Business briefings in Edinburgh and Glasgow to focus on growth of Scottish film and television industry
“Much of the growth so far has been heavily driven by inward investment from overseas studios and streaming platforms” – Kirsty Murray, Azets
One of the UK’s largest accountancy firms is backing plans to grow the Scottish film and television industry and attract more angel investors.
The move follows the launch of a pilot programme funded by industry body Screen Scotland and the Scottish government’s Ecosystem Fund.
Accountancy and business advisory giant Azets said it was doing its bit by hosting three business and investment briefings run by Screen Scotland and held in association with legal heavyweight Morton Fraser MacRoberts (MFMac). They will take place in Glasgow on September 29 and Edinburgh on October 22 and January 28.
Figures suggest that the screen sector is on track to achieve Screen Scotland’s strategic aim of £1 billion gross value added (GVA) impact within the Scottish economy by the end of 2030/31, having reached some £718 million in 2023. Employment in the sector increased by 12.1 per cent, from 2021 to 2023, to 12,260 full-time equivalents.
The growth in film and television production in Scotland has created opportunities for studio facilities, production services, location services, tourism, hospitality, legal and accountancy services, as well as charity and cultural organisations.
Kirsty Murray, an Edinburgh-based tax partner, is one of several specialists at Azets who work across the film and TV industries.
She said: “The forthcoming briefings are designed to connect the film and TV production community with the wider business sector and explore how angel investment and financing can drive growth in the industry.
“The screen sector is worth millions to the Scottish economy in terms of expenditure, jobs, the huge skilled supply chains and tourism. However, much of the growth so far has been heavily driven by inward investment from overseas studios and streaming platforms.
“Lights, Camera Capital seeks to create more investment opportunities from within Scotland and that involves educating and informing prospective angel investors that the industry is perfect for their support.
“Angels are private individuals or syndicates who put early-stage capital into a company in exchange for equity - and we are supporting this excellent bid to bring angel investment back to its roots,” she added.
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