Creative industries in Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire are to be given a £1.275m boost after growing hugely in recent years.
TV, film, gaming and design expertise across the counties has driven impressive jobs growth in the sector.
A 22% rise in workforce was recorded between 2015 to 2020 - creating an additional 8,115 jobs. This was three times higher than the national average of 7.5% growth.
The region is now one of six to benefit from a new investment programme funded by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)
The Creative East: Create Growth Programme is an investment readiness and business support programme led by New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).
There will be a special focus on the region's core clusters of TV, film, and content production, plus IT, software, gaming and design.
Organisations will be given expert advice, support and one-to-one mentoring to help them gain investors and boost growth.
LEP chief executive Chris Starkie said: "Creative industries are really thriving in our region and this programme will support their ambitions for growth and help create the high value jobs we need to retain and attract the top talent."
Creative East innovation funding manager Saffron Myhill said she was excited about the opportunities the programme will create.
"The East is home to a lot of talent within the creative industries and we’re keen to develop the region’s clusters, especially within the gaming and film sectors," she said.
Among the region's creative successes are Norwich, which became England’s first UNESCO City of Literature. It is home to the National Centre for Writing, Norwich Theatre and TV, media and digital arts companies.
Suffolk is home to a rapidly expanding film industry. Screen Suffolk has more than 550 film locations on its books and reports that each day filming is adding £13,000 to the local economy.
Cambridge has a thriving gaming industry.
The Create Growth Programme runs for two years with training sessions in Norwich from April, Ipswich from September and Cambridgeshire throughout 2024.
To apply visit www.creativeeast.org.uk.
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