Setting Out A Vision For The Region’s Creative Industries
How can we build a thriving, inclusive screen industry in the South West?
That was the focus of Screen Summit 2025, which brought together more than 100 people from across the sector. The fourth annual event included a keynote from West of England Mayor Helen Godwin, panel discussions on topics such as AI and creative workflows and a reflection from John McVay on his career supporting independent producers.
Attendees included founders, freelancers, educators, policymakers and others, all there to explore what the £25 million Creative Places Growth Fund could mean for the region.
The event also looked at the current state of the industry, identified areas of strength and considered what needs to happen next. Here are some of the key takeaways.
The Mayor’s Mission: £25m Creative Growth Fund
West of England Metro Mayor Helen Godwin shared her plans to deliver a £25 million Creative Places Growth Fund. The West is one of six regions nationally selected to receive the funding.
“This has to come from within, just like our success so far.”
The fund is intended to support business growth, develop local talent, and increase the region’s competitiveness. Early proposals include:
- A new screen development body
- A production fund for regional projects
- A music development programme
- Support for workforce development and diversity
Although the event has concluded, the consultation is ongoing. Stakeholders are encouraged to take part in shaping the final proposals.
A Sector in Transition
Speakers opened with a realistic view of the screen sector’s current landscape. In 2022, the West was seeing strong momentum, with increased production and new players entering the region.
Since then, several challenges have affected the industry, including the writers’ strike, commissioning slowdowns and wider economic uncertainty. Freelancers have been particularly affected.
Even with these pressures, the region still has important strengths. There is a strong talent base, established infrastructure such as Bottle Yard Studios and a culture of collaboration that supports innovation.
Go West 2.5: Updated Data and Insights
The event included the release of the Go West 2.5 report, which tracks changes across the regional screen sector between 2022 and 2025.
Key findings included:
- A reduction in natural history production, both in income and number of companies
- Growth in factual content production
- High turnover in branded content and facilities, with many newer companies struggling to sustain operations
The report highlighted the importance of maintaining a strong foundation for screen activity, particularly in skills, production capacity and access to finance.
The full report is available to download via the UWE Bristol website.
AI and Creative Workflows
As part of the summit there was a panel session which explored the increasing role of AI in the screen industry. Chaired by Ben Shorrock of techSPARK and featured James Pollock, Kate Hopkins and Daniel Efergan.
The session covered a range of use cases including archive management, sound design, animation and VFX.
“We explored how AI is starting to show up in screen production, from early experiments in sound and VFX to archive and animation, and the questions it raises for roles, workflows and creative decision-making.”
The discussion focused on where AI adds value and where caution is needed. Automation may improve speed and efficiency, but it also raises concerns about how emerging talent gains experience and how creative judgement is preserved.
“It is early days for the screen industries, but the level of curiosity, experimentation and critical thinking is encouraging. And it is always useful to see how tech is being applied in other sectors, not just the promise but the practice.”
There is growing interest in positioning the West of England as a centre for responsible and practical uses of AI in creative work.
Independent Voices: John McVay OBE
In the final session, John McVay OBE, outgoing CEO of Pact, shared lessons from more than two decades advocating for the independent production sector.
He noted that commissioning levels have fallen, margins have narrowed, and producers are facing difficult choices. He also highlighted the risk of losing intellectual property and creative ownership without proper support.
“Margins are down. Pipelines are shrinking. Producers are deferring their own fees. This is no longer a temporary downturn. It is structural.”
McVay called for stronger regional agencies, long-term investment in returning series, and greater support for IP development to ensure future sustainability.
What’s Next?
Although the event has finished, there are several ways to stay involved:
- Take part in consultation sessions on the Creative Places Growth Fund
- Read and share the Go West 2.5 report
- Share ideas that reflect the strengths of the region
Closing Reflection
The West of England continues to attract creative talent and innovation. With the right infrastructure and support, the region is well placed to develop a more sustainable and inclusive screen sector.
This is an opportunity to turn insight into action.