The move, which was announced by BBC Scotland today, will generate almost £25 million in direct investment over the next two years.
Shed plans to base production in Glasgow and Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Development International are working with the company to support the relocation and identify appropriate filming locations around the West of Scotland. It is expected that the move will lead to 230 job opportunities across all levels of the production, from script to screen.
Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “This is a significant announcement from Shed Media and the BBC and I am delighted to welcome Waterloo Road to Scotland.
“Having a major returning drama series here, made by an independent producer, will be a huge boost to Scotland’s broadcasting sector and to our creative industries as a whole.
“Not only will it lead directly to more jobs in Scotland, it also represents a massive vote of confidence in the capacity and skills base of the Scottish television production sector. I am sure that the move will be a success, and that it will help to attract, develop and retain talent within Scotland.”
Linda McPherson, creative industries director at Scottish Enterprise, added: “This announcement could prove to be a real game changer for the industry in Scotland.
“Aside from the direct employment resulting from this announcement, we cannot underestimate the knock-on effects this will have for the economy and the tremendous credibility boost for Scotland’s creative industries.
“We hope that this announcement will reinforce Scotland’s position internationally as a great location for production companies to locate and invest and will be continuing to work with Shed and provide support to help bring these exciting plans to fruition.”
Shed Productions which is part of Shed Media Group , has been responsible for a number of hit UK television shows, including Bad Girls and Footballers Wives.
The company opened its Glasgow office in 2008 at Glasgow’s Digital Media Quarter at Pacific Quay, supported by a regional selective assistance grant from the Scottish Government.
Eileen Gallagher, CEO of Shed Productions said: “Moving Waterloo Road to Scotland is a hugely significant step towards establishing Scotland as a sustainable drama hub and a first class destination for all drama producers in the UK and world-wide.
“We are very grateful to Scottish Enterprise for their support for Shed Media, having helped establish our Glasgow office just two years ago and contributed to its growth through supporting staff development.”
The creative industries is seen as offering significant potential for Scotland’s future economic success and the relocation of Waterloo Road will enhance Scotland’s reputation as a home for the large scale television and film production.
Ends
Notes to Editors:
• Filming of Waterloo Road will start in Scotland from April 2012. Initially, there will be 50 one-hour episodes over two years.
• Shed Productions was established by Elieen Gallagher, Brian Park, Maureen Chadwick and Ann McManus in 1998.
• Shed Media Group also recently helped establish a TV fiction scriptwriting postgraduate course at Glasgow Caledonian University, and are keen to greenlight a number of production training programmes in Scotland to tie in with the arrival of Waterloo Road.
• Established in 1998, Shed floated on AIM in March 2005 and de-listed in October 2010 by virtue of a management buy out backed by Warner Bros. International Television Production. Warner Bros. are now the majority shareholders in the Shed Media Group Limited with a significant shareholding retained by management.
For further information, please contact:
Neil McInnes, Corporate Communications Manager
Scottish Enterprise
Tel: 0131 313 6196 / 07881 517712
Email: neil.mcinnes@scotent.co.uk