Norfolk County Council launches £52,000 research project into Norfolk film sector
Norfolk County Council has contracted a £52,000 research project on the Norfolk film sector with the goal of creating a forecast of UK production activity in the area up to 2025.
Leading international consultancy firm Olsberg●SPI submitted the winning bid for the project, which is expected to take place over the next 10 months following the project inception meeting with the project steering group this month.
Cllr Graham Plant, cabinet member for Growing the Economy said: “We have thought very hard about the advantages the value this research will bring to Norfolk. The international expertise Olsberg●SPI has will target the needs of Norfolk’s film, television and creative sector, putting public sector best practice at the fingertip of Norfolk’s local authorities.
"This research will help us mastermind, justify, and implement interventions in support of our creative sector and wider communities.”
Previously featuring in well-known TV programmes and movies including Dad's Army, Atonement, Avengers and, most recently, The Crown, Norfolk has a long-standing history as a popular filming location.
Olsberg●SPI will be responsible for collecting evidence and reports including a database of all film, television and related sector activity in Norfolk over the past three years, plus expected future UK production activity up to 2025.
They will also create a database of Norfolk's businesses, sole traders, freelance individuals active in the film and related sectors. They will source examples from elsewhere in the UK of how Norfolk could be promoted as a film location both nationally and internationally.
Olsberg●SPI will also provide recommendations and outline a business case for local authority income generation through film and TV sector support.
The project is being funded by various local authorities including Breckland Council, Broadland District Council, Great Yarmouth Borough Council, King's Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council, New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership, Norfolk County Council, North Norfolk District Council and South Norfolk Council.
The project steering group features officers from these authorities, plus co-opted partners from Hethel Innovation; Norfolk Constabulary, and Norwich University of the Arts.
Norfolk County Council and the steering group partners are delighted to be working with Olsberg●SPI to develop further understanding of the sector, and ways to support its growth, for the benefit of the Norfolk economy.
