursting with incredible talent in film, TV, theatre, gaming, and beyond. With this government backing, the BBC’s Tea Factory in Digbeth, and the film production hub with Steven Knight, we’re turning our region into a creative powerhouse.
“This isn’t just about entertainment, it will create jobs, attract fresh investment and continue to spark innovation. This will deliver real opportunities for local people and help to revitalise our communities. The West Midlands isn’t just part of the UK’s creative economy; I want it to be the beating heart.”
At the event, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy gathered over 250 creative businesses and cultural leaders at The Glasshouse International Centre for Music.
She outlined the Government’s plans to drive growth and investment in the creative sector as part of its modern Industrial Strategy.
The £60m investment hopes to help start-up video game studios, grassroots music venues and creative businesses expand, boosting British music and film exports and creating new jobs.
The summit marked the first step in delivering the Creative Industry Sector Plan, which will identify key growth opportunities in the UK and overseas.
Lisa Nandy also announced the priority regions for creative industries, which include the North East, Greater Manchester, Liverpool City Region, West Yorkshire, West Midlands, Greater London, West of England, South Wales, the Glasgow-Edinburgh-Dundee corridor and Belfast.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: “From film and fashion to music and advertising, our creative industries are truly world-class and play a critical role in helping us deliver on this Government’s mission to drive economic growth in all parts of the UK.
“Our £60m funding boost will support creative and cultural organisations across the UK to turbocharge growth by transforming local venues, creating jobs, supporting businesses and spreading opportunity across the country. But this is by no means the limit of our ambitions, which is why the creative industries are at the heart of the forthcoming Industrial Strategy and will continue to play a key part in this Government’s Plan for Change.”