North West Vision awards Regional Attraction Fund to Hat Trick North

North West Vision has made the first award from its Regional Attraction Fund, a North West Vision initiative funded by the Northwest Regional Development Agency, to Hat Trick North, the Manchester-based offshoot of Hat Trick Productions, producers of the hugely successful 'Have I Got News For You', 'Father Ted', 'Bodies' & 'The Kumars at No 42'.
The funding will give the company the best possible start to its operations in the Northwest and enable it to develop key creative talent and programming in the region.
Headed up by locally based producer Rebecca Papworth, Hat Trick North will initially be staffed by a team of four and will focus on comedy, entertainment and factual entertainment commissions. It aims to turnover £5 million and generate 6,500 freelance days over the next 18 months.
The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) have provided initial funding of £1 million for the fund to be managed by North West Vision, and it is a major initiative to attract not only high-growth independent producers to England's Northwest but also to assist in the growth of existing production and facilities companies in the region.
As well as providing start-up funding, North West Vision will also broker other support for the company through its partnerships with Media Training North West, Manchester Investment & Development Agency Service, Manchester Enterprises and Chamberlinks.
Alice Morrison, Chief Executive of North West Vision, said: "We have received over 100 enquires about the Fund since the start of the year, both from out-of-town indie suppliers looking to establish a local base, and from the indigenous independent production community. We're delighted to be supporting Hat Trick in this exciting, new venture and will be making many such awards over the next six months in order to strengthen the region's TV production base."
Hilary Strong, Group Business Director of Hat Trick Productions, added: "Together with Rebecca, we plan to grow a self-sustaining company with a strong regional identity. The on-going support offered by North West Vision and the Northwest Regional Development Agency through the Regional Attraction Fund, together with their expertise and enthusiasm, has been one of the deciding factors in our decision to come to Manchester."
Peter Mearns, NWDA Director of Marketing, said: "The driving force behind our establishment of the Regional Attraction Fund is to help independent production companies like Hat Trick take advantage of the region's excellent film and television ability. Not only will this funding create jobs for Northwest media professionals, but it will reinforce the region's reputation as one of the most attractive locations for aspiring new talent. I look forward to welcoming Hat Trick to England's Northwest."
(GB)