KEIGHLEY is already something of a magnet for film and TV companies.

From the classic Railway Children movie of 1970 – shot on the Keighley & Worth Valley line – to more recent small-screen favourites such as Peaky Blinders, filmed at Dalton Mills, production teams have found the area’s locations hugely attractive.

Now the town and the whole region could receive a further boost after it was announced that a groundbreaking initiative, to establish a network of centres of excellence for film and television, is to be piloted in Yorkshire.

The aim is for national and regional hubs to deliver mentoring and bursaries to talented young people, as the industry looks to recruit 10,000 more workers by 2022.

Involved in the scheme are Creative Skillset, Screen Yorkshire and the National Film and Television School.

And funding is being provided by the National Lottery.

Gareth Ellis-Unwin, for Creative Skillset, said: “We know that across the UK production and post-production is booming and it needs a reliable and inclusive talent delivery pipeline.

“The aim is to create a stronger supply of essential crew in areas where there is an opportunity to build an ever-more sustainable industry.

“This should offer opportunities to more young people with talent to get a foot in the door of film and television closer to home – helping overcome the barriers created when there is little or no filming where people are growing up.

“The initiative will also help existing screen professionals to continue to update their skills and carry on working, while offering producers a wider range of locations with a skilled workforce on hand.”

The region was chosen for the pilot largely because of work already carried out by Screen Yorkshire in developing partnerships with existing production facilities, further and higher education institutions, local enterprise partnerships and other stakeholders.

Sally Joynson, chief executive of Screen Yorkshire, said: “Landing the UK’s first centre of excellence for film and TV is a major milestone for the region.

“It reflects Yorkshire’s growing status as a leading centre for film and TV production.

“Strengthening the workforce is a fundamental part of Screen Yorkshire’s five-year industry growth plan.

“The centre of excellence is one of a number of initiatives that we have been developing behind the scenes to ensure that productions filming in Yorkshire can be assured they will be working with the best crews in the business.”

It is expected the Yorkshire pilot will eventually pave the way for at least five UK centres.

The region’s film and TV sector has been invigorated in recent years.

Screen Yorkshire investment in activities has helped deliver unprecedented growth in employment and turnover – more than double that of any other region in the UK.