Investment

Investment potential and opportunities in the film and broadcast sector in Scotland

Every stage of film, television and broadcast development can be carried out and supported in Scotland. This includes screen writing, story-boarding, acting, location identification, musical scoring, funding and technical support through to distribution.

Scotland’s natural advantage

With 37 percent of the UK's land mass populated by a mere 8 percent of the UK’s population, Scotland has more space and more wilderness than practically any other European country.

Scotland boasts the highest mountains, deepest lochs as well as large and accessible tracts of forest and unspoilt moorland. We also have one of the longest coastlines in Europe, an incredible 6,000 miles of coast and rugged cliffs or pearl-white beaches, with 790 islands along the shoreline.

Scotland also has the longest daylight hours in the UK with up to 18 hours of daylight in the midsummer, ensuring long shooting days.

Scotland has a huge range of locations available, from prehistoric sites to contemporary cityscapes, castles and mansion houses, cottages and modern apartments.

Industry infrastructure

Scotland is currently the location for a variety of BBC productions, encompassing children’s television, entertainment, drama, factual and comedy shows.

The BBC’s commitment to relocate programme production out of London is benefitting Scotland's television industry, as several major cultural, political and entertainment programmes are moved north of the border.

The Comedy Unit is one of Scotland’s successful production units, which has been behind a run of successful shows over the past 25 years, including Rab C. Nesbit and more recently, Frankie Boyle’s Tramadol Nights.

Alongside the presence of national UK broadcasters, Scotland’s film and television industry is supported by an infrastructure of indigenous companies, all of which are making their presence felt in the worldwide marketplace.

Digital Media Quarter

The new BBC building in Glasgow’s Digital Media Quarter is a dynamic broadcasting centre and a benchmark in terms of state-of-the-art technology and production methods, where digital content can be made and broadcast: not just programmes for TV and radio, but also online content and audio and video clips for mobile devices like phones and MP3 players.

Industry support

Creative Scotland

Creative Scotland is the national development agency for Scotland’s arts, screen and creative industries and can provide support to any film or broadcast company wishing to operate in Scotland.

The organisation supports new and existing talent and businesses, educates young people and promotes Scotland as a creative place to make films, award winning television and world-renowned digital entertainment.

It also offers a locations service – a fast, free and confidential way to facilitate your shoot in Scotland, whether its a feature film or a stills shoot. Creative Scotland works closely with city and regional film offices, local councils, heritage bodies, businesses and service providers to ensure a trouble-free filming environment across the entire country.