York’s creative industries are set to receive a significant boost this month, as over 120 industry professionals, academics and local decision-makers are expected to gather for the thirteenth Reignite event, focused on production and creative technologies. The half-day conference, scheduled for 18 March at the Guildhall, will bring together business leaders, university researchers and council representatives to discuss the city’s expanding technology ecosystem.
Industry Leaders to Assemble at the Guildhall
The event, entitled ‘Reignite XIII: Production & Creative Technologies’, is being hosted by York BID in partnership with the University of York and the York and North Yorkshire Growth Hub. Attendees will include representatives from local studios, digital agencies, film production companies and technology start-ups, alongside members of York City Council’s economic development team.
Dr Jonny Foster, Head of School for Arts and Creative Technologies at the University of York, will open the conference, describing York as ‘a city with genuine creative ambition’. He will outline recent growth in the sector, referencing the university’s new £35 million Creative Centre and its ongoing support for local start-ups.
Panel to Explore Opportunities and Challenges
A panel discussion chaired by BBC Radio York’s Joanita Musisi will examine the challenges and prospects facing creative businesses in the region. Panellists include Alison Taylor, Managing Director of digital studio Pilot Theatre, and Martin Rowe, CEO of VFX firm Viridian FX. Both have cited skills shortages and access to capital as key constraints, but point to emerging collaborations between York’s educational institutions and local industry as a promising way forward.
‘There’s a real appetite for innovation here, but we need to invest in training if we want to sustain growth,’ Taylor is expected to say. Rowe will note that Viridian FX has doubled its workforce in the past 18 months, with half of new hires coming from local university programmes.
Local Growth Supported by Latest Data
Data to be shared at the event will reveal that York’s creative industries now employ over 2,500 people, up from 1,900 five years ago. The city is home to more than 400 creative sector businesses, with digital media, film production and games development identified as the fastest-growing areas. Median salaries in the sector have risen by 16% since 2020, according to York and North Yorkshire Growth Hub.
Tom Bolland, Senior Policy Officer at York City Council, will outline the council’s expectations that creative technology firms will drive ‘a substantial share’ of York’s job growth over the next decade. He will highlight the council’s forthcoming Creative Industries Strategy, due for publication later this year, which will include proposals for a purpose-built digital production hub in the city centre.
Universities at the Heart of Sector Growth
The University of York’s Creative Centre, which opened in late 2022, offers production studios, virtual reality labs and a 200-seat auditorium, all designed to foster collaboration between students and local businesses. According to Dr Foster, more than 30 start-ups have already partnered with the university to test new creative technologies or offer work placements.
York St John University’s Digital Creatives Lab, launched last September, will also be highlighted as a resource for skills development and industry partnerships. Joint initiatives between the universities have secured over £4 million in research and innovation funding since 2021.
Spotlight on Emerging Local Talent
Delegates will hear from several early-stage founders, including Amy Grant, whose animation studio Rooftop Stories has produced work for Channel 4 and the NHS. Grant, who employs eight staff in York’s Hungate district, describes the city as ‘an ideal base for creative businesses looking to scale’.
Investment in workspace and infrastructure will be a recurring theme. Representatives from Make It York and York BID are expected to discuss plans to convert a former warehouse near the River Ouse into a co-working hub for media start-ups, with support from the York & North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership.
Forward Plans and Policy Announcements
The event will conclude with remarks from Councillor Claire Douglas, Leader of City of York Council, who will pledge ongoing support for sector growth. ‘Creative industries are not a side project for York. They’re central to our economic future and our identity as a city,’ she is set to say. Douglas will confirm that the council is in discussions with the British Film Institute and regional TV companies to attract new productions to York, and expects to announce a funding package for creative apprenticeships next month.
Reignite XIII is set to be the largest in the series so far, with demand for places already outstripping capacity. The next event in the series, focusing on digital heritage, is scheduled for October.
