A new fund has been launched with the aim of creating affordable, high-quality workspaces that enable creative businesses in the West of England to scale, grow and innovate.

Part of the West of England’s £25 million allocation from the Creative Places Growth Fund, the Greenlight West Creative Workspace Fund provides grants of £50,000 to £500,000 for projects that expand access to:

• Specialist facilities for high-growth creative sectors, including screen and CreaTech
• Affordable workspaces and workshops
• Industry-led skills and training facilities
• Managed workspace and business incubation
• Makerspaces for creative entrepreneurs

Despite the region’s creative industries employing more than 40,000 people and contributing £1.6 billion to the regional economy each year, the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority said “workspace provision has failed to keep pace” with “studio space and specialist facilities…in short supply, while rents continue to rise faster than inflation”.

Organisations from the public, private and voluntary sectors can apply. Applications are open until 12pm on 3 December and there is an information webinar on 19 October. Full details here.

Helen Godwin, mayor of the West of England, said:

“The West of England’s creative sector contributes enormously to our regional economy, and we’re already one of the UK’s leading destinations for film and TV production.

“We’re determined to build on that success, growing our reputation as a world-class creative hub and creating more jobs and opportunities across the region.

“But for too long, local creative businesses have struggled to find the affordable specialist space they need to grow. The Greenlight West Creative Workspace Fund will help unlock underused buildings and create the high-quality workspaces that people need to innovate and thrive right here in the West of England.”

Culture secretary Lisa Nandy said:

“Through the Creative Places Growth Fund, we’re putting funding in the hands of local leaders, giving them the freedom to invest in what works for their communities and creative sectors.

“Greenlight West is a great example of that approach in action: backing local jobs, skills and businesses, while helping the region compete.”

The Greenlight West Creative Workspace Fund follows the launch of a £4.5 million fund to increase the quantity, range and scale of film and TV productions made in the West of England.

Watch a Bristol Creative Industries interview with West of England mayor Helen Godwin discussing the film and TV support and the wider funding.

About Bristol Creative Industries

Bristol Creative Industries is the membership network that supports the region's creative sector to learn, grow and connect, driven by the common belief that we can achieve more collectively than alone.