Associate feature: Driving creativity and economic growth across the Nations and Regions

It’s been five years since we opened the doors to Channel 4’s Creative Hub in Glasgow, and during that time, we have enjoyed some unforgettable moments on-screen. Just recently, Alan Cumming took us on a journey through the Scottish Highlands aboard the Royal Scotsman, and Ken Bruce and PopMaster TV have transitioned seamlessly from the radio waves to our television screens. Looking ahead, filming is now underway on ‘Summerwater,’ a new six-part drama produced by Freedom Scripted and supported by Screen Scotland, set in a remote loch-side Scottish holiday cabin park, based on the novel of the same name by Sarah Moss, which we’re very excited about.

Our audiences will be familiar with some of these highlights from the last five years during my time as Head of Lifestyle based at Channel 4 Glasgow and, more recently, in my new role as Director of Commissioning, Nations and Regions. The public may not be as familiar with the economic impact Channel 4 has had during that time. Since 2019, Channel 4 has invested £973 million in content in the Nations and Regions. In Scotland specifically, in 2023, this investment reached £27 million. 

We’ve made a good start, but we still have more to do to realise the full potential of the creative industries here in Scotland and across the Nations and Regions. Channel 4 was set up to stimulate growth in the independent production industry across the UK, and that commitment hasn’t wavered since 1982, but we all need to be pulling in the same direction to help the sector weather the current storm and continue to flourish. Politicians, industry, the education system, all of us. 

I wanted to touch upon some of our work here at Channel 4 aimed at growing the creative industries, but before I do, the challenges of the past 18 months can’t be ignored. The impact of the advertising downturn on commissioning has been more significant and drawn out than anyone anticipated. Colleagues in the independent production and freelancer community have felt the downturn most acutely, and the precarious nature of our industry has been exposed.

In October 2024, we announced phase two of ‘4 All the UK’, Channel 4’s strategy to expand across the UK. Through stronger out-of-London commissioning and targeted investment, we are trying to rebalance the creative economy – boosting production across the UK, driving growth, and finding and developing the next generation of diverse TV professionals. Since launch, we now have a thriving base in Leeds, creative hubs in Bristol and Glasgow, and a growing team in Manchester, and we have committed to reaching 600 Channel 4 roles based outside London.  

Sustainable growth requires interventions at every level. Beyond commissions, our support for Scottish indies has come via our Emerging Indie Fund, Indie Growth Fund, and Business Boost scheme. Our 4Skills programme aims to open opportunities to all, with an emphasis on the Nations and Regions and has so far provided over 110,000 training and development opportunities across the UK. We have made a commitment to double our 4Skills investment from £5 million to £10 million per year, creating even more opportunities for people to further their careers in production. In Scotland, we have been rolling out our 4Schools programme over the last two years, which aims to inspire and demonstrate the variety of roles into the creative industries for young people and we’re excited to be welcoming two new apprentices into our Glasgow Hub in early 2025, a perfect example of the way we are creating alternative routes into our industry.  

By 2028, in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, we aim to increase our production commitment by one-third, and in doing so we’re setting the stage for long-term growth and regional development. Still, our political stakeholders must continue to give the support needed and provide the necessary regulatory framework to allow our creative industries to flourish.

Please reach out if you want to discuss how we can do this together:
publicaffairs@channel4.co.uk

This article is sponsored by Channel 4.

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