First local TV production and games companies revealed for pioneering business growth programme
24th January 2022
Indielab West Yorks to deliver inaugural accelerator programme, funded by the LEP, to support and drive growth in the region’s key creative sectors.
Indielab, the UK’s leading accelerator company for content businesses - working to create growth and commercial success across TV, games, film, and animation – is delighted to announce the local businesses selected to take part in its first-ever TV and Game Accelerators in West Yorkshire – and indeed, the first bespoke programme to be run in any dedicated region of the UK. Indielab West Yorks is delivered in partnership with Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (the LEP), which supports the growth of the screen sectors in West Yorkshire through The Creative Catalyst. The programme demonstrates the LEP’s broader commitment to the creative industries, with a £1.5m investment specifically designed to support the growth of the sector.
The 15 participants of Indielab West Yorks’ 2022 TV Accelerator have been drawn from a wide range of production companies located across the region. Between them, they have already delivered numerous popular TV shows, including drama series such as The Syndicate for BBC One and factual shows such as More4’s The Yorkshire Dales and The Lakes and a recent BBC Panorama special: Stacey Dooley and the Lockdown Babies. The selected participants are Art of Truth, Beyond Productions, British Muslim TV, Button Down, Candour Productions, Clockwork Films, Curley Vision, Fettle Animation, Hellfire, New Northern, Northern Imposters, Rollem Productions, Screenhouse, The City Talking, and True North.
Eleven up-and-coming studios have been selected for the first West Yorks Game Accelerator, having worked on a range of titles including Raiders of Erda, Robo Basho, The Magnificent Trufflepigs and 90 Minute Fever. They are Archway Interactive, BetaJester, Cooperative Innovations, Lovewish, HALCYON Palace, Isokron, Kettu Studios, Kwizzbit, Thunkd, Weaseltron Entertainment and Vital Culture.
Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire says: “It’s brilliant to be able to support such a wide range of people in these fantastic TV and Gaming businesses across West Yorkshire. Through the opportunities, experience, and open discussion these programmes offer, it means that we are building the right foundations not only for these businesses to achieve their growth goals, but also to create a network that will live on, beyond the end of the Accelerator.”
Both the TV and Game Accelerators, which represent a first for the region, have been designed to facilitate and accelerate the growth of West Yorkshire’s burgeoning creative sector by enabling companies to hone their USPs and vision while exploring the growth opportunities that are specific to their businesses. Applications were received from companies right across West Yorkshire, with almost all districts represented in the final cohort. In line with a mission to support and promote a diverse independent creative sector - that Indielab, The Creative Catalyst and the Mayor all share - more than half of the participating companies are ethnically diverse and/or female-led, reflecting the general diversity of businesses across the region.
In addition to the programme designed for the cohorts, further community events and networking opportunities will be made available to the full sector in the region to encourage an ongoing ecosystem of support. In this way, it will create a legacy for these and other creative screen companies in West Yorkshire to continue developing, connecting, and growing.
Victoria Powell, Indielab’s founder and programme director, says: “The creative industries in West Yorkshire have all to play for; local TV indies are benefiting from the national broadcasters’ commitment to invest in the nations and regions of the UK, and the region also has one of the UK’s fastest-growing games industry hubs. With these two programmes, we aim to support West Yorks’ creative industries to the next level. Working with our partners from across the TV and game sectors, we have designed a growth programme that will provide participants with the knowledge, skills, networks and investment needed to grow their business and produce more content and games with impact at both national and international levels.”
Both Accelerators will deliver targeted modules over a five-month period, commencing in early February 2022. Alongside masterclasses and seminars, participants also have access to a package of free support services, including coaching and mentoring, a legal helpdesk from programme partner Harbottle & Lewis LLP and an accountancy helpdesk provided by sponsor Moore Kingston Smith LLP. Barclays Bank PLC is also a sponsor. Amazon Web Service is supporting the Games Accelerator with a package of benefits for the cohort. In addition, companies will have access to Indielab Connect, the social network launched in spring 2020 in response to the COVID-19 lockdown.
Notes to editors
About The Creative Catalyst
The Creative Catalyst is a £1.5m programme that has been developed to overcome the barriers to growth for creative businesses in Leeds City Region. Delivered by the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (the LEP), the scheme is the first of its kind for this sector. Its approach is centred on both business growth and establishing an ecosystem that will live on beyond programme delivery and support the broader post-pandemic economic recovery of the region. Other aspects of The Creative Catalyst programme include: supporting creative businesses to increase their exports, a mentoring programme for individuals working in the sector and enhancing the vibrancy of the creative ecosystem.
Indielab West Yorks will deliver support to two cohorts across two training pathways over a 12-month period. Workshops will include: defining your USP, developing your growth plan and business vision, growth readiness, innovation and creative leadership, investment readiness and corporate finance. The programme will also include one-to-one coaching and events. The two accelerator pathways will optimise the impact and value of sector-specific accelerator content, as well help generate cross-sector opportunities for learning, business collaboration and growth.
TV production in the UK’s nations and regions is primarily driven by public-sector broadcasters (PSBs). OFCOM, the industry regulator, is now taking concerted steps to hold PSBs to account to ensure they play a key role in strengthening production centres across the nation. This will help create higher volumes of higher value work outside of London and, in turn, develop significant market opportunities for creative businesses in the Leeds City Region.
The LEP works in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to help businesses in the region to region grow and become more productive. The Combined Authority works in partnership with local councils and businesses to ensure that the everyone in West Yorkshire benefits from a strong, successful economy and a modern, accessible transport network. By championing the region’s interests nationally and internationally, it secures the investment to deliver better transport and housing, help businesses to grow and create jobs. The aim is for the region to be recognised globally as a strong, successful economy where everyone can build great businesses, careers, and lives.
For more information, visit www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk.
About Indielab Accelerator
Founded in 2015 by senior TV executive and industry leader Victoria Powell, Indielab Accelerator seeks to promote a sustainable and resilient independent screen sector in the UK. Indielab’s programmes equip companies with the knowledge, skills and networks needed to achieve their full potential. Through masterclasses, seminars, panel discussions, networking events and one-to-one sessions, companies gain valuable insight into, and training in, a range of subjects, including leadership, commercial innovation, business planning, distribution, revenue-stream maximisation, corporate finance, and investment readiness.
In 2020, Indielab launched Indielab Connect, a social network and event platform for Indielab alumni. Indielab Connect is available online and as a downloadable mobile app.
For more information on Indielab, please visit: www.weareindielab.co.uk
For more information, please visit contact:
Michelle Waldron, Beyond the Box
T: +44 (0)7768 568970