Plans for new £700m film and TV studios in Hertfordshire promise success for the creative industries

Bectu welcomes the announcement of plans for a £700m film and TV studios facility to be built in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, which will bring further development of the sector.

The owners of Sunset Studios in Los Angeles have teamed up with global investor Blackstone and Hudson Pacific Properties to mark the first Sunset Studios outside of LA. With the hopes of transforming the site into a hub for international film and TV production, the companies have anticipated that the studios would create up to 4500 jobs and contribute £300 million per annum to the local economy.

The UK film and TV sector and the wider creative industries are of great importance to the UK economy, as demonstrated by the recent Creative Industries Federation report. Their research found that in 2019, the industries directly created 2.1 million jobs and contributed £115.9 billion to UK GDP. The report demonstrated the true extent of the industries’ economic impact, finding that for every 10 jobs that the creative industries directly supports, a further seven are supported elsewhere in the economy. Similarly, for every £1 that the industries contributed to the UK directly, a further £0.5 is supported through supply chain effects.

Sunset Studios has been home to many famous films such as When Harry Met Sally, La La Land and Zoolander. An investment from such a successful Hollywood company will allow the UK to maintain its world beating status in film and TV production, invest in the skillset of the country’s talented workforce and provide a boost to the wider creative industries that are of such importance to the economy.

Head of Bectu Philippa Childs says: “The pandemic hit the creative industries hard, inflicting an estimated 71,000 job losses and putting thousands of employees and freelancers out of work for over a year. To reopen successfully and safely, the creative industries need and support. The new studios promise investment into the skillset of workers and the creation of new jobs.

The UK film and TV industry competes in a global market, but it is the skillset and flexibility of the crew that attracts international productions. Our members that work as technicians and crew translate artistic vision into a tangible production. Foreign companies seek the talent and expertise of production workers, allowing the UK to become a cultural hub for film and television.

Throughout the pandemic, the creative industries workforce has acted as a great example of what can be done when working together. Despite receiving little to no government support, technicians and crew successfully got production back up and running through determination and hard work. The optimism and skillset of the crew has allowed the industry to make progress, demonstrating why the UK is such a great place to film.”