London has long been the centre of UK post-production, with Soho in particular acting as the traditional epicentre of the industry. But the landscape is changing. Increasingly, post-production companies and creative technology providers are investing in regional hubs—building out new facilities and expanding capacity outside the capital.
This trend, often described as the regionalisation of the UK’s screen industries, reflects both strategic necessity and opportunity. With major broadcasters and studios decentralising, and with the UK Government and local authorities backing regional investment, post-production services are following production into new creative clusters.
Clear Cut in Birmingham
One of the clearest examples of this shift is Clear Cut’s new post-production facility in Birmingham’s Digbeth creative quarter, located near the BBC’s new headquarters. This move underlines a commitment to building a full ecosystem of production and post-production services in the Midlands—reducing reliance on London, and helping nurture local talent pools.
Other Regional Expansions
Clear Cut isn’t alone. Across the country, other post houses and creative studios are making significant investments:
- Molinare / Notorious DIT (Liverpool) – Molinare’s DIT and lab division has launched a new base at Liverpool Innovation Park. Initially offering data management and dailies services, the site plans to expand into offline editing, ADR, and finishing. Molinare is also working with the Liverpool Film Office to develop local training opportunities.
- Dragon Post Production (Liverpool & Cardiff) – Dragon has unveiled a world-class facility in Liverpool, combining editorial, grading, VFX, DIT, dailies, and delivery. It includes cutting-edge monitoring technology and strengthens the city’s position as a post-production hub.
- dock10 (Salford, Greater Manchester) – Based in MediaCityUK, dock10 has expanded its post-production offering with new edit suites, audio tracklay, and dubbing facilities. Already a key partner for broadcasters like the BBC, this growth reinforces Salford’s role as a northern creative powerhouse.
- Serious Facilities (Glasgow) – Originally London-based, Serious Facilities has recently added a third building in Glasgow, further embedding its services into Scotland’s thriving screen sector.
Studio Infrastructure Supporting Regional Growth
Beyond post-production houses themselves, major studio complexes across the UK are also helping anchor local ecosystems:
- The Bottle Yard Studios (Bristol) – Now the largest dedicated studio facility in the West of England, The Bottle Yard supports high-end drama and film production, creating demand for local post-production support services.
- Studio Ulster (Belfast) – This new £72 million virtual production facility features LED volume stages, motion capture, robotics, and advanced scanning technologies. Alongside production, it is helping to seed a new generation of regional post and VFX talent.
Why Regionalisation Matters
This shift carries significant implications for professionals and businesses in the industry:
- Access without relocation – Talent can now work with world-class facilities without moving to London.
- Economic resilience – Diversifying locations spreads opportunity, reducing the risks tied to a London-centric model.
- Training and skills – Regional hubs foster local skills pipelines, ensuring sustainable growth.
- National network – The UK is developing into a truly nationwide screen industry, with creative and technical capacity spread across Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Glasgow, Bristol, Cardiff, and Belfast.
The decentralisation of post-production is not just a matter of convenience—it’s about resilience, growth, and sustainability. By investing in creative hubs beyond the capital, the UK is building a more balanced, future-ready industry.
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