Following on from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s Create Growth Programme announcement, Media Borne has landed a “six-figure” Innovate UK grant to develop a pioneering North East virtual production hub.
The project cements the North East’s position as a fast-emerging creative and digital powerhouse, attracting investment and talent that rivals the UK’s largest production centres.
“This is a huge moment for the North East,” said Chris Thompson, founder and managing director of Media Borne.
“Innovate UK’s backing sends a clear message that the region’s creative industries are not just growing – they’re shaping the future of entertainment, storytelling, and technology.”
Located at Borne Studios in Gateshead, the new Virtual Production Hub will merge real-time green screen, Unreal Engine environments, and multi-camera workflows – bringing state-of-the-art production capabilities to local brands, filmmakers, and creative entrepreneurs. It will also act as a collaborative innovation space for skills development, R&D, and IP creation across the creative sector.
Media Borne’s expansion is already generating significant economic benefits for the North East – as of November 2025, the studio employs eight full-time staff, up from just two in October 2025, driven by demand for original content, virtual production work and digital storytelling.
With the Virtual Production Hub now underway and the studio’s IP incubation pipeline scaling, Media Borne projects:
- 25 full-time staff within five years
- £1.5-£2.2 million in cumulative regional salaries generated over the next half-decade
- Dozens of indirect jobs supported through freelancers, contractors and partner organisations
- A strengthened regional workforce, creating high-value careers without requiring relocation
“This isn’t just job creation – it’s long-term regional value,” Thompson added. “We’re developing the next generation of creative talent right here in the North East.”
At the heart of Media Borne’s mission is a simple goal: to empower North East creators and give the region a louder, bolder voice in the UK’s digital content landscape.
Through a purpose-built Virtual Production Hub and a forward-thinking IP development programme, the studio is building:
- Accessible entry points for emerging filmmakers, digital creators and storytellers
- A development pipeline that takes local ideas from concept > pilot > full-scale show
- New production formats designed specifically for YouTube, FAST channels and modern digital platforms
- A collaborative creative ecosystem where regional talent can experiment, train and grow
The investment forms part of the government’s wider strategy to level up creative economies outside of London, recognising the North East’s potential to drive economic impact through media, design, and digital innovation.
“The creative industries are one of the UK’s most dynamic sectors – generating over £126 billion for the economy,” Thompson said.
“By investing here, Innovate UK is helping unlock that potential at a regional level – giving people the infrastructure, networks, and technology to build sustainable creative businesses.”
Beyond the technology, Media Borne’s Virtual Production Hub is set to play a key role in anchoring a new wave of collaboration – between local production companies, universities, investors, and cultural institutions. By aligning commercial production with research and talent, it’s helping ensure that the North East’s creative growth is both scalable and future-focused.
