Picture the UK not just as a backdrop for your favorite films and shows, but as a powerhouse industry in its own right, one that pumped an enormous £13.2 billion into the national economy while supporting over half a million jobs in a single year.
Key Takeaways
- The UK screen industries contributed £13.2 billion to the UK economy in Gross Value Added (GVA) in 2022, supporting 518,000 jobs across the sector
- In 2022, high-end TV production spend in the UK reached £5.5 billion, a 9% increase from 2021
- The UK film sector generated £4.7 billion GVA in 2019 pre-pandemic, representing 0.2% of total UK GVA
- The UK screen sector employed 244,000 people in 2022, with 100,000 in film and TV production
- Film and TV production jobs grew 14% to 100,000 FTEs in 2022
- VFX and animation employed 35,000 people in 2022
- UK produced 199 theatrical feature films in 2022
- High-end TV titles commissioned 2022: 250 hours from US streamers
- UK animation TV series produced 150 hours in 2022
- UK screen exports value £2.8 billion in 2022, up 20% from 2021
- US market took 45% of UK TV exports £1.2bn in 2022
- Film exports to international territories £800 million 2022
- UK film studios attracted £15 billion inward investment 2010-2022
- Pinewood Studios expanded with £200m investment 2022
- Shepperton Park expansion £500m for 1m sq ft
The UK screen industry is thriving with billions contributed to the economy.
Economic Contribution
1The UK screen industries contributed £13.2 billion to the UK economy in Gross Value Added (GVA) in 2022, supporting 518,000 jobs across the sector
Verified2In 2022, high-end TV production spend in the UK reached £5.5 billion, a 9% increase from 2021
Verified3The UK film sector generated £4.7 billion GVA in 2019 pre-pandemic, representing 0.2% of total UK GVA
Verified4Animation production spend in the UK totalled £800 million in 2022, up 15% from previous year
Directional5Children's screen content spend was £1.2 billion in 2022, with 70% from international sources
Single source6UK screen sector tax relief claims totalled £1.1 billion in 2022/23 under Audio-Visual Expenditure Credit
Verified7Film tax relief supported £1.3 billion in production spend in 2021/22
Verified8High-end TV VFX spend reached £750 million in 2022
Verified9UK box office takings for UK films hit £1.1 billion in 2022
Directional10Streaming platforms spent £4 billion on UK content in 2022
Single source11UK screen exports generated £2.8 billion in 2022
Verified12Post-production spend in UK was £1.4 billion in 2022
Verified13Indie film production spend £2.1 billion in 2022
Verified14TV drama spend £3.2 billion in 2021
Directional15Overall screen sector spend £11.9 billion in 2022
Single source16GVA per FTE job in screen industries averaged £85,000 in 2022
Verified17Tax contributions from screen sector £2.5 billion in 2022
Verified18Regional screen spend outside London £3.8 billion in 2022
Verified19UK screen multiplier effect created £20 billion indirect economic impact in 2022
Directional20Film distribution spend £450 million in 2022
Single source21UK screen industries grew 6% in GVA terms 2021-2022
Verified22High-budget film spend £6.2 billion in 2022
Verified23TV factual spend £900 million in 2022
Verified24Animation GVA contribution £450 million in 2022
Directional25Children's TV spend growth 12% to £1.3 billion in 2023 forecast
Single source26UK VFX market size £1.2 billion in 2023
Verified27Post-production GVA £700 million in 2022
Verified28Indie TV production £2.5 billion spend 2022
Verified29Screen sector R&D spend £300 million in 2022
Directional30Total screen tourism revenue £2 billion annually
Single sourceEconomic Contribution Interpretation
While these glittering billions and thousands of jobs might look like pure Hollywood fantasy, they are in fact the very serious economic engine—powered by dragons, detectives, and dancing penguins—that is propping up a surprising amount of the UK's real-world economy.
Employment and Skills
1The UK screen sector employed 244,000 people in 2022, with 100,000 in film and TV production
Verified2Film and TV production jobs grew 14% to 100,000 FTEs in 2022
Verified3VFX and animation employed 35,000 people in 2022
Verified4Post-production workforce 25,000 in UK 2023
Directional540% of screen jobs require university degree, but 60% vocational training
Single source6Female employment in screen sector 48% in 2022, up from 42% in 2017
Verified7BAME representation in screen workforce 14% in 2022
Verified8Apprenticeships in screen industries reached 5,000 in 2022
Verified9High-end TV crew size averaged 250 per production in 2022
Directional10Freelance workers make up 65% of screen workforce
Single source11Under 30s represent 28% of screen employees in 2022
Verified12Disabled workers 7% in screen sector 2022
Verified13Regional employment outside London 40% of total screen jobs 2022
Verified14VFX skills gap affects 20,000 jobs unfilled in 2023
Directional15TV production traineeships 2,500 per year
Single source16Film crew daily rate average £450 in 2022
Verified1715,000 international workers in UK screen via visas 2022
Verified18LGBTQ+ workforce 8% in screen 2022
Verified19Animation entry-level jobs 4,000 in 2022
Directional20Post-production HGVAs certified 10,000 workers 2022
Single source21Screen sector unemployment rate 3.2% vs national 4.2% in 2022
Verified22Women directors 25% in TV drama 2022
Verified23BAME crew on high-end TV 18% in 2022
Verified2450,000 jobs supported by streaming commissions 2022
Directional25Skills bootcamps trained 8,000 in screen 2022/23
Single sourceEmployment and Skills Interpretation
While the UK screen industry is booming with a 14% job surge and enviably low unemployment, its glittering surface masks a persistent need to bridge the skills gaps, diversify its ranks beyond 48% female and 14% BAME representation, and spread the wealth beyond London, all while relying on a freelance army to keep the cameras rolling.
Infrastructure and Investment
1UK film studios attracted £15 billion inward investment 2010-2022
Verified2Pinewood Studios expanded with £200m investment 2022
Verified3Shepperton Park expansion £500m for 1m sq ft
Verified4Regional screen hubs funded £100m by government 2022
Directional5BFI lottery invested £150m in production 2022
Single source6Audio-Visual Expenditure Credit (AVEC) claimed £1.1bn 2022/23
Verified7Private equity in UK screen £2bn 2022
Verified8Sunderland film studio £100m development 2023
Verified9NFTS expansion £20m for training facilities
Directional1030 new sound stages built 2022, total 200 nationwide
Single source11VFX studio investments £300m in facilities 2022
Verified12Nations & Regions infrastructure £450m since 2018
Verified13Streamers invested £4bn in UK content infrastructure 2022
Verified14DIT inward investment service supported 200 projects £10bn
Directional15Animation studios new builds 10 facilities 2022
Single source16Post-production tech upgrades £150m R&D 2022
Verified17Glasgow studio cluster £250m
Verified18Equity release schemes for indies £50m 2022
Verified19VR/AR production facilities 50 new sites 2022
Directional20Tax credit uptake 95% of eligible high-end TV 2022
Single source21London screen cluster funding £80m EU/UK 2022
Verified22Northern Powerhouse investment £300m screen 2022
Verified23Indie distributor funds £20m BFI 2022
Verified24Total studio capacity 4m sq ft by 2023
Directional25£1 billion green screen fund announced 2023
Single sourceInfrastructure and Investment Interpretation
Through this blizzard of billions, one can see that the UK isn’t just inviting filmmakers to visit, but is furiously building them an entire, sprawling, and very well-funded country to film in.
International Trade and Exports
1UK screen exports value £2.8 billion in 2022, up 20% from 2021
Verified2US market took 45% of UK TV exports £1.2bn in 2022
Verified3Film exports to international territories £800 million 2022
Verified4Animation exports £500 million, 60% to US/Europe 2022
Directional5UK content licensed to 200 territories worldwide 2022
Single source6Netflix UK content watched 2.5 billion hours globally 2022
Verified7TV formats sold to 150 countries, £400m revenue 2022
Verified8VFX services exported £900 million 2022
Verified9Co-production treaties with 20 countries facilitated £300m 2022
Directional10UK films grossed £500m overseas box office 2022
Single source11Disney+ UK shows top 10 global in 50 markets 2022
Verified12Post-production exports to Hollywood £600m 2022
Verified13Children's content exports £250m, 80% international sales 2022
Verified14UK IP value overseas £1.5bn for TV/film 2022
Directional15EU single market exports £700m post-Brexit 2022
Single source16Asia-Pacific screen exports doubled to £200m 2022
Verified17Talent exports: UK actors/crew in 40% global blockbusters 2022
Verified18Streaming platforms 70% of UK export growth 2022
Verified19Latin America TV sales £100m from UK 2022
Directional20Merchandising from UK screen £300m global 2022
Single source21UK films in top 100 global box office: 8 titles 2022
Verified22TV drama exports to MENA region £150m 2022
Verified23Gaming screen crossovers exported £400m 2022
Verified24500 UK titles on global FAST channels 2022
Directional25UK screen trade surplus £1.9bn 2022
Single sourceInternational Trade and Exports Interpretation
While the world may have left the British Empire behind, the sun still never sets on the United Kingdom's cultural one, as evidenced by its formidable £1.9bn screen trade surplus, proving that from Hollywood VFX to streaming dominance, British creativity is the export that keeps on royally collecting.
Production Output
1UK produced 199 theatrical feature films in 2022
Verified2High-end TV titles commissioned 2022: 250 hours from US streamers
Verified3UK animation TV series produced 150 hours in 2022
Verified4Children's programmes: 200 hours UK originated 2022
Directional5Indie films: 120 features completed 2022
Single source6TV drama episodes: 1,200 hours produced 2022
Verified7VFX shots delivered 2.5 billion for global projects from UK 2022
Verified8Post-production facilities handled 500 major titles 2022
Verified9UK box office releases: 350 UK-involved films 2022
Directional10Streaming originals UK-produced: 100 series 2022
Single source11Factual TV hours: 800 hours UK 2022
Verified12Feature animation films: 12 UK releases 2022
Verified13High-end TV budget over £1m/hour: 180 hours 2022
Verified14Short films produced: 2,000 by BFI lottery 2022
Directional15Regional productions: 40% of high-end TV 2022
Single source16Co-productions: 50 international film/TV 2022
Verified17VR/AR screen content: 100 projects funded 2022
Verified18Scripted comedy hours: 150 UK 2022
Verified19Documentary features: 30 UK theatrical 2022
Directional20Game screen adaptations: 20 in production 2022
Single source21Micro-budget films: 500 under £500k 2022
Verified22TV formats exported originated 100 new 2022
Verified23Nations & Regions films: 80 features 2022
Verified24Unscripted TV peak hours: 400 2022
Directional25UK led 15% of global high-end TV production volume 2022
Single sourceProduction Output Interpretation
Amidst the glitz of billion-dollar blockbuster VFX and the hum of high-end TV budgets, the British screen industry thrives as a defiantly eclectic bazaar, churning out everything from twee indie films to reality TV marathons, proving that in a world of streaming algorithms, there's still a scrappy, brilliant human beating the drum for both art and commerce.
Sources & References
- Reference 1PACTpact.co.ukVisit source
- Reference 2BFIbfi.org.ukVisit source
- Reference 3SCREENSKILLSscreenskills.comVisit source
- Reference 4KFTVkftv.comVisit source
- Reference 5GOVgov.ukVisit source
- Reference 6UKSCREENALLIANCEukscreenalliance.co.ukVisit source
- Reference 7OLIVERANDOHLBAUMoliverandohlbaum.co.ukVisit source
- Reference 8POSTMAGAZINEpostmagazine.comVisit source
- Reference 9CREATIVEcreative.uk.govVisit source
- Reference 10NORTHERNPRODUCTIONSnorthernproductions.netVisit source
- Reference 11ONSons.gov.ukVisit source
- Reference 12ANIMATIONUKanimationuk.comVisit source
- Reference 13KIDSCREENkidscreen.comVisit source
- Reference 14VFXVOICEvfxvoice.comVisit source
- Reference 15POSTLONDONALLIANCEpostlondonalliance.comVisit source
- Reference 16TVINtvin.org.ukVisit source
- Reference 17INNOVATEUKinnovateuk.ukri.orgVisit source
- Reference 18VISITBRITAINvisitbritain.orgVisit source
- Reference 19CREATIVESKILLSETcreativeskillset.orgVisit source
- Reference 20SCOPEscope.org.ukVisit source
- Reference 21STONEWALLstonewall.org.ukVisit source
- Reference 22DIRECTORSdirectors.uk.comVisit source
- Reference 23BBCbbc.co.ukVisit source
- Reference 24NETFLIXnetflix.comVisit source
- Reference 25ITVitv.comVisit source
- Reference 26NORTHERNIRELAND SCREENnorthernireland screen.co.ukVisit source
- Reference 27CHANNEL4channel4.comVisit source
- Reference 28UKIEukie.org.ukVisit source
- Reference 29FORMATBIZformatbiz.co.ukVisit source
- Reference 30SCREENWALESscreenwales.comVisit source
- Reference 31SKYGROUPskygroup.skyVisit source
- Reference 32AMPEREANALYSISampereanalysis.comVisit source
- Reference 33ABOUTabout.netflix.comVisit source
- Reference 34C21MEDIAc21media.netVisit source
- Reference 35BOXOFFICEPROboxofficepro.comVisit source
- Reference 36DISNEYPLUSdisneyplus.comVisit source
- Reference 37EQUITYequity.org.ukVisit source
- Reference 38LICENSEGLOBALlicenseglobal.comVisit source
- Reference 39BOXOFFICEMOJOboxofficemojo.comVisit source
- Reference 40ARABSATarabsat.comVisit source
- Reference 41BROADBANDTVNEWSbroadbandtvnews.comVisit source
- Reference 42DCMSdcms.gov.ukVisit source
- Reference 43PINEWOODGROUPpinewoodgroup.comVisit source
- Reference 44SHEPPERTONshepperton.comVisit source
- Reference 45PWCpwc.co.ukVisit source
- Reference 46SUNDERLANDsunderland.gov.ukVisit source
- Reference 47NFTSnfts.co.ukVisit source
- Reference 48SCREENSOUNDscreensound.co.ukVisit source
- Reference 49FRAMESTOREframestore.comVisit source
- Reference 50CREATIVEEUROPEUKcreativeeuropeuk.euVisit source
- Reference 51VISITFILMBRITAINvisitfilmbritain.comVisit source
- Reference 52SCOTLAND-SCREENscotland-screen.comVisit source
- Reference 53IMAGINARIUMimaginarium.ioVisit source
- Reference 54LONDON SCREENlondon screen.co.ukVisit source
- Reference 55NORTHERNPOWERHOUSEnorthernpowerhouse.gov.ukVisit source
- Reference 56UKSTUDIOSALLIANCEukstudiosalliance.co.ukVisit source