Indielab launches GrowthLab, a unique new event to support indie growth

Indielab, the leading provider of accelerator programmes for the television industry, says more needs to be done to support the UK’s independent production community as it grapples with constantly changing economic and sector challenges, as well as uncertainty around the future of both the BBC and Channel 4.

To turbo-charge the support process, help navigate the changes and identify where the current opportunities are, Indielab has created GrowthLab, a first-of-its-kind event dedicated to promoting growth for independent producers.

To be held in London on 9th February 2023, and with earlybird tickets going on sale today (Nov 24), GrowthLab is destined to be an unmissable event for both scripted and unscripted indies keen to power-up production, kick-start new commercial opportunities and invest in their future.

GrowthLab will have a laser focus on the key issues driving indie development and growth today, delivered across different activity hubs, including Speaker and Session Rooms, largely interactive spaces where delegates can hear from and question industry leaders, and a Distribution and Production Finance Markethall, where indies can meet one-to-one with potential partners. With a mix of impactful support, leading current thinking and interactivity, this carefully curated event promises to sharpen knowledge, expand networks and give indies what they need to succeed and grow in today’s competitive and fast-changing global industry.

Some session hosts and speakers will come from major broadcasters and streamers – such as Liam Keelan (Disney+) and Harjeet Chhokar (Amazon Studios) - but significantly, delegates will also hear first-hand experiences and get advice from indie founders already on remarkable growth trajectories, including Victoria Ashbourne (Hello Dolly) and Matt Campion (Spirit Studios). Topics covered on the day will range from succeeding in a recession and finding new opportunities in the changing global market, to how to develop a winning company culture for richer results. 

Victoria Powell, Indielab’s CEO, says: “The UK’s independent production sector has long been the envy of the international television industry but as the media landscape continues to evolve, growth is not a given and the sector needs more support than ever before to thrive and compete. We’ve listened to what indies want and have combined that input with our own extensive experience around indie growth to deliver a dynamic event that will address current issues and help identify the new opportunities that exist, all the while providing tangible advice, useful take-aways and interesting new connections.

“This is far from a typical, one-size-fits-all conference where people just talk at you: we have purposely developed a fresh type of event with a programme that is as interactive and varied as possible. This means that all indies, whether start-up or established, scripted or unscripted, small or large, can attend the most impactful sessions for their own business and its stage of development, confronting the general challenges in the sector as well as those that might be unique to them”.

Matt Campion, founder and creative director of Spirit Studios adds: “Running a modern-day indie is a big challenge. Becoming a business leader doesn’t always come naturally to creatives, so Indielab’s new GrowthLab is a brilliant way for indies to learn and plan for future growth.”

Distributors and production finance companies attending include Abacus Media Rights, Banijay Rights, BBC Studios, BossaNova Media, Great Point, Hat Trick International, Passion Distribution and Silverlining Rights, amongst others.

GrowthLab is being delivered by Indielab, in partnership with Moore Kingston Smith LLP, with sponsorship from Banijay Rights, ACF Investment Bank and Getty Images. TBI is the exclusive media partner.

Tickets for GrowthLab go on sale today, 24th November, with an earlybird price of £175 (+VAT). When the earlybird rate ends on 12th December, the ticket price will be £225 (+ VAT). Tickets can be obtained by here.

GrowthLab will take place on 9th February 2023 at Barclays in Canary Wharf, London, from 1.30pm - 8.00pm, and will be followed by a networking drinks reception.