West Midlands IP Fund

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Applications now open.

Announcing the return of the West Midlands IP Fund, the second round of development funding for screen IP in the region. 

  • Grant funding up to £20,000 
  • Available for scripted and non-scripted narrative projects and slates 
  • Supporting both broadcast level and ‘digital first’ content 
  • Applicants must be SMEs based in the West Midlands Combined Authority region (Birmingham, Solihull, Sandwell, Dudley, Coventry, Walsall and Wolverhampton)
  • Webinar with Q&A on the opportunity being held 1pm on 23rd October – register for your place here.

Application deadline: midday, Tuesday 4th November 2025.

Apply via the Creative UK portal. 

The West Midlands IP Fund is funded by West Midlands Combined Authority and delivered by Creative UK in collaboration with Create Central.

Register to hear more about the West Midlands IP Fund

Meet the fund recipients

Cornered Tiger

Here at Cornered Tiger we are focussed on telling diverse stories from the region. In the current climate, this fund award has allowed a company our size to develop an exciting project without relying entirely on broadcaster development funds. This particular drama project has been developed in house and we have boarded an exciting writer with a proven track record. An idea that tackles taboos with a thrilling and tantalising tone that we hope will be filmed in the region but have an international presence.” 

Adil Ray OBE, Founder, Cornered Tiger

corneredtiger.co.uk 

Mirrorball Films

“The success of the Nativity! franchise has demonstrated a continuing appetite for original stories with authentic voices and we’re grateful for the support of the West Midlands IP Fund in helping to fund the development of this epic new film set in Coventry that promises to thrill and delight audiences everywhere.” 

Debbie Isitt

mirrorballfilms.co.uk 

Full Fat TV

Working with Creative UK has been transformative for Full Fat TV. Their investment and support played a part in securing a primetime series commission.”

fullfattv.co.uk 

Here at Cornered Tiger we are focussed on telling diverse stories from the region. In the current climate, this fund award has allowed a company our size to develop an exciting project without relying entirely on broadcaster development funds. This particular drama project has been developed in house and we have boarded an exciting writer with a proven track record. An idea that tackles taboos with a thrilling and tantalising tone that we hope will be filmed in the region but have an international presence.” 

Adil Ray OBE, Founder, Cornered Tiger

corneredtiger.co.uk 

“The success of the Nativity! franchise has demonstrated a continuing appetite for original stories with authentic voices and we’re grateful for the support of the West Midlands IP Fund in helping to fund the development of this epic new film set in Coventry that promises to thrill and delight audiences everywhere.” 

Debbie Isitt

mirrorballfilms.co.uk 

Working with Creative UK has been transformative for Full Fat TV. Their investment and support played a part in securing a primetime series commission.”

fullfattv.co.uk 

Nine Lives Media

We’re thrilled to have won this development grant which is enabling us to do detailed development on what we hope will become a returning format.”

Cat Lewis and Jazz Gowans, Nine Lives Media 

ninelivesmedia.co.uk

Vicarious Productions

“Carol Harding and Deborah Aston are thrilled to be successful applicants to the West Midlands IP Fund: Narrative.  Vicarious Productions has been able to secure a substantive scripted series IP and early development funding – the funding difficult for an SME to access, which is crucial to attracting commissioner interest and further funding for narrative scripted screen projects from SMEs in the West Midlands.

vicariousproductions.co.uk

Threewise Entertainment

Threewise Entertainment was delighted to be one of the recipients of the WM IP Content Fund Investment for Narrative. The Fund was everything you want a development fund to be – rapid in its decision-making and timely in its deployment. The IP Fund has enabled Threewise to fast-track the development of a flagship Kids & Family IP to lead its new Feature Film Slate. Beyond the obvious contribution to creative development, the funds assisted Threewise in reinforcing IP Copyright Activity and securing digital assets that would have otherwise been left unprotected. These elements are key to our plans for active Entertainment & Character Licensing in the Kids & Family sector” 

threewise.com 

We’re thrilled to have won this development grant which is enabling us to do detailed development on what we hope will become a returning format.”

Cat Lewis and Jazz Gowans, Nine Lives Media 

ninelivesmedia.co.uk

“Carol Harding and Deborah Aston are thrilled to be successful applicants to the West Midlands IP Fund: Narrative.  Vicarious Productions has been able to secure a substantive scripted series IP and early development funding – the funding difficult for an SME to access, which is crucial to attracting commissioner interest and further funding for narrative scripted screen projects from SMEs in the West Midlands.

vicariousproductions.co.uk

Threewise Entertainment was delighted to be one of the recipients of the WM IP Content Fund Investment for Narrative. The Fund was everything you want a development fund to be – rapid in its decision-making and timely in its deployment. The IP Fund has enabled Threewise to fast-track the development of a flagship Kids & Family IP to lead its new Feature Film Slate. Beyond the obvious contribution to creative development, the funds assisted Threewise in reinforcing IP Copyright Activity and securing digital assets that would have otherwise been left unprotected. These elements are key to our plans for active Entertainment & Character Licensing in the Kids & Family sector” 

threewise.com 

Mill Bay Media

“Mill Bay Media, part of the 53 Degrees Global group, have secured a drama development with the BBC for a returning series, The Hairdresser, to be made and set in the Midlands area. In order to make the show a reality we needed to rebuild a base in Birmingham in order to work with the excellent editorial, production and post production staff in the region. To that end, we needed help around the contracting of freelance editorial, business affairs and budget preparation personnel and related expenses. Thankfully it all came together and The Hairdresser has been greenlit for a six part BBC Drama. We couldn’t have made this happen without the WMIP Fund. It is incredibly exciting to be launching a new show in this abundantly creative region and we are very grateful to the WMIP Fund for all their support and encouragement.” 

Will Trotter, Creative Director/Founder 

Second Home Studios

“We’re incredibly excited and hugely grateful to be awarded development funding through the West Midlands IP Fund. This will enable us to push forward with developing an acquired IP whose life began as a local piece of street theatre and puppetry, and will now continue life within a fellow Birmingham-based creative company with view to developing an animated feature film. The fund will enable us to work on story development and early concept work, with a view to pitching this to funders and distributors.” 

Chris Randall 

secondhomestudios.com

“Mill Bay Media, part of the 53 Degrees Global group, have secured a drama development with the BBC for a returning series, The Hairdresser, to be made and set in the Midlands area. In order to make the show a reality we needed to rebuild a base in Birmingham in order to work with the excellent editorial, production and post production staff in the region. To that end, we needed help around the contracting of freelance editorial, business affairs and budget preparation personnel and related expenses. Thankfully it all came together and The Hairdresser has been greenlit for a six part BBC Drama. We couldn’t have made this happen without the WMIP Fund. It is incredibly exciting to be launching a new show in this abundantly creative region and we are very grateful to the WMIP Fund for all their support and encouragement.” 

Will Trotter, Creative Director/Founder 

“We’re incredibly excited and hugely grateful to be awarded development funding through the West Midlands IP Fund. This will enable us to push forward with developing an acquired IP whose life began as a local piece of street theatre and puppetry, and will now continue life within a fellow Birmingham-based creative company with view to developing an animated feature film. The fund will enable us to work on story development and early concept work, with a view to pitching this to funders and distributors.” 

Chris Randall 

secondhomestudios.com

Join a webinar

We’ll be hosting a webinar with an opportunity to ask questions on the West Midlands IP Fund at 1pm on 23rd October – register for your place here.

Webinar recording

Can’t attend a webinar? Catch up on a recording below.