HOLLYWOOD comes to Hertfordshire

By Lucy Gravatt, Director of Partnerships & Communications, Hertfordshire LEP

In the third in our series looking at the key growth sectors that make up Hertfordshire’s economy, we focus on film and TV. With multi-billion pound investment and thousands of jobs in the pipeline, Hertfordshire’s contribution to the global film and TV industry has led to the county being dubbed ‘the new Hollywood’.

Hertfordshire sits at the epicentre of UK film and TV production. There are currently 13 major film studios around the capital, with all but two either in south west Herts or west of London. This provides a total of 1,629,000 sq. ft. of studio space and 110 sound stages, 54 of which are larger than 10,000 sq. ft.

Recent investment in the sector has cemented its reputation as the British answer to Hollywood with:

• A new £700m base for Hollywood’s Sunset Studios in Broxbourne, creating over 4,500 jobs and offering 21 sound stages with an estimated contribution of £300m p/a to the local economy;

• Sky Studios Elstree set to generate an additional £3bn of production investment over its first five years of operation alone, across 13 soundstages. It also aims to be the world’s most sustainable film and TV studio and will create over 2,000 jobs locally;

• Proposals for Hertswood Studios combining 1 million sq. ft. of film studio space including 21 film stages, supporting workshops and offices, and a hotel for film stars and crew;

• Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden recently opening three new sound stages providing 83,000 sq. ft. of additional production space, including a state-ofthe-art virtual production stage. This investment brings the Studio’s total production space to over 1 million sq. ft. across 20 sound stages, making it one of the largest production facilities in the UK.

Plans have also been submitted by Ralph Trustees Ltd (RTL), owner of the five-star Grove Hotel, to transform part of the Langleybury Estate in King’s Langley into a film and TV hub to meet pent-up demand for more space to service the growing sector’s needs. The proposals will include a campus for supply chain companies and a training facility to provide skilled personnel for studios in surrounding areas.

Investment of this scale has not happened by chance but a combination of major pull factors working in Hertfordshire’s favour. These include the area’s long history of film and TV production; the UK’s internationally favourable tax regime, with major streamers such as Apple, Amazon and Netflix investing substantially to secure additional production capacity in the country; and easy access to Heathrow Airport and central London.

For a county of opportunity, up to 13,000 new jobs could be created, helping young people into long-term employment as well as providing re-skilling opportunities for those working in ancillary trades such as hair and make-up, construction and catering. Film production courses are offered at FE level in the county, with one of the UK’s top 2-D digital animation schools housed at the University of Hertfordshire, and Elstree Screen Arts Academy providing industry-standard courses including visual and performing arts and production technology. However there are industry-wide talent pipeline issues which also need to be addressed, together with a need to grow sustainably with a particular focus on hiring locally.

Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has developed a Film and TV Production Sector Action Plan This will help address key issues such as skills shortages and lack of ancillary space to house the film sets, wardrobe, make-up and offices needed to support this burgeoning film and TV production landscape. An Industry Panel with representation from all the main studios in the county has been set up and is chaired by Hertfordshire LEP Board Member David Conway, Chief Financial and Operations Officer at ITN. Responding directly to the needs of industry, there is a shared commitment to take these actions forward by the LEP working with district and county council leaders, via Hertfordshire Growth Board, and other partners.

One prime example of this collaboration in action is the development of the Hertfordshire Film Office. The county has long been an attractive destination for on-location filming thanks to its rich mix of town and country, stately homes and industrial heritage. Many large scale productions have been filmed here such as Wonka!

(due out Dec 2023); Band of Brothers (2001); The Favourite (2018) and Bridgerton (2020).

The Film Office will position Hertfordshire as a film-friendly destination by providing a one-stopshop service for film and TV-related activities across the county, be it sourcing cast and crew, industry suppliers, film locations or permits.

Hertfordshire LEP’s Sector Action Plan will also maximise opportunities presented to local businesses and residents, such as providing a wrap-around supply chain delivering world-class skills, innovation and workforce development.

The county’s first Film and TV Production Supply Chain Innovation Programme is set to start later this year. This will build on Hertfordshire LEP’s successful pilot last year which was delivered by the Royal College of Art, the no. 1 ranked university worldwide for design teaching, with executive education experts Estu.

By bringing all elements of the local economy together, Hertfordshire LEP, with support from Hertfordshire Growth Board, has developed a delivery pipeline for the film and TV sector that could become a testbed for other parts of the country. This joinedup approach to addressing future industry needs has already attracted the attention of leading figures within film and TV, including Sir Peter Bazalgette - Pro-Chancellor of the Royal College of Art; Co-Chair of the Creative Industries Council and Board Member of the Department for Education. Addressing a recent industry supply chain event at the University of Hertfordshire, Sir Peter said the skills planning and collaboration between local authorities, education providers and industry demonstrated ‘best practice for the screen industries’.

Cllr Richard Roberts, Chair, Hertfordshire Growth Board, and Leader, Hertfordshire County Council, said: “Hertfordshire provides an exemplary and sustainable environment for our globally significant sectors such as film and screen to thrive. Working with the LEP, supporting the growth and success of these key sectors presents real opportunities for our residents and communities. This sends a really clear message that this county is open for business.”

Cllr Sarah Nelmes, Leader of Three Rivers District Council said: “The Film and TV industry is thriving in Hertfordshire. I’m thrilled to see continued investment in the screen sector across the county, helping to create thousands more quality jobs and opportunities for residents to access and benefit

For more information on Hertfordshire Film Office contact:

Adam Morley, Creative Sector Lead: adam.morley@hertfordshirelep.co.uk

Pippa Cawdron, Film Office Manager: pippa.cawdron@hertfordshirelep.co.uk

Visit www.hertfordshirelep.com from. In Three Rivers, Warner Bros. have been granted consent for an additional 11 stages. This will make it home to one of the largest film production spaces in the country.”

David Conway said: “Hertfordshire’s credentials in film and TV mean that the county can continue to be a real catalyst for UK growth, and we have all the elements in place to deliver on that. There is a real opportunity here for further job creation on a really large scale, not just in terms of producing content but across all the skills needed in the supply chain to support film and TV production, whilst also inspiring the next generation of story-tellers and talent.” With plans already in place to develop a filmfriendly approach, a highly skilled local workforce that productions can tap, while minimising environmental impact, coupled with strong private sector appetite to invest and locate here, Hertfordshire is fast becoming a global destination for film and TV.

Cue Lights, Camera, Action!

Could your business use a £1,000 prize to help it grow?

Dacorum’s Den 2023

Do you have a great business idea? Do you need funds to help your business grow? Do you have less than 10 employees? Is your annual turnover less than £500,000? Are you based in Dacorum?

Budding entrepreneurs in Dacorum are to be given the chance to get a head start in business with a chance to win up to £1,000 grant funding from Dacorum’s Den.

Dacorum’s Den is the local version of the popular TV show Dragon’s Den and sponsored by local businesses. Now in its tenth year, Dacorum’s Den has awarded over £90,000 to 70 Dacorum businesses and has created additional jobs within the borough.

Find out more at www.dacorum.gov.uk/dacorumsden (scan the QR code) or contact business@dacorum.gov.uk.

Terms and conditions and eligibility criteria apply, see website.

Applications are now open

Applications close - Friday 1st September 2023.