Creative businesses in the Liverpool City Region and Greater Manchester will each receive £25m in government funding to help boost growth, jobs and private investment.
The support is part of the Creative Places Growth Fund, a £150m national programme unveiled earlier this year to strengthen creative industries outside London. Six regions across England will each receive £25m.
Announcing the funding at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said the investment was about “unlocking talent and ambition everywhere”.
Six Regions to Share £150m
The funding will be split between:
- Liverpool City Region
- Greater Manchester
- North East
- West of England
- West Midlands
- West Yorkshire
The scheme will prioritise industries such as film, television, music and video games, supporting businesses to innovate and attract investors.
Nandy said: “Creativity has no postcode — whether it’s a musician in Liverpool, a filmmaker in Birkenhead, or a video games developer in St Helens. We know it is not one size fits all. That’s why we are committed to growing our creative industries in every corner of the nation.”
Driving Growth and Opportunity
Under the plan, mayors and local leaders will be able to use the funding to:
- Support creative professionals and small businesses with access to finance
- Provide mentoring and networking opportunities
- Connect local talent with investors and skills programmes
- Develop infrastructure to help regions compete on a global scale
Nandy added: “This devolved funding will be just what these regions need to make their creative industries the best they can be.”
Part of Long-Term Sector Plan
The Creative Industries Sector Plan, first announced in June, sets out how the government intends to channel £150m into regional creative hubs over the coming years.
The £25m allocations will be awarded over three years starting in the 2026 financial year. Officials say the initiative will help spread the economic benefits of the UK’s creative industries, which contribute more than £100bn annually to the economy.
