Lights, camera, action - Staffordshire film location office rakes in £500k so far this year
Efforts to put Staffordshire on the map to becoming a prime location for film and TV production have generated almost £500,000 this year for the county's economy.
Since the start of the year productions that the film office have supported in the county have generated over £425,000 for the local economy.
Locations hosting production crews since the project started included Sir Lenny Henry's Three Little Birds filmed at Claymills Victorian Pumping Station; This Town starring Levi Brow and Michelle Dockery and Better Man starring singer Robbie Williams, both filmed in Stoke-on-Trent; and Peaky Blinders filmed at Gladstone Pottery Museum in Longton.
Short films to promote the area as a tourism destination have featured Weston Park in Weston-under-Lizard on the Shropshire border and at World of Wedgwood in Barlaston as part of Visit Britain’s StarringGreatBritain campaign.
And to build on the initiative this week more than 120 guests attended the official launch of the county's new film office at a celebration event held at picturesque Hoar Cross Hall near Rugeley.
Screen Staffordshire operated by We Are Staffordshire is representing all eight district and borough councils and was set up with funding in partnership with Staffordshire County Council which invested £300,000 in a three-year pilot programme. The film office will be led by manager Jonny Shelton who previously worked at Filming in England and the Production Guild of Great Britain.
The aim is for the project to raise Staffordshire’s profile on the national and international stage and play a part in growing the county’s economy.
According to tourism figures, the average day visitor to the county spends an average of £50 meaning just 6,000 additional tourist day trips would see a return on investment for the three-year pilot.
The county's economy chief Councillor Martin Murray said: “It was a pleasure to attend the launch. This is a hugely exciting project for Staffordshire – enabling us to further showcase the fantastic places we have in the county, generate jobs and support our economic growth.
"I’m passionate about our wonderful county and showcasing everything that we have to offer here. This will help in making Staffordshire the beating heart of the country.”
Screen Staffordshire will provide a single point of contact for production inquiries providing information on locations, local support businesses and facilities, general advice and speed up application processes.
Oscar nominee and founder of Burton-upon-Trent based Making Trails Tilley Bancroft, Staffordshire based producer Debbie Aston were among the guests and took part in a panel discussion at the launch.
The council added that the future looks bright for the film office which has already established is position between growing production hubs in Manchester and Birmingham.
