Over the past ten years Bradford has been quietly re-inventing itself to be placed at the forefront of the new media sector. In 2001 bmedia was formed to build networks and raise the profile of the cities new media sector.

This was followed by a series of high profile relocations to the area from companies such as Virgin Media, Hallmark UK and Direct Marketing Group to join Bradford stalwart and media giant Pace Plc.

Steve Ding, CEO at bmedia sees a bright future for Bradford’s media community: “The city has the right mix of big name clients with award-winning marketing teams and smaller SMEs at the top of their game alongside key cultural attractions who take an active role in the local business sector. The Yorkshire universities are also ensuring that companies can find easy access to a skilled workorce.”

Pace Plc’s recent £63m purchase of Phillips’ set top box division makes it the third largest manufacturer of these devices in the world. The city’s reputation for skills and innovation enticed Nokia Siemens to set up a wireless components design division in the district in 2007.

A recent announcement that the University of Bradford will host the Yorkshire and Humber Skills set Media Academy further ensuring Yorkshire’s highly skilled digital professionals is set to remain strong as the industry continues to grow.

In a sign that the region is garnering respect from the industry Bradford was also recently named the world’s first UNESCO City of Film beating off competition from industry favourites Los Angeles, Cannes and Venice. The success of the bid was powered by the National Media Museum, the most visited museum outside London and home of the first IMAX cinema in Britain.

Today the museum is more than exhibitions of old glory, it celebrates the full spectrum of the media sector hosting events, seminars and conferences focusing on areas as diverse as animation, women in media, photography, web development and the games sector.