Hertfordshire’s dedicated film office has hit the ground running since its inception in April, generating over £4.8m in estimated local spend. Learn more about HFO and how it is supporting the growth of the county’s thriving film and TV sector.
The UK’s Creative and Screen Industry is booming, with Hertfordshire at the epicentre of national film and TV production. Substantial recent investment in the sector has cemented the county’s reputation as the British answer to Hollywood, with just over half of the new studio space being planned and delivered around London and the south-east coming to Hertfordshire.
Up to 13,000 new jobs could be created, helping young people into long-term employment as well as providing reskilling opportunities for those working in ancillary trades such as hair and make-up, construction and catering.
Hertfordshire Film Office (HFO) was established in response to this rapid and large-scale growth, to maximise the potential of the sector and provide a dedicated gateway for productions looking to film within the county.
Powered by Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), HFO provides a one-stop-shop service to support all film and TV-related activity across the county. It positions Hertfordshire as the premiere filming destination of choice in the UK, offering a bespoke concierge service to help location managers and production companies to quickly and conveniently source film locations, crew, industry suppliers, highway filming permits and more.
HFO has assisted with nearly 100 production enquiries since April 2023 and generated over £4.8 million of estimated local spend for Hertfordshire in the first two quarters from high-end TV and feature films, according to Creative UK’s economic impact calculator.
Adam Morley, Creative Sector Lead at Hertfordshire LEP, said: “HFO has undoubtedly hit the ground running since its launch earlier this year with £4.8 million of local spend already secured for the county, boosting the prosperity of our people and small businesses.
“The creative sector presents one of Hertfordshire’s biggest economic growth opportunities in recent years. We are accelerating the momentum by mobilising local and national partners to ensure that our workforce is equipped with the skills they need to meet industry demand, and our SMEs are supported to maximise their potential and seize new avenues for growth.”
HFO champions local skills outreach and development programmes, working with education providers, including the University of Hertfordshire, to address existing skills gaps, enhance opportunities for young people looking to break into the industry and support grassroots filmmakers.
HFO has also partnered with the BFI and regional partners to develop a South East Skills Plan to kickstart careers in the film and TV sector, and is working closely with the LEP’s destination management service, Visit Herts, to expand film tourism.
Learn how HFO can support you:
- Location managers and studios - HFO can help streamline your production process, so you can focus on bringing cinematic magic to life.
- Local councils and businesses - HFO is working to make Hertfordshire the premiere filming destination of choice, to boost the local economy and create new jobs.
- Film locations, facilities and crew - join HFO’s database to get your locations in the spotlight - from picturesque spots to spark romance, to disused spaces for dramatic plots.
Visit hertfordshirefilmoffice.co.uk to learn more
Nurturing our creative industry SMEs
Earlier this month, Government announced that the East of England would be among six regions to be awarded a share of £10.9 million as part of its Create Growth Programme, with Hertfordshire LEP chosen to distribute the funding across the east. The programme, which fully launches in April 2024, will support hundreds of creative industry businesses to scale up, access private finance and benefit from business support.
Neil Hayes, CEO of Hertfordshire LEP, said: “This substantial investment in the future of our local creative businesses will catalyse enhanced productivity, job creation, and growth across existing enterprises for years to come. It will also spawn a new generation of talent who see opportunities to enter this exciting and growing sector, pivoting their skills and experience. We encourage a wide and diverse range of creative start-ups to apply, flourish, and prosper.”
The funding will support a second cohort of the LEP’s highly successful Film and TV Production: Supply Chain Innovation Programme, described colloquially as “a mini MBA for creative entrepreneurs”, which is set to start in April, with applications open now.
Delivered by executive education experts Estu and the world’s leading university for art and design, the Royal College of Art, the programme helps high potential SMEs to learn how to innovate, enhance their offering and secure high value contracts within the sector.
The course is backed by Hertfordshire LEP’s Film and TV Industry Panel which includes members from all the major local film studios, including Elstree Studios, Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, BBC Studioworks, Sky Studios and Sunset Studios, giving participants invaluable high-level industry contacts.
The course accepts ambitious businesses across a broad range of disciplines, with the first cohort, which concluded in November 2023, comprising everything from 3D printing and pyrotechnics firms, video and virtual production companies, accommodation providers, sustainability specialists, and much more.
HFO has undoubtedly hit the ground running since its launch earlier this year with £4.8 million of local spend already secured for the county, boosting the prosperity of our people and small businesses.
HFO has undoubtedly hit the ground running since its launch earlier this year with £4.8 million of local spend already secured for the county, boosting the prosperity of our people and small businesses.