Berkshire MPs have claimed that the county is the ‘Hollywood of the United Kingdom’ – but what exactly do they mean?
Three MPs of the region appeared in a debate in parliament this week to discuss the booming Berkshire industry, during which Clive Jones, MP for Wokingham dubbed it ‘the Hollywood of the UK’.
Shinfield Studios opened in June this year as the UK’s biggest new film and television studios. Situated off the M4 motorway, it boasts 18 sound stages and has already welcomed several high-budget productions including Ghostbusters and Disney + Star Wars series, The Acolyte.
It has provided a ‘hub of fantastic jobs for Bracknell residents’, according to the MP for the town Peter Swallow.
Mr Swallow called the studios as ‘the jewel in the crown of Berkshire’s creative industry’.
Appearing in a question time with the minister for Culture, Media and Sport, Clive Jones said: “Berkshire is the Hollywood of the United Kingdom, and I am proud that Wokingham contributes to its success, whether it is on stages of the Arborfield Film Studios or through my constituents commuting to Shinfield Studios.”
US owners said the studios should provide an economic boost, with major films requiring production crews of up to 500 people.
Peter Swallow, MP for Bracknell, commended his neighbouring colleague’s description of Berkshire during the debate in parliament as having ‘cross-party support’.
The Labour member said that himself and other MPs had visited Shinfield Studios.
Mr Swallow argued that ‘getting the right support for skills in place is vital’ for making sure the industry in Berkshire will grow further.
Joshua Reynolds, MP for Maidenhead, took the opportunity to celebrate Bray Studios, which has produced films including Alien and Rocketman.
There are currently 25,000 vacancies in the creative industries, according to the Liberal Democrat.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said her government had ‘already kickstarted the curriculum review to put art, sport, music and creativity back at the heart of our classrooms’.
Speaking to the News about the debate, Clive Jones said: “In the UK, the film and high-end television is growing rapidly, and Berkshire is at the heart of this.”
But the Liberal Democrat said he wanted the government to deliver their business rate reforms ‘as soon as possible’, which should ‘support Berkshire’s growing Hollywood-esque status in this hugely competitive international market’.
The Conservative shadow minister for Culture Julia Lopez warned in the Wednesday debate that Ms Nandy should keep a ‘very close eye’ on international competitors.
In response, Ms Nandy said UK Filmmaker’s would be getting budgets of up to £15 million to claim back more than half of the costs of items such as equipment, location costs and paying actors.
