It was a pleasure to speak with Rachel Shenton, Staffordshire local and Performing Arts graduate from Stoke on Trent College (Burslem Campus), about my ambition for Stoke-on-Trent, Kidsgrove and Talke to become a base for the TV and film industry.
Rachel is a 2018 Academy Award Winner for the film she wrote, The Silent Child , and an ambassador for the National Deaf Children's Society.
I’m very grateful to Rachel for sharing her knowledge about the industry and why she believes Stoke could produce a film studio, production house and warehouse space for film suppliers (lighting, props etc).
I will be taking away Rachel’s advice and work closely with her, Stoke-on-Trent City Council and others to see what we can learn from Media City in Manchester.
Silicon Stoke is about ensuring we become the home of the video games industry and are also a major hub for TV and film. This would bring higher skilled and higher wage job opportunities to local people and ensure we are at the forefront of the tech revolution.