Post by Richard Parker

It was great to hear Steven Knight speaking so positively about the work we’re doing together in the West Midlands at yesterday’s Select Committee. Steven talked about how Digbeth Loc. Studios is helping transform a part of Birmingham - part of the new Birmingham East Mayoral Development Corporation - that has huge potential, bringing film and TV production into the heart of our region and creating opportunities for local people. He also highlighted the role the West Midlands Combined Authority and West Midlands Growth Company are playing in making the West Midlands one of the best places in the country to invest in the creative industries - through Production Central WM. What matters most to me is that these investments delivers for local people - that's why I was so keen we support them. Through the bootcamps Steven talked about, and skills programmes being run alongside these productions, people who may never have considered a career in film and television are getting their foot in the door. More than half of those taking part have gone on to secure work in the industry, with local people now working on major productions being filmed right here in the West Midlands. I had the privilege of visiting the Peaky Blinders set this week and seeing that work up close. The scale of the operation was incredible, but what struck me most was the number of jobs, opportunities and careers being created for people from our communities. This is exactly the kind of growth I want to see - investment that creates opportunities, develops skills and gives local people a stake in the success of our region. One that's driving tourism across our region - including, as Steven mentioned, at the fantastic Black Country Living Museum Whether it’s film and TV, advanced manufacturing, clean energy, defence or digital technology, my message is that if you want to invest, create jobs and grow in the West Midlands, we’ll work with you to make it happen. --- Ed Cox Neil Rami Hayley Pepler Martin Simms Ed S. Graham Webb Andrew Lovett OBE Create Central Creative UK West Midlands Black Country Living Museum Creative Black Country Visit Birmingham & West Midlands BBC Studios Netflix Birmingham City Council Dudley Council Sandwell Council Invest Wolverhampton City of Wolverhampton Council Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council Walsall Council Coventry City Council Filming in England

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