XR Stories awarded Mayor’s skills innovation funding

XR Stories has been awarded funding to lead Extending XR, a two-year programme of work to deliver technology skills training to creative practitioners in the region. 

One of three programmes awarded a share of £2.4m from the Mayor’s Skills Innovation Fund, Extending XR aims to support 338 learners, deliver at least 20 courses, and upskill 20 tutors.

The programme will help to drive inclusive economic growth in the region’s creative industries by delivering training in digital creative technologies including immersive technologies and AI skills, tools and workflows such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and virtual production (VP).

The training will take place at venues across the region, at the XR Stories immersive R&D lab in central York, and at the CoSTAR Live Lab facility at Production Park in Wakefield.

In collaboration with York Creatives, Extending XR will also develop a new one-stop-shop for creative practitioners called Creative North Yorkshire. The new web resource will draw together skills providers from across the region to serve as a focal point for skills across York and North Yorkshire. 

Damian Murphy, Director, XR Stories says: “Since 2018, XR Stories has provided R&D and innovation support to individuals, businesses and creative communities in York and North Yorkshire. We understand the challenges faced by creative practitioners trying to navigate the creative industries landscape in the region. 

Through the Extending XR programme, we’ll widen access to the University of York’s expertise and infrastructure to provide innovative technology skills training. We’ll also help to establish the Creative North Yorkshire ecosystem as a region-wide resource, connecting skills providers and delivering value for creative practitioners to support long-term growth of the region’s skills base.”

Sarah Williams, Managing Director, York Creatives, comments: “York Creatives is looking forward to supporting vital new digital skills provision for York and North Yorkshire. By leading on engaging with creative networks across the region and establishing a web resource ‘one-stop-shop’ for creative professionals seeking new digital skills, we are excited about bringing creatives further into the ecosystem of creative digital innovation.”

In parallel to the Extending XR project, XR Stories will also provide research and development facilities and expertise to support Walmgate Re-framed, a community heritage project awarded funding from the Mayor’s Vibrant and Sustainable High Streets Fund. Led by the University of York’s Digital Creativity Network, the project will celebrate the rich identity of the high street through the production of new-media artwork.

Published on 16 June 2025