Report: Surging U.K. Production to Lead to Crew Shortages

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Spending on film and high-end television production in the U.K. could rise to £7.7 billion ($9.5 billion) by 2025, according to research commissioned by ScreenSkills, requiring up to 21,000 new crew members to meet that demand.

Within the next three years, the U.K. will need between 15,130 and 20,770 additional full-time crew to meet the needs of the surging production sector. The study, conducted by the consultancy Nordicity with the accountancy firm Saffery Champness, estimates that between £95.1 million ($117 million) and £104.3 million ($128 million) will be needed annually by 2025 to train this new workforce.

If the U.K. were to invest £289.3 million ($356 million) in training between 2023 and 2025, film and high-end TV production could generate an additional £4.56 billion ($5.6 billion) in gross value added, representing an economic return of more than 15 times.

Seetha Kumar, CEO of ScreenSkills, noted, “The data in this report will help us all plan sensibly to ensure the U.K. has the skilled and inclusive workforce needed to capitalize on the potential for further growth. The film and television industry is one of the U.K.’s great success stories and we need to work together to keep it that way. Growing the workforce will help ensure the country fully benefits from the projected growth in production expenditure.”

Christine Healy, COO Watford & Essex and chair of the ScreenSkills High-end TV Skills Council, added, “High-end TV is already deeply committed to investing in training and retention and as a sector, we work really closely with ScreenSkills through the council and our working groups to make sure we are addressing skills priorities, both at entry and mid-career level. It is valuable to have further intelligence on the likely scale of the challenges ahead so that we can keep ahead of the game.”