Decision details

To consider approval for York and North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership to be a core partner for the bid led by University of York, to be one of four new specialist centres for Creative Industries virtual production. The application will not result in any direct grant funding being awarded for the LEP involvement but the LEP will undertake to support high-growth businesses from the York and North Yorkshire area that are involved in the programme. The core partner role will be provided by York and North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership, for whom North Yorkshire Council acts as Accountable Body.

Approval for YNY LEP to be a Core Partner to the University of York, to participate in a bid to UKRI Arts & Humanities Research Council to support high-technology growth of the Creative Industries Sector in the York & North Yorkshire region between 2023 and 2029 valued at over £6m for that period.

The role of the York and North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership as a Core Partner will be to support commercialisation of the business opportunities presented by the programme, specifically in the York and North Yorkshire areas. Work was undertaken last year to analyse the local economy which has informed an evidence-based approach to maximise the existing assets and attributes of the region, and their potential to be developed. The innovative technologies and scope for commercialisation into businesses operating in the area which are proposed by the application provide opportunity to deliver the high growth potential that has been identified.

The alternative would be to decline the invitation to be a core partner in the programme. The preferred option is to partner with the University as proposed, supported by the YNY LEP strategy to focus on six priority business sectors that have the potential for high economic growth across the York and North Yorkshire area, one of which is Creative Industries.