The West Midlands IP Fund is coming back soon following its first round in 2024-25. Please sign up for our newsletter below to receive the latest news and keep an eye out for a further announcement in September 2025.
The West Midlands IP Fund will continue to support screen SMEs in the West Midlands Combined Authority region in the sustainable development of their film, TV and animation IP.
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
“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
“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
“Working with Creative UK has been transformative for Full Fat TV. Their investment and support played a part in securing a primetime series commission.”
“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
“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
“Working with Creative UK has been transformative for Full Fat TV. Their investment and support played a part in securing a primetime series commission.”
“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
“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.”
“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”
“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
“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.”
“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”
“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
“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