Greater Manchester has been awarded £25 million in government funding to support the growth of its creative industries, as part of the new Creative Places Growth Fund. 

The region is one of six Mayoral Combined Authorities across England chosen to benefit from the scheme, which will see £150 million distributed nationally over the next three years. Each region will receive £25 million, with funding expected to begin in the 2026 financial year.

The investment is designed to tackle barriers faced by creative businesses and encourage a wide range of sectors, including film and television, fashion, gaming, music, and design, to grow. The funding will be allocated locally, with Greater Manchester Combined Authority working to ensure resources are targeted where they can have the biggest impact.

Alongside the main programme, more than 100 small and medium-sized businesses in the creative industries will also share in an additional £8 million Create Growth Programme. These firms, spread across 12 English regions, will receive grants ranging from £20,000 to £140,000 to help them scale up and innovate.

The government says the funding is part of its wider Creative Industries Sector Plan, which aims to build innovation capacity, provide skills support, and encourage business investment into the UK’s creative clusters. It also includes targeted support for key industries such as TV and film production.

What This Means for Manchester

For Greater Manchester, this is a major opportunity for the city to build on its existing strengths. With MediaCity, a renowned music and arts heritage, and a fast-growing digital and gaming sector, the city already has the foundations of a world-class creative hub.

The £25 million investment will provide the resources needed to accelerate that growth, attract new talent and businesses, and solidify Manchester’s position as a leading centre for creativity outside London.