New television studio to grow sector

A new £11.9m television studio that has been jointly funded by the Scottish Government and Glasgow City Council is set to be a catalyst for growth in Scotland’s screen sector.

The 10,500 sq ft studio will be operated by BBC Studioworks, a commercial subsidiary of the BBC providing studios and post-production services to companies including the BBC, ITV, Sky, Channel 4 and Netflix. 

Kelvin Hall in Glasgow’s west end, will become the Scottish hub for major TV broadcasters and production companies and will help meet the growing demand for TV shows in Scotland when it opens next autumn.

As well as fuelling the growth of the sector, Kelvin Hall is expected to boost local jobs and support the development of a skilled and diverse Scottish workforce. Through their Across the UK Strategy, the BBC is expected to spend an extra £700m cumulatively across the UK by 2027/28.

Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture Angus Robertson said:

“Our level of investment in Kelvin Hall, £7.9m, reflects the confidence we have in our fast-growing screen industries. There is unprecedented interest in Scotland as a production hub and Kelvin Hall will be a welcome addition to the growing range of studio space being used by film and television productions.

“We are working with partners to maximise the opportunities offered by the studio to develop expertise in the entertainment genre and build on existing skills and training schemes to further develop a sustainable creative economy.”

Andrew Moultrie, CEO BBC Studioworks said:

“We’re thrilled to have been appointed as the operator of this new facility in Glasgow, providing much needed purpose-built studio space in Scotland and meeting growing industry demand to produce there.

“Drawing on our decades of expertise and unrivalled customer service, we will help grow the local workforce to deliver more local productions and support the continued development of sector-specific skills in Scotland.”

Councillor Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council, said:

“Today’s announcement that BBC Studioworks will be the tenant operator of the Kelvin Hall is fantastic news for the city. BBC Studioworks will draw on their wealth of experience in the industry to develop Kelvin Hall as an important and attractive film and television location, continuing Glasgow’s rise in this sector. 

“The Kelvin Hall will be a nationally significant production facility that will enable productions and jobs to stay and grow in the city, further driving the development of our thriving creative industries, and adding to Glasgow’s economic growth.”

David Smith, Director of Screen at Screen Scotland said:

“It is almost two years since we first met with BBC Studioworks to discuss their ambitions for an entertainment focused studio outwith London. We have worked with them, alongside the fantastic team at Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Government since early 2020 to land this opportunity for Scotland. 

“We look forward to working with BBC Studioworks on training and skills development opportunities around the Kelvin Hall studio, and with the BBC’s commissioning team on all of the new programmes and series from Scotland that will be made in the decades to come.”

Background

The Kelvin Hall Film and Broadcast Studio Hub has been jointly funded by the Scottish Government through Screen Scotland (£7.9m) and Glasgow City Council (£4m).

Partners for the project are: Screen Scotland supported by the Scottish Government, Glasgow City Council and BBC Studioworks.

The Scottish Government has supported an increase in studio infrastructure in Scotland and Kelvin Hall is the latest addition to a range of studio space being used by film and high-end television production.

Screen Scotland is driving the cultural, social and economic development of all aspects of the sector in Scotland through enhanced funding, services and support and backing from Scottish Government and The National Lottery. Screen Scotland sits within Creative Scotland and works in partnership with Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Skills Development Scotland, Scottish Funding Council, working in close collaboration with the sector to ensure its success. screen.scot /Twitter/ Instagram.

Kelvin Hall first opened its doors as an exhibition venue in 1927 and has played a key role in Glasgow’s cultural and sporting life ever since. The much-loved building now features a centre of cultural excellence - with a partnership between Glasgow Life, the University of Glasgow and the National Library of Scotland providing access to collections, temporary displays, teaching and research - alongside a state-of-the-art Glasgow Club health and fitness centre as part of the first phase of its redevelopment.