London Higher has secured a further three years of funding as a strategic partner in the BFI Skills Cluster for Metro London thanks to National Lottery funding, reinforcing the role of higher education at the centre of the capital’s global screen industry.
Over the next three years, London Higher will work closely with Film London, the capital’s screen industries agency, alongside its member institutions and industry partners to build and expand pathways into the screen industries, with a particular focus on skills development and workforce diversity. Part of the BFI’s UK-wide Skills Cluster funding, this builds on a successful three-year programme which has supported closer collaboration between higher education and industry and strengthened routes into careers across the screen sector.
The renewed partnership comes at a time when London’s screen sector continues to prove itself on the world stage, securing some of the world’s biggest projects and franchises. The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has described the capital as “the new Hollywood”, highlighting its status as a global hub for film and high-end television production.
This growth is underpinned by the Mayor’s Inclusive Talent Strategy, which aims to ensure that Londoners from all backgrounds can access opportunities in the capital’s creative industries. The strategy places a strong emphasis on improving pathways into good work, tackling barriers to entry and building a workforce that reflects the diversity of the city.
Commenting on the successful bid, Chief Executive of London Higher Liz Hutchinson said:
“London’s status as the new Hollywood is underpinned by the strength of its universities and colleges, which are developing the world-class talent, skills and innovation that drive the capital’s screen industries.
“As a convenor at the heart of London’s creative economy, London Higher is uniquely placed to bridge the gap between that talent and the world-class productions filming on our doorstep.
“The continued success of the UK’s screen industries depends on strong partnerships and deep connectivity across education and industry. We are delighted to be continuing our close collaboration with Film London and our cluster partners, with a clear focus on building a diverse, skilled workforce for the future.”
Adrian Wooton, Chief Executive of Film London, commented:
“London Higher is a key convenor within London’s creative economy, bringing together universities and colleges, industry partners and emerging talent to support the continued growth of film and television production across the city.
“We are delighted to continue our strategic partnership, working together to strengthen the skills pipeline and ensure London remains a world-leading destination for global production.”
Sara Whybrew, Director of Skills and Workforce Development at BFI, said, “The first three years of the BFI Skills Clusters has shown us that supporting localised training and work-based-learning opportunities is vital to building a workforce that better reflects local populations and ensuring our production hubs have ready access to the breadth of skills needed to support both domestic and inward-investment production. We’d like to thank the Skills Clusters for the impactful work they have achieved since 2023, and we look forward to the next three years and to welcoming new delivery partners as we grow the portfolio and geographical footprint of the Clusters.”
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About BFI Skills Clusters
The BFI seeks to invest £11.85m in regional and national BFI Skills Clusters between 2026-2029 to support skills development and training across the UK’s key production hubs. The funding supports organisations to take the lead on developing and delivering below-the-line skills and training for their areas and will enable Clusters to work collaboratively with local industry, education, and training providers.
Taking a localised approach, BFI Skills Clusters will work to identify local skills needs, strengthen regional skills data and evidence, deliver tailored training to new and existing workers, and create clearer routes into local work opportunities in film and television production.
For each Cluster, funding is awarded to a lead delivery partner who will work in partnership with other organisations and lever additional local funding to maximise the impact of BFI National Lottery funding. To date, the BFI Skills Clusters cover the following areas:
- BFI Skills Cluster Berkshire (Screen Berkshire)
Lead delivery partner: Resource Productions
- BFI Skills Cluster Metro London
Lead delivery partner: Film London
- BFI Skills Cluster North of England (Screen Alliance North)
Lead delivery partner: Screen Yorkshire
- BFI Skills Cluster Northern Ireland
Lead delivery partner: Northern Ireland Screen
- BFI Skills Cluster Scotland
Lead delivery partner: Screen Scotland
- BFI Skills Cluster Wales (Siop Un Stop-One Stop Shop)
Lead delivery partner: Sgil Cymru
- BFI Skills Cluster West Midlands (Create Central Skills Accelerator)
Lead delivery partner: Create Central
Additional Clusters are expected to join this portfolio in late 2026.
The BFI is a cultural charity, a National Lottery distributor, and the UK’s lead organisation for film and the moving image.
Its mission is:
- To support creativity and actively seek out the next generation of UK storytellers
- To grow and care for the BFI National Archive, the world’s largest film and television archive
- To offer the widest range of UK and international moving image culture through our programmes and festivals – delivered online and in venue
- To use our knowledge to educate and deepen public appreciation and understanding
- To work with Government and industry to ensure the continued growth of the UK’s screen industries
Founded in 1933, the BFI is a registered charity governed by Royal Charter.
The BFI Board of Governors is chaired by Jay Hunt OBE.
