A national growth fund and extension of tax relief will shore up the screen industry’s success and support areas that are experiencing difficulty, according to sector leaders.
For while members of the UK Screen Investment Programme’s Steering Group agree that Government has got the sector’s back, they believe there is still more to be done.
“We have to ensure that our industry-wide ‘one voice’ is heard by the government and, importantly, that their support and incentive schemes continues to provide, and further enhance, the platform for a successful UK film and TV industry,” said Jonathan Greenfield, Chief Executive, Oxygen Studios.
He described the UK’s tax incentive schemes—34% for film/high-end TV and 53% for lower-budget films—as a “gold standard” internationally. He also emphasised that ongoing government and Valuation Office Agency support is crucial to achieving a sustainable business rating system. “It’s imperative that these tax incentives are maintained and enhanced to sustain our international competitiveness in this global market,” he added.
Agreeing with the need for strategic and policy backing from Government, David Conway, Chief Executive, Pinewood Studios noted “that it is a fragile time in the film and TV industry, with many other countries vying for the inward investment which the UK currently benefits from.”
“Without government support on items such as incentive arrangements, affordable business rates and assistance in coordinating skills development, the UK could lose its competitive advantage and we face shrinkage rather than growth in the screen industries,” he said.
Yet, there is concern that the tax relief net has not been cast wide enough.
Ryan Dean, Founder and CEO of RD Studios, called for the whole of the TV industry to be supported through the tax relief system.
“If the logic is there for our independent feature films and for our feature film sector, then surely, the argument is there for TV as well. Surely, it’s a no brainer to apply the same policy. Why don’t we just do the same to try to keep our TV industry alive, so that we can have more UK-produced TV shows like Gogglebox and Big Brother. Then, there’ll be a ton more shows being made here, increasing employment and further increasing our global dominance of the creative sector.”
MediaCityUK’s Richard Wormwell, Head of Production Innovation, Dock10, called similarly for tax relief for studio-based unscripted content to “create a level playing field” and “establish the North West as a key hub for the UK screen industry” by “attracting more large-scale productions to the region.”
He highlighted the urgent need to act, as countries such as the Republic of Ireland, Canada, and many US states are offering tax relief for lower-value unscripted content, making it increasingly difficult to compete and leading to the loss of both foreign investment and key industry relationships.
And, Richard continued, if productions receiving tax relief were required to “spend a set percentage of their budget outside London” it would be a “game-changer” for the regions, transforming the North West from a location shoot to a screen sector HQ hub.
He called too for “a dedicated North West production fund offering tax incentives or grants for productions that commit to using local studios, crews, and suppliers.”
Hertfordshire Futures is headline partner of the UK Screen Investment Programme. Board members Celia Taylor, Co-founder Distant Voices, and Adam Morley, Creative Sector Lead identified a need for such a fund in Hertfordshire and other regions, too, saying a “dedicated UK-wide Screen Sector Growth Fund—with targeted investment in skills, innovation, and independent production—could be transformational.”
They envisage this would:
- Support new training and career pathways, particularly in underrepresented regions and communities.
- Provide early-stage capital for indie studios to develop and retain IP.
- Enable investment in cutting-edge technology, such as virtual production and AI-driven post-production.
- Strengthen regional ecosystems by linking screen industry growth with high streets, tourism, and creative hubs.
- Help established companies grow and scale up
- Retain experienced talent and provide platforms for mentorship, new career pathways, sustainable employment for a greater work life balance
Jonathan agreed, saying, “a comprehensive, publicly funded talent development and distribution fund that supports both large-scale productions and independent creators could be transformative.”
If you would like to learn more about the UK Screen Investment Programme, visit www.screeninvestment.co.uk
