Dear editor,

Ahead of the Oscars and their recognition of so much ‘British made’ on and off-screen talent, this has been an important week for British film and TV and for Buckinghamshire.  The film industry featured strongly in the budget, providing a clear statement that the UK government sees this creative economy sector as a leading part of the national growth story.

Here in Bucks, during his recent visit, the Prime Minister described the UK film sector as one of our ‘powerhouse industries’ and that it should be ‘celebrated and supported’.  Now those words have been backed up with action, laying out a pathway to an ever-greater reach on global screens. Cross-party support from both Labour and Lib Dem policies is also strongly aligned on the question of the screen industry’s importance to the UK’s global reputation and outperformance. 

The government's focused support for British independent filmmaking and the National Film and Television School presents a thrilling step-change opportunity here.  We in Buckinghamshire are at the forefront of film and deserve to feel the benefits through the new careers and opportunities increased production and training bring locally.

The exchequer clearly understands the returns this will bring in coming years – with tax credits and an emphasis on studio provision, skills and careers, all bringing a welcome advantage to UK independent filmmaking.  Marlow Film Studios shares this sharp focus on education and filmmaking development.  We are building partnerships with universities, colleges and schools to help train the next generations of Young Bucks Creatives. 

To achieve this, providing more high-quality studio and training space is essential, as is developing local skills to produce the Oscar-winning British films and talent of the future.  Marlow Film Studios will do both.  Our state-of-the-art new studio campus, 4,000 new jobs, and a new education and skills academy look to provide new careers, training opportunities and initiatives in alignment with the impressive skills and education plans underway by local educational institutions.

National and local government aspirations for the creative economy can only be converted to jobs, growth and local benefits if high-grade working space is provided here for the sector to deliver the next wave of British films, training and careers.  Now is the time to grasp this opportunity, and we cannot afford to miss it.

Kind regards,

Robert Laycock

CEO of Marlow Film Studios