UK prodco Spirit Studios brought into Channel 4’s Indie Growth Fund

UK broadcaster Channel 4 has added local production company Spirit Studios to its Indie Growth Fund, which provides independents with funding.

Peter Cowley

The addition of Spirit Studios takes the number of companies in the fund to 16, with eight having joined since 2020.

Founded in 2014, the fund provides additional support to the UK independent creative sector by taking minority stakes in small and mid-sized enterprises to help them to grow their businesses.

Spirit Studios, founded by CEO Peter Cowley and creative director Matt Campion, creates and distributes original unscripted and scripted programming, podcasts and branded content.

Its original programming includes The Stand Up Sketch Show for ITV, Bamous for BBC3 and The Whole Truth, First Impressions and Trigger Happy for Channel 4.

Caroline Murphy, head of the Indie Growth Fund, said: “Matt and Peter have built an incredibly multi-faceted company which covers an amazingly broad spectrum of digital and linear media. Their values align with so much we hold dear at Channel 4 and I know that their passion, vision and creativity coupled with support from the Indie Growth Fund will help Spirit Studios soar to even greater success.”

Cowley said: “This is a significant moment in Spirit’s journey and we’re thrilled to have Channel 4 help us scale our businesses, as we continue to disrupt the industry on our journey to become a powerhouse indie of the future.”