MediaCityUK is all set to be the home of the new, regional Media Enterprise Centre - a vast 53,000 sq ft, six floor complex, that boasts a development budget of millions and has been conceived to support existing players in the sector, while encouraging and stimulating emerging media talent.
Based within the south tower of the MediaCityUK studio block, the MEC will contain the recently announced games industry centre of excellence, a hub for research into digital media markets and technologies (known as FIRM and led by Salford University), an industry-led ‘hothouse’ for the development of new digital content and prototypes (the Digital Content Lab), and a facility for community groups to learn relevant skills and create media content (christened MakeMedia).
The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) has committed £4.2m to the project, the NWDA £3.8m and additional funding is set to come from Salford City Council, which has now signed a lease on the building with developer Peel Media.
MCUK gathering pace
In a statement released today council leader John Merry commented: "The MEC is a vital component of MediaCityUK and one that the council and public sector partners have worked hard to make a reality.
"It firmly establishes MediaCityUK and Salford as a centre for world class innovation, but, vitally, it will also nurture grassroots businesses and the development of creative relationships at every level from community media to international names."
Steven Broomhead, Chief Executive of the NWDA, added: “The NWDA is investing over £30m in the physical development of MediaCityUK.
"This additional investment in the MEC will help to create the supportive environment for business innovation and growth that is an equally critical part of the MediaCityUK infrastructure.
"We know that MediaCityUK will be a site of global importance in the digital and creative sector and the initiatives based within the MEC will make it a bustling centre of the latest digital and creative thinking."
The MEC is expected to be operational from summer of next year. More announcements on its operation, development and offering to the media community will follow in the New Year.
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