Greater Manchester Combined Authority has unveiled a £10.5 million production fund designed to position the city region as a leading destination for film and television projects, while boosting local talent and economic growth.
The Greater Manchester Production Fund will support ambitious, market-ready feature films alongside scripted and unscripted television projects. It aims to attract high-profile productions from across the UK and internationally, while also strengthening the capacity of locally based production companies.
Open to both Greater Manchester businesses and external productions, the fund will prioritise projects that deliver tangible benefits to the region. This includes job creation, skills development, and long-term investment in the area’s rapidly expanding creative industries.
Strengthening a fast-growing sector
The announcement builds on the region’s already significant creative economy, which contributes more than £1.4 billion annually and supports over 48,000 jobs. Leaders believe the fund will further accelerate growth in one of Greater Manchester’s most dynamic sectors.
By backing projects that bring economic impact and visibility to the region, the fund is expected to stimulate further inward investment and help retain skilled professionals within the local workforce.
Aiming to become a leading UK screen hub
The initiative forms part of Greater Manchester’s broader ambition to become the UK’s leading screen industry cluster outside London by 2028. Key priorities include:
- Attracting more large-scale productions
- Expanding local production capacity
- Creating sustainable career pathways for residents and freelancers
- Showcasing the region’s distinctive identity on screen
Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council and Greater Manchester Portfolio Lead for Economy, Business and Inclusive Growth, emphasised the strategic importance of the fund:
“Greater Manchester already has a strong track record in film and television, with the talent, locations and crews to support world-class productions. This fund is about building on that strength by attracting more investment, creating more opportunities for local people and helping our creative sector grow.
“We want to see more productions choosing Greater Manchester, more local companies scaling up, and more people able to build successful careers in the industry here.
“And we want to see more of Greater Manchester on screen! This is a city region with huge creative energy and a distinct identity, and this fund will help ensure our stories, our places and our talent are seen by audiences nationally and internationally.”
What this means for public sector leaders
For public sector professionals, the fund highlights how targeted investment in creative industries can drive regional growth, support skills pipelines, and enhance place-based identity. It also demonstrates how collaboration between local authorities and the creative sector can deliver measurable economic and social outcomes.
As other UK regions look to replicate similar success, Greater Manchester’s approach may serve as a blueprint for leveraging cultural investment to boost both economic resilience and community opportunity.
Image credit: iStock
