Staffordshire's film office has delivered a £1.3 million boost to the county economy in its first year of operation, according to an impact report released at Weston Park.
Screen Staffordshire, set up as a three-year pilot programme through the We Are Staffordshire place marketing partnership, completed its first year with a local economic impact of £1.323 million from an initial investment of £125,000.
Production Activity and Reach
The office supported productions across multiple formats, delivering 250 shoot days and attracting work from major broadcasters and production companies including Netflix, Apple TV, the BBC, Channel 4 and Amazon Studios.
Screen Staffordshire has built a database of more than 150 filming locations and hosted location recces for productions. The office has also secured filming on a high-end television drama and a BAFTA-winning reality series.
Economic Spread Across the County
Economic benefits were felt across Staffordshire's hospitality, tourism and creative sectors. Productions generated more than £435,000 in local accommodation spending, accounting for over 3,300 overnight stays.
More than £200,000 in location fees was paid to venues across the county. A further £50,000-plus was paid directly to local crew and more than £35,000 was spent on ancillary local services.
Looking Forward
Screen Staffordshire works closely with each of the districts and boroughs in the county and Stoke-on-Trent. As part of Staffordshire County Council, it maintains strong links to local businesses and other organisations.
Martin Murray, Staffordshire County Council's leader, said the office has made an impact on the local economy and expanded a sector showcasing the county to an international audience. Deborah Aston, Chair of the Screen Staffordshire Steering Committee and a producer based in the West Midlands, noted that the first year laid strong foundations with production bringing significant local spend across accommodation and other services.