UK SCREEN ALLIANCE SETS OUT PLAN FOR GROWTH IN VISUAL EFFECTS AND POST PRODUCTION

A plan for growth in visual effects and post production: an election manifesto for the next UK government by UK Screen Alliance.

The general election will be held on 4 July 2024, and the UK Screen Alliance has set out a manifesto for the policies that it wants to see the next government pursue.

Read the manifesto here:

https://www.ukscreenalliance.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/A-plan-for-growth-in-VFX-and-post-production-UK-Screen-Alliance-manifesto-2024.pdf

Visual effects and post production companies in the UK turnover more than £1.3bn and employ in excess of 12,000 people. Within the £4.2bn of spending supported by the UK’s four film and TV tax incentives, VFX accounts for £363.5m (8.5%). In addition, there is £346.5m of spending on VFX for non-tax relief supported genres such as advertising. In total, VFX contributes £1.6bn in GVA to the UK economy each year.

We ask the next government to:

Enact the VFX tax credit uplift proposed in the Spring Budget 2024

Remove the Generative AI exclusion from the VFX tax credit proposal which will cost jobs rather than create them

Bring forward the implementation date for the VFX tax credit to 1st Jan 2025

Introduce an exclusion for VFX costs from the 80% cap on eligible expenditure in the new Independent Film Tax Credit

Secure the future of the NextGen/AIM level 3 Extended Diploma in Games, Animation and Visual Effects Skills

Further increase the flexibility of T Levels placements to allow more employers to offer them

Reform the Apprenticeship Levy to cover employers’ running costs for providing placements and to fund other forms of training

Fund further waves of skills bootcamps in the creative sector and reduce bureaucracy and delay in the bidding process

Introduce workplace exchange programmes to increase the quality of teaching at all levels of education by providing tutors with real experience of current working practices and incentivise industry professional to become part-time tutors.

Remove the Immigration Skills Charge from Skilled Worker Visas in priority sectors

Retain the Graduate Visa route and continue access to the Creative Visa for workers employed by VFX companies

Refrain from capping cap overall visa levels

Prevent Channel 4 from operating their own in-house post production services

Review the contractual terms offered to post production and VFX suppliers by independent producers, who have been commissioned by the regulated broadcasters, to foster a more stable investment environment for supply chain employers with fairer commercial practices

Please feel free to share our manifesto with parliamentary candidates in your area.

Animation UK, which is part of the UK Screen Alliance, has also produced a separate manifesto “A Blueprint For Sector Growth“, which we support.