What Screen Suffolk does

Screen Suffolk is the official film office for Suffolk, UK, representing all five County, District, and Borough Councils (Suffolk County, East Suffolk, Ipswich Borough, Babergh Mid-Suffolk, and West Suffolk). Founded in 2016 and operated by FilmFixer on behalf of the councils, it provides a one-stop film service covering permit applications (processed through the industry-standard FilmApp platform), a searchable online Suffolk Locations Database, a Crew & Facilities Directory, a regional Crew Database of East Anglia film professionals, and training and career development programs including Set Ready Training for location marshals. The organization also maintains a formal Screen Suffolk Partnership agreement setting standards for filming facilitation across local authorities and industry partners.

The service is funded through contributions from Suffolk's local authorities and permit fees charged to productions filming in the county, with all productions required to carry £10M in Public Liability Insurance. Screen Suffolk's core technology stack consists of the FilmApp permitting SaaS and the LocationDB platform (locationdb.com/libraries/screensuffolk), which together enable keyword and requirement-based location searches and standardized permit workflows. Notable productions supported include Netflix's The Dig and The Crown, Danny Boyle's Yesterday, Amazon's The Power, and the 2026 film Project Hail Mary at Bentwaters Parks. In 2021, the service reported its busiest year on record with 240+ shooting days and a £3.1M boost to the local economy, and its contract was renewed for another five years in February 2023.

The business is structured as a public-sector partnership rather than a privately-held company: there is no venture capital, private equity, or institutional investment involved, and operations are governed by the participating local authorities. Headcount is reported at 1-10 employees, consistent with a lean film office operation. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, and the entity does not function as a commercial enterprise but as a government-backed service promoting Suffolk as a film-friendly destination within easy reach of London.

Name

Screen Suffolk

Legal name

Screen Suffolk

Website

https://screensuffolk.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Screen Suffolk is the official, council-backed film office for Suffolk, UK, delivering film permitting via FilmApp, a searchable location database, and a crew and facilities directory for film and TV productions, operated by FilmFixer on behalf of all Suffolk local authorities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Ipswich

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Film Permitting Services: Screen Suffolk is the official film office for Suffolk, representing all County, District and Borough Councils. FilmFixer delivers this service on behalf of all Suffolk councils. The service is funded through council contributions and permit fees.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Screen Suffolk is the official film office for Suffolk County, UK, representing all County, District and Borough Councils and delivered by FilmFixer. It offers a one-stop film service covering permit processing via the FilmApp platform, a searchable Suffolk locations database, a crew and facilities directory, and access to a regional crew database for productions filming in Suffolk.

Product overview

Screen Suffolk is the official film office for Suffolk representing all County, District and Borough Councils, offering a 'one-stop' film service delivered by FilmFixer. The core offering comprises film permitting via the FilmApp platform, a searchable Location Database for finding and registering filming sites, a Crew & Facilities Directory connecting productions with local services and talent, and a Crew Database of regional professionals. Supplementary services include Training & Career Programs (including Set Ready Training for location marshals) and a formal Screen Suffolk Partnership agreement with local authorities and industry organisations. All services are designed to make Suffolk the most film-friendly county in the UK, within easy reach of London.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Film Permitting Service Official permitting service for film and TV productions filming anywhere in Suffolk, providing a single point of contact for permits across all County, District and Borough Councils. Productions must obtain a permit regardless of crew size or student status, and must hold £10m Public Liability Insurance.
• Suffolk Locations Database Searchable online library of film-friendly locations across Suffolk, tagged for keyword searching (e.g. 'town hall', 'red brick') and browsable via the locationdb.com platform. Property owners can register their locations for inclusion in the database.
• Crew & Facilities Directory Comprehensive directory connecting productions with Suffolk-based facilities and services, including accommodation, equipment rental, catering, transportation, post-production, and specialist services.
• Crew Database Online database of freelance and industry film professionals in the East Anglia region, available to be hired by productions filming in Suffolk without charging overnight fees.

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• FilmFixercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 December 2016FilmFixer delivers the Screen Suffolk service on behalf of all Suffolk councils. They are the operating partner responsible for day-to-day operations of the official film office.
• Suffolk County CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the five Suffolk local authorities represented by Screen Suffolk.
• East Suffolk CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the five Suffolk local authorities represented by Screen Suffolk.
• Ipswich Borough CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the five Suffolk local authorities represented by Screen Suffolk.
• Baberg Mid-Suffolk District CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the five Suffolk local authorities represented by Screen Suffolk.
• West Suffolk CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the five Suffolk local authorities represented by Screen Suffolk.
• Bentwaters ParksmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner2500-acre site with unique military buildings, various landscapes and commercial enterprise park. Backlots and stunt areas available. Home to over 45 Camera Tracking Vehicles/Insert Cars/Low Loaders/U-Cranes from Bickers Action.
• BickersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSuffolk-based company with the largest number of Stunt Action and Camera Tracking Vehicles for film and TV industry. Founded 1976, supports major productions including James Bond, Jurassic World, Fast and Furious.
• BruizerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative video production company with in-house team of producers, film crew and editors. Provides drone filming services among other production capabilities.
• Creative NationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne-stop creative management and production hub based in London and Suffolk.
• Creative EnglandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization providing training and development support, with whom Screen Suffolk has strong working relationships.
• BFI (British Film Institute)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational body providing training and career development support for film industry professionals.
• Creative SkillsetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational skills body for the creative industries providing training and career opportunities.
• Production GuildminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry body for production professionals providing training and networking opportunities.
• National Trust (Film Office)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Trust film office providing location access for productions filming on Trust properties.
• English HeritageminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeritage organization with film location partnerships for productions seeking historic buildings and sites.
• Visit SuffolkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial tourism organization for Suffolk promoting the county as a destination.
• The Suffolk CoastminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional tourism organization promoting Suffolk's coastal areas.
• The Crown EstateminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerManages coastal and certain rural properties that may serve as filming locations.
• FilmAppcoreTechnology or IntegrationIndustry-standard permitting system used by Screen Suffolk and other film offices in the UK and USA for processing filming permit applications.
• Set Ready TrainingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFree training course for the next generation of location marshals. Screen Suffolk facilitates Set Ready Training courses in Suffolk for local residents seeking film industry careers.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Screen Scotland: National screen agency for Scotland, supporting film and TV production with locations, crew, and funding. Comparable as a publicly-funded regional film office serving a defined geography.
• Ffilm Cymru Wales: Welsh Government's film agency delivering production support, locations, and crew services across Wales. Same council/government-backed film office model serving a regional UK territory.
• Film London: The official film office for London, providing permitting, location services, and production support across multiple London boroughs. Closest direct comparator in business model — a public-sector-backed film office consolidating multiple local authorities into a single service.
• Screen Manchester: Manchester's regional film office, offering location database, permitting assistance, and crew/facility connections. Directly comparable peer competing in the same North-of-London / regional UK production market.
• FilmFixer: Operator of Screen Suffolk and other UK regional film offices. Directly comparable business model — councils contract FilmFixer to deliver film office services including permitting, locations, and crew coordination.
• Screen Yorkshire: Regional film office for Yorkshire & Humber, delivering location services, crew database, and production support funded by the regional authority. Same operating model as Screen Suffolk at a different UK region.
• Northern Ireland Screen: Government-backed screen agency for Northern Ireland, providing production funding, location services, and crew support. Operates the same film office model with a national screen agency overlay, comparable to Screen Suffolk plus its council-backed structure.

Broad incumbents

• BFI (British Film Institute): National body overseeing UK film policy, funding (including Film Tax Relief), and industry training. Has an active partnership with Screen Suffolk. Operates much more broadly but shares public-sector DNA and crew/training support remit.
• Creative England (now Creative UK): National creative industries development agency providing training, regional film support, and partnerships across all of England. Broader geographic scope than Screen Suffolk but overlapping mandate in crew training and regional production support.

Others

• National Trust Film Office: Film office managing filming access across National Trust properties. Adjacent rather than directly competitive — provides locations that Screen Suffolk productions may also use — and listed as a partner in Screen Suffolk's ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ScreenSuffolk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/screen-suffolk

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Screen Suffolk