What Screen Manchester does

Screen Manchester is the official film office for Manchester City Council, operating as part of the MCDA Ltd Group since its founding in 2017. The organization delivers a comprehensive support service for film, television, and commercial productions seeking to film on location in Manchester, providing filming permits, location finding, liaison with landowners and highways authorities, road closures, traffic management clearance, and connections to local crew and facilities. Its customer base spans major broadcasters, streaming platforms, and production companies including the BBC, Netflix, Channel 4, Sky, AMC Studios, and Working Title Films, with marquee productions such as Peaky Blinders, The Crown, Darkest Hour, and A Very English Scandal filmed with its support. Screen Manchester is not a technology company — it coordinates production logistics, permits, and crew sourcing through a dedicated team rather than proprietary software products.

The organization operates as a publicly funded entity and does not generate direct revenue from productions; its services are delivered as part of Manchester City Council's economic development activities. In 2021, Screen Manchester serviced over 300 productions and facilitated over £5.4 million in on-location spend across the city. Beyond core film office services, it runs several training and talent development programs including the Waterloo Road Production Development Trainee Scheme (a 19-week paid program with BBC, Wall to Wall Media, and Rope Ladder Fiction), the Connected Campus educational initiative spanning over 30 North of England institutions, and the Heritage short film career development initiative (2026). Key facility partners include Space Studios Manchester (80,000 sq ft purpose-built stage) and The Sharp Project, and Screen Manchester is a founding partner of Screen Alliance North, a BFI Skills Cluster that secured £2.3m in National Lottery funding in April 2023. The organization is led by Managing Director Rob Page (who also serves as CEO of Space Studios Manchester), Development Manager Bobby Cochrane, and Crew and Facilities Manager Elli Metcalfe.

Name

Screen Manchester

Legal name

Screen Manchester

Website

https://screenmanchester.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Screen Manchester is the official film office for Manchester City Council, providing filming permits, location scouting, road closures, and crew connections for film, TV, and commercial productions. It serves broadcasters, streamers, and production companies filming in Manchester, supported by BFI funding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Film Office Services

NAICS

Other Motion Picture and Video Industries (512199)

SIC

Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819)

akta.pro primary industry

Production Office Space & Support Facilities (MPADAIAD)

Keywords

• Film office services
• Filming permits
• Location scouting
• Crew database
• Screen production support

Headquarters

HQ city

Manchester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Funding and Council Support: Screen Manchester operates as a publicly funded film office for Manchester City Council, delivering comprehensive support services for productions. The organization is part of the MCDA Ltd Group and receives funding support from the BFI and National Lottery through initiatives like Screen Alliance North. No direct revenue is generated from productions for these services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Screen Manchester is the film office for Manchester City Council, delivering a comprehensive support service for film, television, and commercial productions seeking to film on location in Manchester. Its core offerings include filming permits and permissions, location finding and liaison with landowners and highways authorities, road closures and traffic management, connections to local crew and facilities via a searchable database, and skills development programmes such as trainee schemes and the Connected Campus educational initiative.

Product overview

Screen Manchester is the Film Office for Manchester City Council, providing a comprehensive support service for all types of production seeking permission to film on location within Manchester. The organization operates as a central hub offering filming permits and location services, a crew and facilities database for accessing local talent, and various training and development programs. Key initiatives include the Waterloo Road Production Development Trainee Scheme, the Connected Campus educational program, and partnership projects like the Heritage short film initiative. Screen Manchester collaborates with major studio facilities including Space Studios Manchester and The Sharp Project, and is a founding partner of Screen Alliance North, the BFI Skills Cluster for the North of England.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Filming Permits and Location Services Comprehensive support service for film, television, and commercial productions seeking permission to film on location within Manchester, including location finding, permissions and liaison with landowners, councillors, and highways authorities, road closures, and traffic management clearance.
• Crew and Facilities Database A searchable crew and facilities database providing access to Manchester and the North West's indigenous talent pool for the domestic and global film and television industry, allowing producers to hire experienced locally based freelance crew and source production facilities.
• Waterloo Road Production Development Trainee Scheme A 19-week paid programme providing hands-on on-the-job training in junior roles across departments including Costume, Hair and Makeup, Art, Assistant Directors, Camera, Sound, and Post Production on the BBC prime-time series Waterloo Road.
• Connected Campus An educational initiative working with over 30 educational institutions across the North to bridge the gap between education and industry through masterclasses and set and facility tours delivered in partnership with ITV Academy, Picture Shop, and Provision Hire.
• Heritage Short Film Career Development Project A career development initiative produced in partnership with Rope Ladder Fiction, providing 38 training opportunities for mid-career crew members to take on senior roles and secure first credits, with plans for festival circuit release and broadcaster conversations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over £5.4 million on-location spend facilitated in 2021
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

28 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rope Ladder FictioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2026Partnership produced short film 'Heritage' providing 38 step-up opportunities for mid-career crew members to take on senior roles and secure first credits. Film created as career development initiative with plans for festival circuit and development conversations with broadcasters and streamers.
• Wall to Wall MediacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2021Production company partnership for Waterloo Road series, establishing major production base in Manchester. Wall to Wall works with Rope Ladder Fiction and Screen Manchester to offer trainee opportunities to budding crew members from the local area through the Production Development Trainee Scheme.
• Space Studios ManchestercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey facility partner providing 80,000 sq ft of purpose-built studio stages. Space Studios Manchester is one of the most sought-after production facilities in the UK and hosts major TV and film productions. Screen Manchester collaborates closely with Space Studios to support productions filming on location and in studio.
• The Sharp ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey facility partner providing 40,000 sq ft of shooting space plus 40,000 sq ft of offices, 35,000 sq ft of workshops, and 120,000 sq ft of secure serviced backlot. The Sharp Project is a major production facility supporting Manchester's screen industry.
• Screen Alliance NorthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBFI Skills Cluster comprising Liverpool Film Office, North East Screen, Screen Yorkshire, and Screen Manchester. Secured £2.3m BFI National Lottery funding for three years to support training and development of the screen sector workforce across the North of England. Programs include placements, mentoring, training, and apprenticeships.
• Rope Ladder FictioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent production company partnership for Waterloo Road trainee scheme and Heritage short film. Rope Ladder Fiction produces BBC One series Waterloo Road with Screen Manchester support and has a proven track record in delivering excellent short films offering first-time opportunities to new writers and directors.
• Blueprint TelevisionminorOthersProduction company for A Very English Scandal (BBC One) that filmed at Manchester Town Hall with Screen Manchester facilitation.
• Working Title FilmsminorOthersProduction company for Darkest Hour feature film that used Manchester Town Hall and John Rylands Library as filming locations.
• AMC StudiosminorOthersAMC Studios produced Talamasca: The Secret Order filmed at Space Studios Manchester and various Manchester locations with Screen Manchester trainees placed in Props, Locations, Lighting, Costume and Art Departments.
• Left Bank PicturesminorOthersProduction company for Netflix series The Crown that filmed scenes in Manchester's Northern Quarter.
• Red Production CompanyminorOthersProduction company for Netflix series The Stranger and Safe, both filmed extensively in Greater Manchester.
• BBCminorOthersMajor broadcast partner with multiple productions filmed in Manchester including Peaky Blinders, Waterloo Road, and A Very English Scandal.
• NetflixminorOthersMajor streaming partner with productions including The Crown, The Stranger, Anatomy of a Scandal, and Stay Close filmed in Manchester.
• SkyminorOthersBroadcast partner with productions including Brassic and Cobra filmed in Manchester.
• Brilliant Trees MediacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Dodge's Pup School (CBeebies) training scheme providing puppetry opportunities with BBC Children's & Education and Screen Alliance North support.
• BBC Children's & EducationcoreOthersBroadcast partner for CBeebies series Dodge's Pup School, supporting puppetry training scheme with Brilliant Trees Media and Screen Manchester.
• HOME ManchesterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts centre partner providing weekly cinema access, priority tickets to events, and networking opportunities for Waterloo Road trainee scheme participants.
• ITV AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining partner providing camera, lighting, and sound demonstrations for Connected Campus program students.
• Picture ShopcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPost-production facility partner providing tours and training exploring post-production for Connected Campus program students.
• The Appointment Group (TAG)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational travel management company specializing in film and media production travel and logistics, with dedicated Film and Media division serving productions worldwide.
• Location OneminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK Film Industry specialist plant hire company supplying equipment and services for filming on location and in studio. Part of Facilities by ADF Group since December 2022.
• Facilities by ADFminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK's largest provider of premium location facilities vehicles, offering luxury artiste trailers, make-up and costume trailers, mobile production offices, diners, and technical vehicles for productions.
• Warrington & Vale Royal CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner for Connected Campus program, providing students with masterclasses and facility tours as part of screen industry career pathway development.
• Oldham Sixth Form CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner for Connected Campus program, with students graduating from first cohort after nine months of industry masterclasses.
• Provision HireminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEquipment hire partner providing camera, lighting, and sound demonstrations for Connected Campus program.
• Women in Film and TV (UK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting Four Nations Mentoring Scheme mentees from Greater Manchester and Lancashire regions. Screen Manchester connects with mentees to learn about their careers and support their development in film, television, and creative media.
• Warner Bros. DiscoverycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWarner Bros. Discovery Access program partnered with Waterloo Road for Directors Program delivered through workshops and industry standard training.
• Northern Heart FilmsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDocumentary fund provider offering £3,000 cash grants, mentorship, masterclasses, Sheffield DocFest tickets, cinema screenings, and wellbeing support for aspiring documentary makers in the North.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Film Cymru Wales: Wales-based film commission and screen agency providing permit, location and production support services for productions filming across Wales. Comparable municipal/publicly funded film office model serving a different UK region.
• Northern Ireland Screen: National screen agency for Northern Ireland providing film office services, crew development, and production funding support. Comparable role and publicly funded model serving a different UK region, with major studio infrastructure (Belfast Harbour Studios).
• Screen Yorkshire: Yorkshire-based regional screen agency providing film office services, crew databases, and production support to productions across Yorkshire. Direct peer and Screen Alliance North partner with overlapping services and a shared BFI funding base.
• Film London: London's strategic agency for film, television and the moving image, providing film office services including permits, locations and crew connections for productions in the capital. The largest UK regional film office peer and primary competitor for major productions.
• Creative Scotland (Screen): National agency for the screen sector in Scotland, providing location services, crew support and funding facilitation for productions filming in Scotland. Comparable role and publicly funded model, focused on a different UK region.
• Liverpool Film Office: Regional film office providing permit, location and production support services to productions filming in Liverpool. A direct peer and Screen Alliance North co-partner with substantially similar service offerings, scope, and funding model.
• North East Screen: Regional screen agency for the North East of England, providing film office, crew development and production support services. Direct Screen Alliance North peer with equivalent role and BFI Skills Cluster funding.

Others

• BFI (British Film Institute): Lead body for film in the UK, distributing National Lottery funds to regional screen agencies and Skills Clusters including Screen Alliance North. A key funding partner and ecosystem enabler rather than a direct film office peer.

Regional players

• Screen Ireland: National development agency for the Irish screen sector, providing funding, crew development and production support. Comparable role and publicly funded model serving the Republic of Ireland rather than the UK, with some cross-border production competition.

Broad incumbents

• British Film Commission: National agency that promotes the UK as a filming destination and supports incoming international productions. Operates one tier above regional film offices like Screen Manchester, providing strategic support and coordination rather than direct local permitting.

Market position

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/screen_mcr
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/screen-manchester
• Instagraminstagram.com/screen_mcr

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

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 Manchester