The BBC has announced the 50 UK companies supported through this year”s Small Indie Fund. The successful companies receive a range of support packages including strategic investment, a BBC commissioning editor mentor and development deal to help them grow.

Launched in 2020, the £1m fund supports the growth of small independent production companies with turnovers below £10m across drama, entertainment, comedy, factual and daytime.

The initiative was designed to help boost the strength of UK production in the context of global competition with a strong focus on companies with diverse leadership and producers based outside London.

Three quarters of this year”s small indies are based in the Nations and English Regions, and half of them have diverse leadership. The successful companies receive a range of support packages including strategic investment, a BBC commissioning editor mentor and development deal to help them grow.

Helen Blenkinsop, head of commissioning supply, said : “The small indie fund enables us to back companies who have brilliant British stories to tell across all four Nations and help create the next generation of on and off screen talent. Companies like these are the lifeblood of the UK”s creative industry. Last year”s fund led to dozens of ambitious commissions – and we have high hopes of this year”s companies.”

The fund aims to sustain the plurality of supply and support innovation enabling smaller companies to compete more effectively when they don”t have the support of big international corporate groups.

2021/2022 List

Northern Ireland

Afro-Mic Productions
Alleycats
Fabel Productions
Walk on Air

Wales
Darlun
Frank Films
Kailash
Little Bird
Little Wander
Nimble Productions

Scotland
Flabbergast TV
Friel Kean
Highland Midgie
Koh Pro
Oxford Films (Scotland base)
Rogan Productions
Sinner
Two Rivers Media
Vincent TV

English regions
Bohemia Film – SW
Button Down – Yorkshire
Clockwork Films – Leeds
Comedy Hothouse – North East
Cornered Tiger- Midlands
Daddy’s SuperYacht – North East/London
Factual Fiction – Yorkshire
Indefinite Films – Bristol
King of Sunshine – Manchester
Middle Child – North East base
Ossian/Enchanted Isle – Scotland/NE
Peggy Pictures – Manchester
Portopia – Midlands
Rockerdale Studios – North
Saffron Cherry – Manchester
Spark Media – Suffolk
Super Best Quality Video – Bristol
The Connected Set – Brighton
TwentySix03- North East base

London
B Side
Chatham
Corona
Dramatic Encounters
Escape Plan
Fully Focussed
Milk and Honey
Nuwave Pictures
Summer Films
Other Productions
Parti Productions
Sarah Brocklehurst

46 programmes have been commissioned from companies supported in 2020/21, with many more ideas still in active development.

Image: This Girl’s Changed from ClockWork Films.