The UK Screen Investment Programme will profile the UK as a pivotal hub of film and TV production – historically significant and globally leading – building on the industry’s success in the last decade.

Showcasing best practice nationally and internationally, the programme’s flagship moment – the UK Screen Investment Summit - will take place in Hertfordshire in June 2025, and discuss key themes for the sector’s growth, from skills and sustainability to tax incentives and comprehensive infrastructure. It will also spotlight the interconnected development of hospitality, supply chain, residential, energy and innovation essential to a thriving, sustainable screen ecosystem.

The screen industry has brought more than £17.4 billion into the UK economy and directly employs approximately 300,000 people. One million sq. ft of stage space was developed in 2022-23, with newbuild, converted and demountable stage space helping to meet demand, and it has been estimated that around 2.6m sq. ft more studio space will be needed by 2028.

Globally renowned companies such as Sky, Pinewood, Warner Bros, Elstree and Disney are based here, and major cities such as Bristol, Belfast, Cardiff, Manchester, Liverpool and London all have screen clusters with outstanding potential for growth. Notable pipeline developments include the recently approved £450 million Crown Works Studios in Sunderland in the Northeast, endorsed by the UK Government in the Autumn Budget statement.

Hertfordshire, too, has seen major screen investment within recent years. Just over half of the new studio space being planned and delivered around London and the Southeast is based in the county, including the newly completed Sky Studios Elstree. The University of Hertfordshire is a key contributor to this creative ecosystem with its animation school, UH Animation, among the best in the world.

Invest Hertfordshire, the county’s new inward investment service, delivered by Hertfordshire Futures, is driving growth in this key sector, and in partnership with White Label, is seeking to expand its promotion and bring the national film/TV industry to a wider audience. White Label is the agency behind the UK Screen Investment Programme, as well as other national initiatives such as UK Cities & Partners and the Building New Communities Conference.

David Conway, Chair of the UK Screen Investment Programme Steering Group, CEO of Pinewood Group and former board member of Hertfordshire Futures said: “Certainly, the screen industries are one of the UK’s outstanding strengths, spanning film, TV, animation, games and visual effects, and are a major economic driver. To this effect, the Government recently recognised the UK creative industries as key within their Modern Industrial Strategy. However, it is a fragile time when content commissioners are reviewing their expenditure, and countries globally are competing for this inward investment. This makes it an even more important time to enable discussion and collaboration across the sector, so the UK can continue to compete as a global leader in the creative industries.”

Celia Taylor, Hertfordshire Futures Board Member and CEO of Distant Voices Group said: “We are delighted to announce our partnership with White Label to deliver this very exciting and important initiative supporting the growth of film and TV in Hertfordshire and across the UK regions. This programme, culminating in a summit to be hosted in the county, will elevate the UK’s profile within this dynamic and fast-changing sector and build on its tremendous success to plan ahead for the future."

Visit the UK Screen Investment Programme’s website here.

If you would like to partner with the Programme, contact us here.