Channel 4 officially marked the opening of its new Creative Hub in Bristol last night.
At an event for staff, producers and partners from the region to launch the new offices based in Bristol’s Finzels Reach, Channel 4 CEO Alex Mahon said the new base would enable the broadcaster to tap into the deep pools of talent in the South West and Wales.
Mahon said: “Bristol gives Channel 4 an amazing opportunity to tap into the talent and rich and diverse culture that exists in the South West and Wales. By having our people in communities across the UK we’ll be able to better represent the UK, and I believe we will become more creative, distinctive and relevant as a result.
“We’re building a first-rate Bristol team led by our brilliant new Factual Commissioning Editor and Head of Hub, Sacha Mirzoeff. And there are great opportunities for our commissioners to grow the world class specialist factual community here in Bristol and Cardiff’s thriving drama scene and indie sector on the doorstep.”
Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol, said: “I’d like to warmly and formally welcome Channel 4 to Bristol at the official launch of their new Creative Hub. Bristol is an ideal partner for Channel 4, as a thriving, diverse and innovative city. It’s also a hotbed of creative talent which is developed and sustained by a wealth of industry partners and experts, many of whom supported our bid for the hub.
“Our success was the result of a citywide effort and a shared enthusiasm for what the move means for the city and region in terms of job creation, new projects and further investment. We look forward to working with Channel 4 to help broaden industry access for creative talent from all areas of Bristol.’’
Peter Walford, director at Bristol-based Cubex, the developer behind Finzels Reach, says: “A huge welcome to the Channel 4 team! We wish them all the very best in their new offices. We’re immensely proud they have chosen to locate their new Creative Hub at Finzels Reach, joining the likes of Historic England, English Heritage and creative studio OUTLAW in the Fermentation Buildings.”
West of England Mayor Tim Bowles said: “Welcoming Channel 4 to the West of England’s thriving creative cluster marks our region out as not just as a national, but a global centre of excellence for the creative arts.
“Our talented, diverse and innovative workforce is a big factor in bringing such big names to our area. The West of England Combined Authority is working hard to maintain that position by promoting the skilled people in our region and the great work going on in our fantastic facilities. We are supporting home-grown talent to make sure they have the skills and opportunities to break-in to careers in this flourishing sector and our Invest Bristol and Bath team continues to attract inward investment.”
Bristol was selected to be one of two Creative Hubs from more than 30 cities across the UK which pitched to become a new base for the national broadcaster.
The new Creative Hub in Bristol will be a home for key creative decision makers supporting Channel 4’s relationships with the production sector, particularly focused on genres with strengths in the south west of England and Wales.
Commissioning departments represented in the new Creative Hub in Bristol will include: Daytime, Drama; Factual and Popular Factual. Creative Diversity will also have a presence in Bristol to help nurture and develop on and off-screen talent.