Northern Culture ‘Unapped’ Inquiry Evidence Session 2 - 5th March 2026

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Bradford City Council Leader, Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe delivering her opening statement to the session.

What will untap culture, skills and the talent pipeline?

On Thursday 5th March, the Northern Culture Inquiry headed to Bradford to focus on the talent and skills pipeline - with a walking tour and visit to Bradford College and the Science and Media Museum.

The Tour

The morning consisted of a walking tour around Bradford led by Jamie Saunders, Service Enabler at Bradford City Council, who has worked for the local authority for over 30 years. The tour delved into the history of Bradford, it’s 2025’s City of Culture bid and the work of culture in leading their efforts in regeneration.

The tour then headed to Bradford College, a leading post 16 institution educating 4,500 16-19 year olds as well as 9,000 higher education students in the heart of Bradford. The APPG saw their new production academy, home to state of the art recording studios, podcasting and production rooms as well as a professional TV studio. The tour also included a look at their dedicated labs for fashion, beauty and other qualifications key to the skills and talent pipeline of the future.

Shortly after, the APPG toured the Science and Media museum, a cultural institution recognising the contributions of sound, visual effects, gaming, photography, TV and other vital professions to the industry. With a range of exhibitions such as the Sound and Vision gallery, the tour saw the importance of cultural recognition in driving multi-million pound investment into the city.

The Inquiry session

The afternoon saw the inquiry session hosted at Bradford Arts Centre, a landmark cultural institution which hosts performances, workshops, and community events throughout the year - enabling culture to continue to thrive in the city. The Inquiry session was joined by a panel of experts across politics, TV, writing, heritage, academia, music and more, including:

  • Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe - Leader of Bradford City Council

  • Chris Burglass - Music Mark

  • Chris Bailey - Guild of Media Arts

  • Lisa Holdsworth - Writers Guild

  • Mike Innerdale - National Trust

  • Mojisola Kareem - Utopia Theatre

  • Charlotte Meek - The Stitch Company

  • Jack Powell - British Film Institute

  • Marcus Ryder - TV and Film Charity

  • Sarah Towan - Bradford College

The inquiry session got stuck into the key detail of what is holding the skills and talent pipeline back, how we can work collaboratively to grow the opportunities available across the North, as well as the deeper structural issues around place and talent.

Key messages from the session

  • Talent exists everywhere in the North - but opportunities don’t always follow.

  • If we want the North’s cultural momentum to last, we need the skills pathways, infrastructure and investment that allow creative talent to stay and thrive.

  • We don't just have a pipeline problem, we have a leaking bucket. 74% of an industry survey said they were considering leaving due to their financial situation

  • We need to create clear and accessible routes for people into the sector throughout their lives, we need a curriculum that encourages people to engage with film and moving image, which includes quality careers advice, includes qualifications that gives people the skills they need to move in their careers, includes local needs, and crucially includes paid routes into the sector

  • We need sustained investment in communities and long term cultural infrastructure. We need stronger alignment between colleges and universities and organisations, we also need to recognise that the future cultural workforce is increasingly diverse, the next generation of cultural leaders will come from communities which were previously ignored and marginalised.

  • The infrastructure levy of development should also contribute to a joint pot on cultural needs.

  • We need paid training placements and youth leadership programmes which are linked to industry networks. This helps young people with professional networks to advance their careers. Combined Authorities have a major opportunity for regional skills planning and economic development to engage further.

Our Northern Culture ‘Untapped’ Inquiry heads next to Westminster for our third oral evidence session, focusing on whether Mayors and Combined Authorities could be key to unlocking the potential of Northern Culture.

For more about the session click below to access the session summary

5th March 2026 Session Minutes
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