AoC monthly spotlight: Bradford College

The Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, officially opened Bradford College’s new skills development space for the creative leaders of tomorrow.

‘The Producing Academy’ is an exciting new facility designed to nurture the wave of creative talent needed across West Yorkshire, helping to position the region as a national powerhouse for the creative industries.

Covering music production and broadcast media, digital storytelling, fashion and photography, and eSports and games development, The Producing Academy will offer exceptional training that shapes and nurtures local creative talent to meet regional and national skills gaps.

Sarah Towan, Bradford College Vice Principal – Recruitment & Communication, explained: “The Producing Academy at Bradford College is designed for the filmmakers behind the lens, the sound engineers shaping future music, the journalists and content creators changing society, and the innovators in fashion, photography, gaming, and digital arts. Bringing all these disciplines together under one roof, the academy launches as Bradford’s creative energy remains in the national spotlight following the success of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture.

“Through cutting-edge courses in producing, content creating, digital storytelling, entrepreneurship and influencer culture, we’re building the next generation of CreateTechs backed by some of the biggest brands in the content industry. We’re not just teaching skills, we’re opening doors. Our students will gain real-world experience, industry mentorship, and progress to organisations that are leading a multi-billion-pound industry.”

West Yorkshire has the fastest growing creative sector in England outside London, which is currently worth around £2.2 billion to the regional economy. There are nearly 7,000 creative businesses, employing over 100,000 people. An ambitious plan to supercharge West Yorkshire’s creative industries was recently unveiled, which aims to grow the region’s creative economy to £4.1 billion by 2035, and create 50,000 new jobs.

The special launch event held in the David Hockney Building, home of the new academy, invited representatives from across culture, sport and entertainment in the region to see the students in action.

Tracey Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “There’s so much talent and ambition in West Yorkshire, and Bradford’s year in the spotlight as UK City of Culture is inspiring the next generation. I’m thrilled that this new academy will help more creatives to unleash their potential in a stronger, brighter region that works for all.”

The Producing Academy will sit alongside the college’s already successful School of Arts and complement the BRIT School North, set to open in 2026/2027.
Find out more about the facilities and creative courses on offer at The Producing Academy: www.bradfordcollege.ac.uk