An event to inform local businesses of the opportunities to be created by a multi-million pound state-of-the-art film, TV and digital production village in Hartlepool has been hailed a huge success.
Around 100 people attended the free procurement event at Hartlepool College of Further Education to find out more about the expansion of The Northern Studios in Lynn Street and the creation of a Screen Industries Production Village in the surrounding Church Street area.
The £33.5 million project is set to create opportunities for local businesses across construction, trades, facilities management, specialist services and the wider supply chain.
It involves significantly expanding the Northern Studios with production leading equipment and facilities and creating a state of the art Screen Industries Production Village by converting nine disused buildings - including the Grade II listed former Shades Hotel - into cutting-edge workplaces for creative professionals.
Led by Hartlepool Borough Council, the project is a partnership with The Northern School of Art, Tees Valley Combined Authority and North East Screen. It is being developed with industry specialists Leonard Design, Stace and TIME + SPACE and construction is expected to begin in the coming months.
At the event, updates were provided by Hartlepool Borough Council's Head of Strategic Development and Sustainability Paul Taylor, TIME + SPACE Development Manager Jason Schofield and Leonard Design’s Director of Major Projects John Holden.
Kieran Bostock, Hartlepool Borough Council's Director of Neighbourhoods and Regulatory Services, said: "We wanted to give businesses the chance to get ahead of the procurement process, make connections and ensure they are ready to benefit from this landmark development, so we are delighted that so many people attended.
"In fact, demand for places at the event was so great we had to switch locations from The BIS in Whitby Street to the larger Hartlepool College of Further Education so that more people could attend.
"We are now entering a very exciting stage of the project with a number of key procurement opportunities about to come forward ahead of construction work getting underway."
Businesses can access information about current and forthcoming procurement opportunities with Hartlepool Borough Council via the Open e‑Procurement platform at https://www.open-uk.org. In line with the Procurement Act 2023, the Council will publish relevant procurement notices on the UK Central Digital Platform at https://www.gov.uk/find-tender where required.