Record production spend and job growth
Film and television productions have injected £88.5 million into the North East economy over the past four years, according to the latest impact report from North East Screen, the region's screen industry development agency. Production spend in the area has surged by 83% to £72.5 million, while 1,419 jobs have been created on productions since 2022.
The growth has been catalysed by the North East Production Fund, backed by £3.6 million from Mayors Kim McGuinness and Ben Houchen. The fund has invested in 15 productions to date, including Virginia Woolf's Night and Day, Channel 5's The Fortune and The Feud, UKTV's The Red King, ITV's I Fought the Law and Transaction, and the returning BBC comedy series Smoggie Queens.
Local talent and crew benefits
Filming days in the region have increased by 58%, with 65% of crew members on productions funded by the North East Production Fund hailing from the North East. The report also highlights 9,265 paid training days delivered on productions to support lifelong workforce development, and 3,730 people attended early career events.
Alison Gwynn, chief executive of North East Screen, said: "Production has never been better in the North East, the growth rate is phenomenal and we already have a number of productions lined up to shoot across the North East for next year. We need to credit the success of the Production Fund in attracting production companies to the region."
Mayors champion creative sector investment
North East Mayor Kim McGuinness emphasised the importance of local opportunities: "It is great to see new productions coming to the region, but it's even better to see that 65% of their crews are North East creatives. Creating opportunities for local people is behind every decision I make as Mayor." She noted that £104 million is being invested to boost skills and infrastructure, including a new £38 million film studio in Sunderland set to start construction this summer.
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen added: "A few years ago, nobody was talking about Teesside in the same breath as major film and TV production. Today, that's exactly what's happening. From productions like The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole and I Fought the Law, our region is increasingly being recognised as a place where world-class television can be made."
Supply chain and local companies thrive
The report reveals 357 local supply chain companies are now registered on North East Screen's database, and 11 regional companies have won commissions. Indigenous production companies such as Lonesome Pine, Twentysix 03, Film Nova, Signpost, and Candle and Bell continue to create content for global audiences.
Gwynn highlighted: "We also have many indigenous companies in the region who we support... We champion local businesses to all incoming productions." The North East Screen Industries Partnership is funded by the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority and Tees Valley Combined Authority.
Return on investment and economic impact
Every £1 invested in projects via the North East Production Fund has returned £7.80, according to the EIA Saffrey report. The fund's £3.6 million investment has generated 137,000 days of work on productions. Alternative studio spaces have contributed to a 58% increase in filming days, with productions staying and filming longer in the region.
The North East of England is now the fastest growing region for the screen industry, positioning itself as a welcoming home for world-class TV and film production. The Hartlepool Production Village and expansion of Northern Studios represent the next chapter in infrastructure development, aimed at creating skilled jobs and attracting further investment.
