South City Studios hits the right note to double its growth
Press release
Expansion plans continue for South Manchester’s premier pre-production and rehearsal facility South City Studios which has doubled in size since acquiring additional space at Welkin Mill in Stockport.
South City Studios now houses a 500-capacity pre-production room for artists to rehearse and record in a venue setting. This is the first pre-production room available in the North of England and provides private VIP facilities for the artists and their sound and lighting technicians to prepare for live gigs and tours. Artists including Sam Smith, Elbow, Johnny Marr and The Kaiser Chiefs have used the new facility which has put South Manchester on the global music scene. The facility also has 15 permanent rooms that can be hired monthly and a further four rooms available for flexible bookings. In addition, South City Studios have collaborated with South City Recordings MCR to offer artists both recording and production facilities under one roof.
South City Studios received investment from NPIF - FW Capital Debt Finance as part of the first Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund in 2023 and is now seeing their plans come to fruition. The funding allowed the business to expand its facilities which has helped it to become a production powerhouse that is attracting global artists. Further growth has come from South City Studios’ innovative new music subscription initiative which supports future artists. In collaboration with ‘Brand Your Band’, a fellow industry leader, South City Studios & South City Recordings MCR are combining efforts for an unprecedented Artist Development Programme*. This is a comprehensive package which aims to support artists at every stage of their journey, offering access to top-notch facilities, expert guidance, and substantial savings.
Paul Bowe, Director of South City Studios said:
We've really put South Manchester on the map providing more affordable and accessible high quality facilities. FW Capital's backing has enabled us to scale our business operation and it's been a real success. It's not your usual investment but FW Capital understood our vision and have been really supportive. We've welcomed some high profile names through our doors and got a massive waiting list of artists coming to use our pre-production and recording facilities. The launch of the new subscription service is massive for us. It's a fantastic opportunity for young artists to gain access to our facilities, receive mentoring and attend masterclasses. We've come a long way since our initial plans to expand last year and have achieved everything we set out to do and more. As a result, we've doubled in size.
Lewis McMullin, FW Capital’s Assistant Portfolio Executive, said:
South City Studios is a young and dynamic business that has really gone from strength to strength. Our investment has helped them to thrive and do exactly what they set out to achieve. Paul has raised the profile of South Manchester in the global music scene and his latest initiative to support future artists is a fantastic development that supports future talent. It's great to be involved with such an exciting business and watch their growth.
Sue Barnard, senior manager at the British Business Bank, said:
It's great to see how South City Studios has used funding from the first NPIF to fuel expansion and drive growth in the North West. With such famous names attending the studio, Paul and the team are doing a brilliant job at establishing the region as a key player for those in the music industry. We look forward to seeing how they continue growing the business and further establishing itself as a go-to studio in the North.
Established in 2017, South City Studios, formerly called The Stockport Studios, is located in Pear Mill, Stockport. The funding was from NPIF – FW Capital Debt Finance, which was managed by FW Capital and part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund. It provided loans in the NPIF region with a focus on Cumbria, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside and the Tees Valley. The British Business Bank has since launched the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II in March 2024. FW Capital was introduced to Paul Bowe by Geoff Clowes from the GM Business Growth Hub, Access to Finance team.
Geoff Clowes, Access to Finance Adviser at GM Business Growth Hub said:
South City Studios is on an impressive growth journey and it's fantastic to watch their continued success. Paul has put Stockport on the global music map and we've been thrilled to introduce him to the team at FW Capital.
The new £660m Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIFII) covers the entire North of England and provides loans from £25k to £2m and equity investment up to £5m to help a range of small and medium sized businesses to start up, scale up or stay ahead.
The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II will increase the supply and diversity of early-stage finance for the North’s smaller businesses, providing funds to firms that might otherwise not receive investment and help to break down barriers in access to finance. FW Capital will provide debt finance options from £100,000 to £2million to businesses based in the North West of England, with some flexibility to lend across the North.
NPIF II - FW Capital Debt Finance can provide loans in the NPIF II area with a primary focus on the North West regions of Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside.
* Subscribers to South City’s Artist Development Programme will benefit from:
- Two weekly 3-hour rehearsals with complete backline support, and a monthly full-day recording session at South City Recordings.
- Exclusive access to the ‘Brand Your Band’ portal for strategic support, industry insights, and feedback on song writing and production.
- Invitations to live industry Zoom masterclasses and personalised email support.
- Utilisation of ‘The Ark’, South City Studios’ premier pre-production studio, and participation in masterclasses led by industry professionals.
- Additional administrative assistance as required.
All these benefits are offered at a flat-rate monthly subscription fee of just £299, catering to artists of all calibre. Specialised packages are available at tiered levels (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Deluxe) with customisable bonus features, providing options for those aiming higher.
Further Information
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Notes to editors
The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II)
NPIF II is a £660 million investment fund to support the growth of small and medium-sized businesses across the North of England launched in March 2024.
The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II is one of a series of new Nations and Regions Investment Funds launched by the British Business Bank delivering a £1.6 billion commitment of new funding to drive sustainable economic growth.
The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II offers a range of commercial finance options with loans from £25,000 to £2 million and equity investment up to £5 million. The fund covers the entire North of England including Greater Manchester, Liverpool City Region, Lancashire, Yorkshire & the Humber, Cheshire & Warrington, Cumbria, County Durham, Tyne & Wear, and Northumberland.
It aims to tackle an identified funding gap between the North and South of England and increase the supply and diversity of early-stage finance for smaller businesses.
FW Capital manages the £75 million NPIF II – FW Capital Debt Finance fund, part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II on behalf of the British Business Bank. Finance of £100,000 to £2 million is available to businesses in the North of England with a focus on Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside.
The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II)
About GM Business Growth Hub
GM Business Growth Hub is Greater Manchester’s business support organisation. GM Business Growth Hub, part of The Growth Company, helps unlock potential in businesses that want to achieve more. They provide support with funding, innovation, people, sales and sustainability.
GM Business Growth Hub is a community of specialists with a passion for helping businesses, of all sizes and sectors, to realise their full potential. Our advisors also have extensive knowledge and insight in Greater Manchester’s growth sectors, from advanced manufacturing and health innovation to green technology, digital, creative and media.
Whatever your business is, GM Business Growth Hub can help. They work hand-in-hand at every stage of a business’s growth journey. Whatever the need, GM Business Growth Hub has the right support to succeed. GM Business Growth Hub is part-funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
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The Growth Company is an award-winning social enterprise with a 30-year history of enabling growth, creating jobs, and improving lives. They help people and businesses across the UK to develop, grow and succeed through a range of employment, skills and business support services. Their combined offer provides unrivalled insight, which means they are uniquely placed to help the places they work with to shape and deliver the best services to meet local priorities.
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About UK Shared Prosperity Fund
GM Business Growth Hub received £7.5m of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit - UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
This project has been made possible thanks to Greater Manchester Combined Authority securing funding to deliver UKSPF projects.
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