Screen Yorkshire has launched its new Screen Sector Growth Strategy 2026–29, setting out an ambitious three-year plan to strengthen Yorkshire’s position as one of the UK’s leading centres for film, television and screen content.
The strategy marks the next phase in the development of Yorkshire’s screen economy, building on growth over the past decade while responding to a rapidly changing global industry.
Yorkshire has established itself as a major UK production centre, with production turnover increasing by 50% during the period of Screen Yorkshire’s previous growth plan, compared with 8% nationally.
The new strategy argues that attracting production is no longer enough. With traditional commissioning models under pressure, increasing global competition and new technologies changing how content is financed, produced and consumed, Screen Yorkshire is setting out a broader ambition: to ensure that more of the long-term economic and creative value generated by the screen industries remains in Yorkshire.
At the heart of the strategy are eight priorities: leading and connecting Yorkshire’s screen ecosystem, winning and retaining production, growing Yorkshire-owned businesses and intellectual property, developing and retaining people and careers, unlocking and future-proofing investment, building the creator economy and harnessing innovation, growing Yorkshire’s national and international profile and unlocking wider economic value. Sustainability and inclusivity will run across all areas of the strategy.
A major focus of the plan will be moving Yorkshire beyond a production service economy towards a stronger creator economy, supporting Yorkshire-based companies and talent to originate ideas, develop content, retain intellectual property and build businesses capable of competing in national and international markets.
Screen Yorkshire will also continue to attract and support film and television production through its Film Office and the Yorkshire Content Fund. The Fund has invested more than £24.4 million in local film and television production, leveraging more than £234 million in production spend, an investment-to-production-spend ratio of approximately 10:1.
Alongside production and investment, the strategy places significant emphasis on building sustainable careers, strengthening Yorkshire-based production companies, embracing emerging technologies and maximising the wider economic impact of screen activity through areas including tourism and place-making.
Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “From blockbuster films to iconic soap operas, Yorkshire has earned its place on the world stage as a film and TV powerhouse. I’m proud to back this ambitious new strategy, which will help ensure that more of the jobs, investment, ideas and creative spark that’s created in Yorkshire stays in Yorkshire.
“By helping local businesses grow and giving more creatives the chance to build brilliant careers in our screen industries, we’re building a stronger, brighter region for the whole world to see.”
Caroline Cooper Charles, CEO of Screen Yorkshire, added: “Yorkshire has built an extraordinary screen success story over the past decade, but we can’t afford to stand still. The industry is changing rapidly, and our ambition for the region must evolve with it.
“The next phase is about more than bringing productions to Yorkshire. We want to create the conditions for ideas to originate here, for businesses to grow here and for more of the intellectual property and long-term value created by our screen industries to stay here.
“This strategy is about building on everything Yorkshire already does brilliantly while making sure our screen sector is resilient, ambitious and ready for what comes next. By 2029, we want Yorkshire to be known not only as one of the best places in the UK to make content, but as a place where content is created, owned and grown.”
