Stockport production company among beneficiaries of Channel 4 fund

Channel 4 has announced Stockport-based Salamanda Media as one of the firms to benefit from the Emerging Indie Fund, the broadcaster’s scheme to support independent production companies.

The fund has been set up to help small and emerging television production companies outside of London to break through key stages of growth. The fund will award money annually to provide financial assistance to indies for slate development. Firms can also receive expert advice from various departments within Channel 4.

Channel 4’s Head of Commissioning Management Emma Hardy said:

It’s fantastic that such a wide range of indies from across the UK will benefit from our Emerging Indie Fund.

“The fund will provide practical guidance and support so these indies can grow into the next stage of their development and, in turn, boost the creative impact the Nations and Regions has on the broadcast industry. It is the element of both time with commissioning and financial support that we feel will make the biggest difference.”

Stockport-based Salamanda Media is one of only two firms in Greater Manchester and the North West to be awarded funding, and could help to further establish the town’s creative and media sector. Stockport has recently featured as a backdrop for a number of high-profile TV productions, including the BBC’s Peaky Blinders, and Netflix drama The Stranger.

Also selected for the Emerging Indies Fund was Welsh production company, Chwarel, which currently partners with Cheadle-based Together Money on on property game shows for both Channel 4 and the Welsh-language broadcaster S4C.