The creative industries are one of the UK’s greatest economic and cultural assets. They add over £50 billion a year to London’s economy alone, account for one in five jobs in the capital, and continue to drive innovation, exports, and inclusive growth.
That’s why last week’s announcement by the Mayor of London, committing over £10 million in new funding to support creative sectors including film, fashion, gaming and design, is so welcome. This investment is expected to unlock over £2.5 billion for London’s economy and deliver thousands of job and training opportunities.
It’s a strong signal that creativity is not a “nice to have”, it’s core to how London and the UK can stay globally competitive in an industry they have historically led. From producing globally iconic film franchises like James Bond and Harry Potter to hosting world-class production facilities, the UK has long set the standard in global entertainment. UK films have consistently hit 20% of global box office figures in recent years.
But with global competition for talent, productions and investment intensifying, the UK can’t afford to be complacent. Our success as a creative powerhouse depends on having the right infrastructure to support it.
At Volterra, we’ve seen just how varied and place-specific these needs can be.
- In Westminster, we supported the planning application for the transformation of the iconic Maida Vale Studios into a modern hub for post-production and creative content, aiming to retain its cultural legacy while delivering new employment and economic benefits. The scheme showcases how creative reuse and urban intensification can be sensitively delivered within a city setting.
- In Buckinghamshire, our work on Marlow Film Studios supports a proposal for a large-scale, purpose-built film production campus, responding to the growing global demand for long-form, high-end TV and film content. Facilities of this scale are difficult to deliver in dense urban areas, making this a strategically important opportunity. The scheme would help anchor the UK’s position in the international production market, with a quality of offer second to none.
These projects are very different in scale, setting and function – but both respond to the same challenge of ensuring the UK retains and grows its position as a creative industries leader.
That means investing in the full range of facilities and places that make this ecosystem work. From boutique studios to major complexes, from talent pipelines to supply chains. It’s about backing an economic sector that’s driving jobs, exports, regeneration, and global influence.
The £10 million investment is a welcome step. But we now need to see the government backing the scale of private investment that’s ready to be delivered. In a climate of tighter scrutiny and limited funding, supporting a sector with a proven track record makes clear strategic sense.
The UK’s creative industries consistently generate strong returns. Investing in the infrastructure that underpins this success isn’t a gamble, it’s a smart move to build resilience, drive growth, and secure the UK’s competitive edge.
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