Region gets £25m creative licence as spotlight moves from South East

Creative businesses and freelancers in West Yorkshire are in line for major government support to help them innovate, up-skill and attract private investment.

- by Charles Gray

The West Yorkshire Combined Authority is one of six UK regions awarded £25m as part of the Government's Creative Places Growth Fund.

This funding will go towards growing the creative industries across the region-including film and TV, music, video games, fashion, textiles and 'createch' - where creativity meets technology.

The fund was announced in the Creative Industries Sector Plan in June, as part of the Industrial Strategy, where the Government shared its intention to invest £150m in the creative industries of six regions outside London-Greater Manchester, Liverpool City Region, North East, West of England, West Midlands and West Yorkshire.

The £25m allocations will be awarded over three years, starting in the 2026 financial year for the authorities themselves to distribute.