An ambitious scheme to boost creative industries in Ipswich has been officially launched.

More than 150 guests attended an event at the Town Hall to hear from the partners behind the scheme.

Ipswich Recreate was established earlier this year by Ipswich Borough Council, Eastern Enterprise Hub and CSV Media. The project secured a £600,000 European Union grant to support young and aspiring creative businesses and individuals to transform their ideas into commercial reality and help to rejuvenate the town. The funding has been matched by the three partners.

Recreate will play a vital role in retaining creative industry graduates and stimulating creative business start-up and cross-border enterprise partnerships. The project also aims to increase town centre creative and arts-based activities, as well as increase involvement from the local community, including from diverse and disadvantaged groups.

At the same time the project aims to help local unemployed people to realise their potential to start up creative enterprises.

The borough council will provide accommodation, specifically at the Town Hall, CSV Media will concentrate on skills and events, while the EEH will offer business advice and a mentoring service. The project will also build relations with project partners in France, and will be managed under the INTERREG IVA programme, which seeks to build cross-border partnerships and deliver business and economic growth across the Channel.

Cathy Frost, a business adviser to the partners, said: “Recreate Going Live was a great start point for this exciting project. This project will give Ipswich a real chance to promote, enhance and support our diverse and rich creative economy. Ipswich is not short of talent and ideas. Let’s shout about it a bit more.”