Record growth sees Liverpool City Region become UK’s leading film and TV hub outside London

The film and television sector in the Liverpool City Region has experienced remarkable expansion since 2019, with over 1,600 productions contributing around £150 million to the local economy and generating in excess of 5,000 jobs. The region’s eclectic architecture and supportive filming environment have positioned it as the most filmed area in the UK outside London, attracting major projects such as *The Batman*, *Clayface*, and *House of Guinness*. The introduction of high-end production facilities in recent years has enhanced Liverpool’s appeal, encouraging filmmakers to stay beyond principal photography and supporting the city’s goal to become the “Hollywood of the North.”

Liverpool Film Office’s recently unveiled Impact Report 2019-2025 highlights the substantial transformation the screen industry has brought to the city region. With 5,408 full-time equivalent jobs created and significant backing for local businesses, the industry is also fostering emerging talent. A key driver behind this growth has been the Combined Authority’s £2.8 million LCR Production Fund, launched in 2019, which has expanded the quantity, variety, and scope of feature films and scripted TV productions filmed locally. Among the projects supported are *This City is Ours*, *The Responder*, and *Time*, which collectively have garnered 19 industry awards, including four BAFTAs and two International Emmys, in addition to contributing £24.5 million to the economy and directly creating 56 trainee positions along with 861 indirect full-time jobs.

From being primarily a fund to attract productions, the LCR Production Fund has evolved into a catalyst for screen sector growth across all six boroughs of the Liverpool City Region—Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens, and Wirral. Managed by Liverpool Film Office and financed by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, the development of The Depot has greatly increased production capacity. This facility features two purpose-built sound stages totaling 20,000 square feet located near Liverpool’s Edge Lane. Since opening in 2021, The Depot has generated £29.1 million in gross value added (GVA) for the local economy and helped spur the establishment or expansion of 15 new businesses within the city region.

Looking ahead, plans are underway for the creation of the adjacent Littlewoods Studio Campus, which will include six world-class sound stages, ScreenLab Liverpool, and state-of-the-art post-production facilities. This expansion is expected to create around 3,200 new jobs and deliver £170 million in GVA. Alongside this, the project aims to provide education and training opportunities for young people in one of the UK’s most disadvantaged areas. In response to the industry’s growth, the Liverpool Film Office has also launched skills development programs, such as the Action! scheme funded by the British Film Institute’s National Lottery, offering free training and career support to individuals outside traditional education pathways. So far, this initiative has provided 183 training opportunities and 271 paid roles, with approximately 75% of participants securing employment in various departments, including camera, makeup, and locations. Further collaborative efforts are being made through Screen Alliance North, a BFI skills cluster formed with other northern film offices, to equip thousands of people with the skills needed for production work throughout the region.

Liam Robinson, Leader of Liverpool City Council, remarked, “The last few years have marked a transformative chapter in Liverpool Film Office’s history, but this is just the beginning. Not only has it put us on the map as the go-to filming location outside the capital, but it has also delivered significant opportunity for, and investment in, our people and our communities. Looking to the future, the screen industry will continue be a powerful tool for economic regeneration, skills development, and community engagement throughout our city.”

Lynn Saunders, Head of Liverpool Film Office, stated, “We have a commitment to economic regeneration, skills development, community engagement, and sustainable growth, with plans to further elevate Liverpool’s role in the UK’s screen industry. We have shown remarkable adaptability and growth, particularly given the unprecedented challenges posed by the pandemic. We rose to those challenges. *The Batman* was the first UK production to resume filming in a city setting during Covid and our work established comprehensive Covid safety protocols that became industry standard.”

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, added, “The LCR Production Fund isn’t just bringing millions into our local economy – it’s opening doors for local people, giving them lifechanging opportunities and helping them get a foot in the door of industry. This is why we’ve backed projects like *This City Is Ours* – alongside the world class talent and infrastructure we’ve got here, we’re making sure our region is always in the conversation when it comes to making high-quality productions.”

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