Marlow Film Studios

The Budget confirmed new funding for the UK’s world-renowned creative industries From opening up career opportunities to tax reliefs and grants for creative organisations https://lnkd.in/eMYQhkR2

Marlow Film Studios' CEO Robert Laycock enjoyed a great discussion with Isabel Davis on BBC Radio 4's Front Row last night, talking about the contributions of Film & TV to the Creative Economy. Segment at 16 minutes: https://lnkd.in/gHQmxgCP

🎥 WATCH: Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy speaking at the International Investment Summit along with senior leaders from sport and the creative industries. Together, they discuss how the UK’s world-leading culture and creativity have the potential to build richer lives across the whole country. Adjoa Andoh, Actor & Writer Sir Lucian Grainge, CEO Universal Music Group Gareth Southgate, Former England Football Manager Anna Mallet, Vice President Production, Netflix Maria Balshaw, Tate Director

The government further demonstrated their commitment to embedding the UK creative industries at the heart of its economic growth strategy. We welcome the government’s decision to supprt independent film productions costing up to £15 million by providing an increased tax relief of 53%. This will surely strengthen our brilliant British film industry. You can read full detail of the press release here:

Congratulations to Film & TV Academy   on being named Creative Business of the Year at the Buckinghamshire Business Awards hosted by Buckinghamshire Business First. 🍾✨  What a fabulous achievement! FTA's combination of creative spirit and entrepreneurial excellence is a fine example of what makes Buckinghamshire brilliant. They're inspiring a new generation of storytellers and filmmakers and we're delighted to see their success. 💫

A spokesperson for Marlow Film Studios said:  "We welcome the Secretary of State's announcement that the decision on Marlow Film Studios will be made at a ministerial level. This is a project of national importance. The UK’s film and TV industry leads the world. It already attracts over £3bn of international investment each year, over three times the annual FDI for life sciences. “This success is based on a bedrock of extraordinary British creative talent, and the UK needs to be best placed to maintain its leading position. If approved, Marlow Film Studios will strengthen the long-term foundations for the industry. The high technology studio campus we would deliver will meet the needs of global investors and production companies, preparing the UK for the next half-century of British filmmaking. “Our engagement with this process will be attentive, thorough and constructive and will leave no doubt as to the significant contribution the project will make to the UK economy. We will also continue to collaborate with local communities, confident of the benefits that our project will bring, in terms of investment, improved infrastructure, 4,000 new jobs, and unparalleled opportunities for skills, training and education.”

Netflix Co-Chief Executive Ted Sarandos has praised the strength of the creative industries in the UK. In a speech at the Royal Television Society Conference today he said: “I’ve always thought of the UK as the birthplace of prestige television. It’s why Netflix invests more here in the UK than anywhere else outside of the United States.” Sarandos noted that Netflix's top four rating shows worldwide from the first six months of 2024 were produced in the UK.  Read the full article here:

We read today a great, long article in the Financial Times on the UK’s creative sector, and its vital role in stimulating growth of the UK economy.  The FT reminds us that the creative sector in the UK employs around 2.3m people. It’s worth £125bn. The UK leads the world in film and TV, in fashion, the arts, gaming and music. Can the government help make it a sector we are proud of, recognising our world-leading talent?  For Film and TV, there is rising competition from rival nations in the UK and Asia. South Korea is taking the world by storm, and investing in its future. The UK needs to keep up, to invest in modern studio space and technology.  The Marlow Film Studios intends to be part of this growth strategy, bringing jobs and investments to Bucks, and building a future for our new generation.  If you have an FT subscription you can read the full article here:

Marlow Film Studios confirms that it intends to submit an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate, in response to the decision by the Buckinghamshire Council Strategic Sites Committee decision to turn down its application in May this year. The Statement of Case appeal submission will include a request for a public inquiry. It will be for the Planning Inspectorate to determine its timetable and location.  In spite of the Council's decision to refuse our application, we remain confident of the strength of our case, and of the benefits that our investment will bring to the local community and the wider national economy. The proposed Marlow Film Studios will provide 4,000 jobs, including 2,000 to the local economy. It will provide a boost of £3.2BN in growth investment in the local area over the first decade. This will represent a major growth investment in jobs and skills for Buckinghamshire and for the UK. It will greatly strengthen the UK's position in the film and TV sector, where the UK is already a global player. Support for the creative sector in the UK, as a uniquely successful part of the UK's economic infrastructure, crosses political divides.    We will be investing in vital local traffic infrastructure and sustainable public transport and will provide significant improvements to the local community. The studio campus will provide the British film industry and international production companies with the highest quality of advanced, tailor-made facilities that they are now demanding, helping keep the UK in the forefront of global competition. We believe that our proposed campus and the landscaped area around it have been designed to an exemplary standard. The investment presents a significant opportunity to utilise and substantially improve a despoiled former landfill site, making good use of a site that is presently unusable for domestic buildings or agriculture. Our hope is to build an institution of global standing for the British film industry that Marlow will be proud of.

John Gapper of the Financial Times recognises the UK creative industries need infrastructure to allow them to flourish. James Cameron noted a 'boldness in thinking' is required. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eq4gBBqb