Screen Scotland
Screen Scotland is a publicly funded development agency (established 2018, part of Creative Scotland) that channels Scottish Government and National Lottery funding, strategic support, and skills programmes to grow Scotland's film and TV sector, serving production companies, studios, talent, and exhibitors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersGlasgow, United Kingdom
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Screen Scotland does
Screen Scotland is the dedicated partnership for screen in Scotland, established in 2018 and operating as a unit within Creative Scotland with funding from the Scottish Government and The National Lottery. It is a public body, headquartered in Edinburgh, that drives development of Scotland's film and TV industry through funding programmes, skills and talent development, Screen Commission services for incoming productions, and audience and exhibition support. The organisation does not generate commercial revenue; instead, it allocates public funds across the sector and convenes industry partnerships.
Its core "products" are a portfolio of funding mechanisms and programmes. Funding instruments include the Film Development and Production Fund, Broadcast Content Fund, Production Growth Fund, Professional Development Fund, Distribution Fund (with typical awards of £5,000–£15,000), and education-oriented funds. Talent and skills development is delivered through layered programmes such as Talent Builder (£1.2 million across six initiatives), Sharp Shorts, First Features, FOCUS, Little Pictures, BBC Writers Room, Young Films Foundation, DocScene, the Outlander Training Programme, River City Training Academy, NFTS Virtual Production, the rad TV Trainee Programme, Screen NETS, and RESET. The Screen Commission provides location images, location managers, crew and talent databases, and studio/office space guidance. Sector-level research, commissioned with Saffery LLP and Nordicity, underpins strategy.
The business model is publicly funded rather than commercial. Revenue derives from Scottish Government and National Lottery allocations routed through Creative Scotland, with the most recent disclosed BFI Skills Cluster award of £3 million over three years. Screen Scotland disburses these funds to production companies, studios, individual practitioners, and exhibitors, and partners with BBC, Channel 4, Banijay Entertainment, BFI, Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the Scottish Funding Council, and Skills Development Scotland to deliver co-funded programmes. According to its own sector research, the Scottish screen sector generated £718 million in GVA in 2023 (up 15%), employed 12,260 FTEs (up 12.1%), and is projected to contribute £1 billion to the Scottish economy by 2030/31, with inward-investment HETV production spend rising 110% from £165.3 million (2019) to £347.4 million (2021).
Screen Scotland firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Screen Scotland
- Legal name
- Creative Scotland
- Website
- https://screen.scot
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Screen Scotland is a publicly funded development agency (established 2018, part of Creative Scotland) that channels Scottish Government and National Lottery funding, strategic support, and skills programmes to grow Scotland's film and TV sector, serving production companies, studios, talent, and exhibitors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Screen Scotland industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Arts and Screen Sector Funding
- NAICS
- Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512), Public Finance Activities (92113)
- SIC
- Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819), Services-Allied To Motion Picture Distribution (7829)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Grant Funding & Public/Nonprofit Financing (MPADAAAO)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Development & Packaging (IP Sourcing, Script, Attachments) (MPADAAAA), Animated Feature Film Production (MPADACAH), Public Broadcasting Grants & Government Funding Administration (MPABADAM)
Keywords
Where Screen Scotland is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Glasgow
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Screen Scotland business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Others, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Government Funding: Screen Scotland is part of Creative Scotland and delivers services with funding from Scottish Government and The National Lottery. As a public body, they do not generate commercial revenue but distribute public funding to support the screen sector.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Distribution Fund awards range from £5,000 to £15,000 |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Screen Scotland product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Screen Scotland is the dedicated partnership for screen in Scotland, delivering funding and strategic support for all aspects of the country's film and TV industry. It administers multiple funding programmes (film development and production, broadcast content, distribution, production growth, professional development), talent and skills development initiatives, and a Screen Commission that assists productions filming in Scotland. As a unit within Creative Scotland, it distributes public funding from the Scottish Government and The National Lottery rather than selling commercial products.
Product overview
Screen Scotland is the dedicated partnership for screen in Scotland, delivering funding and strategic support for all aspects of Scotland's film and TV industry. The organization operates as a platform of interconnected services including: Film Development and Production Fund, Broadcast Content Fund, Production Growth Fund, and Professional Development Fund for funding; Talent Builder programme with six integrated talent initiatives (Sharp Shorts, First Features, FOCUS, Little Pictures, BBC Writers Room, Young Films Foundation, DocScene); Skills Development Programmes including Outlander Training Programme, River City Training Academy, Highlands and Islands Training Programme, NFTS Virtual Production, rad TV Trainee Programme, and Screen NETS; Screen Education initiatives (Schools Screen Education Fund, Screen Education Fund, Screening Shorts); and Screen Commission services for filming in Scotland (location services, crew/talent, studio space). Additional programmes include Film FastTrack, SuperSizing Entertainment Formats, RESET traineeship, and SuperSizer training. The organization also supports film exhibition through partner networks.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Screen Commission Provides location images, location managers and scouts, crews/talent/facilities information, local film offices, and studio/build/office space guidance for productions filming in Scotland.
- Film Development and Production Fund Funding for film development and production in Scotland, supporting production companies and filmmakers.
- Broadcast Content Fund Funding support for broadcast content production in Scotland, helping producers develop content for UK broadcasters.
- Production Growth Fund Fund designed to support production growth in Scotland's screen sector, enabling larger and more ambitious productions.
- Professional Development Fund Support for individuals working in film and television to access training, mentoring, and professional development activity nationally and internationally.
- Distribution Fund
- Talent Builder
- Sharp Shorts
- First Features
- FOCUS
- Little Pictures
- BBC Writers Room Partnership
- Young Films Foundation
- DocScene
- River City Training Academy
- Outlander Training Programme
- Highlands and Islands Training Programme
- NFTS Virtual Production
- rad TV Trainee Programme
- Screen NETS
- Screen Fringe
- Schools Screen Education Fund
- Screening Shorts
- Content Futures 2026 Accelerator
- Film FastTrack
- SuperSizing Entertainment Formats
- RESET
Quantifiable outcome
- Screen sector projected to contribute £1 billion to Scottish economy by 2030/31
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Screen Scotland
Customer profileNamed customers17 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Screen Scotland technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Screen Scotland partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- IndielabcoreDelivers the Content Futures 2026 Accelerator programme, a three-month initiative launched in London to help established indie producers navigate structural changes in the UK screen sector.
- BBCcorePartner in SuperSizing Entertainment Formats development program with Screen Scotland and TRC, running November 2025 to April 2026.
- TRCcoreGlasgow-based training provider delivering the SuperSizing Entertainment Formats program alongside BBC and Screen Scotland.
- Edinburgh International Film FestivalminorScreen Scotland supported the special 2023 edition and continues to facilitate the new EIFF organization under Andrew Macdonald's chairmanship.
- BFI (British Film Institute)coreBFI led Screen Sector Taskforce enabled early agreement of safe-work protocols and restart of film and HETV production in Scotland. BFI Film Audience Network partner through Film Hub Scotland.
- Creative ScotlandcoreScreen Scotland is part of Creative Scotland and delivers services with funding from Scottish Government and The National Lottery. Creative Scotland is the parent organization providing overarching funding and strategic direction.
- Highlands and Islands EnterprisecoreStrategic partner supporting screen sector development in the Highlands and Islands region of Scotland.
- Scottish EnterprisecoreStrategic partner for economic development supporting Scotland's screen sector growth.
- Scottish Funding CouncilcorePartner supporting education and skills development in the screen sector.
- Skills Development ScotlandcorePartner for workforce development and skills training in Scotland's screen sector.
- Film Hub ScotlandcoreOne of eight Film Hubs that make up the BFI's Film Audience Network, funded by BFI National Lottery and Screen Scotland.
- Screen Training Alliance Scotland (STAS)corePartnership of industry-based training providers including BECTU Vision, Film City Futures, NFTS Scotland, Screen NETS, and TRC with strategic approach to skills development.
- VisitScotlandminorPartner in screen tourism initiatives and economic impact studies.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Screen Scotland competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- BFI (British Film Institute): The UK's national body for film and the moving image, providing funding, policy, and audience development across the UK. Screen Scotland is a direct regional partner of BFI (Film Audience Network, Skills Cluster) and operates a comparable but Scotland-restricted mandate.
- Screen Australia: Australia's national screen funding and policy body supporting film, TV, and online content. Comparable internationally as a national-level screen agency with funding, talent development, and policy roles analogous to Screen Scotland.
- Telefilm Canada: Canada's national cultural agency funding film, TV, and digital media. Comparable internationally as a federally-funded national screen agency with a similar funding-plus-talent development model to Screen Scotland.
Direct peers
- Film London: London's screen agency supporting the capital's film and TV industry through funding, talent development, and production services. Direct peer to Screen Scotland as a UK regional screen development agency with a near-identical funding-plus-Screen-Commission model.
- Ffilm Cymru Wales: Wales's national body for film and TV, providing development and production funding for Welsh talent and content. Closest geographic and structural peer to Screen Scotland given shared nation-level status within the UK.
- Screen Ireland (Fís Éireann / Irish Film Board): Ireland's national development agency for film, TV, and animation, providing funding, training, and production support. Highly comparable to Screen Scotland in scope, mandate, and funding-based operating model.
- Creative England: England's creative industries funding and development agency outside London, providing investment and support for film, TV, games, and digital content. Direct UK regional peer to Screen Scotland with a comparable screen sector development mandate.
- Northern Ireland Screen: Northern Ireland's national screen agency funding film, TV, animation, and digital content production. Comparable as a UK devolved-nation screen agency with a similar funding-plus-talent development remit to Screen Scotland.
Regional players
- Creative BC: British Columbia's creative industries agency funding film, TV, digital media, and music. Comparable international peer to Screen Scotland as a regional creative/screen development body with similar mandate and tools.
- New Zealand Film Commission: New Zealand's national screen funding body for film and television. Comparable international peer to Screen Scotland as a small-country national screen agency with a similar funding, talent, and sector development remit.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Screen Scotland social profiles
Digital presenceScreen Scotland financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Screen Scotland leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Screen Scotland funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Screen Scotland M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Screen Scotland
What does Screen Scotland do?
Screen Scotland is the dedicated partnership for screen in Scotland, delivering funding and strategic support for all aspects of the country's film and TV industry. It administers multiple funding programmes (film development and production, broadcast content, distribution, production growth, professional development), talent and skills development initiatives, and a Screen Commission that assists productions filming in Scotland. As a unit within Creative Scotland, it distributes public funding from the Scottish Government and The National Lottery rather than selling commercial products.
Is Screen Scotland a public or private company?
Screen Scotland is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Screen Scotland founded?
Screen Scotland was founded in 2018.
Where is Screen Scotland based?
Screen Scotland is headquartered in Glasgow, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Screen Scotland make money?
One revenue line is on record: government Funding.
Who are Screen Scotland's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are BFI (British Film Institute), Screen Australia and Telefilm Canada. Direct peers are Film London, Ffilm Cymru Wales, Screen Ireland (Fís Éireann / Irish Film Board), Creative England and Northern Ireland Screen. Regional players are Creative BC and New Zealand Film Commission.
Does Screen Scotland have an API?
No public API is recorded for Screen Scotland.
What industry is Screen Scotland in?
Screen Scotland's product category is Public Arts and Screen Sector Funding. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPADAAAO, Grant Funding & Public/Nonprofit Financing, with a secondary code of MPADAAAA, Development & Packaging (IP Sourcing, Script, Attachments). Its NAICS code is 512 and its SIC code is 7819.