Azets’ film and TV sector specialists back Scottish silver screen growth dream

UK top 10 accountancy firm Azets is backing ambitious plans to grow the Scottish film and television industry.

It follows the launch of a pilot programme funded by industry body Screen Scotland and the Scottish Government’s Ecosytem Fund designed to attract angel investors to the screen sector.  

Azets is doing its bit by hosting three business and investment briefings run by Screen Scotland and held in association with law firm Morton Fraser MacRoberts.

They take place in Glasgow on 29 September 2026 and Edinburgh on 22 October 2026 and 28 January 2027.

The aim is to discuss the fund, called Lights, Camera, Capital, and how it will work in practice.

Kirsty Murray (pictured), Edinburgh-based Tax Partner, is one of several specialists at Azets who work across the film and TV industries providing services from tax relief work for creatives and production companies to business advice for individuals and syndicates seeking to invest.

Kirsty said: “The forthcoming briefings are designed to connect the film and TV production community with the wider business sector and explore how angel investment and financing can drive growth in the industry.

“The screen sector is worth millions to the Scottish economy in terms of expenditure, jobs, the huge SME skilled supply chains and tourism.

“However, much of the growth so far has been heavily driven by inward investment from overseas studios and streaming platforms.

“Lights, Camera Capital seeks to create more investment opportunities from within Scotland and that involves educating and informing prospective angel investors that the industry is perfect for their support.

“Angels are private individuals or syndicates who put early-stage capital into a company in exchange for equity – and we are supporting this excellent bid to bring angel investment back to its roots.

“It may well be the case that many syndicates are unaware of or don’t understand the possibility of film and TV sector investment, so we’re pleased to support Screen Scotland and help them as they explain the potential and highlight success stories, such as the groundbreaking movie Spaghetti Western.

“This is also very much about mentoring and bringing together the perfect match of business angels and producers to work together to deliver both outstanding productions and strong returns for investors.

“There is undoubtedly an insatiable thirst for UK and Scottish content, such as Taggart, Rebus, Annika, Shetland and Guilt, and our picturesque countryside and urban locations are irresistible to filmmakers.

“If you add in the potential for tax reliefs on films deemed to be British and the willingness of local authorities and cultural bodies to throw open their doors and welcome productions, then there is an outstanding opportunity, and one that will very much boost the Scottish economy.”

As well as highlighting the new fund alongside other grant funding opportunities, Kirsty added that Azets is ideally placed to help production companies claim specialised film and TV tax credits through HMRC.

Latest figures show that the screen sector is on track to achieve Screen Scotland’s strategic aim of £1billion gross value added (GVA) impact within the Scottish economy by the end 2030/31, having reached £718.0 million in 2023.

Employment in Scotland’s screen sector increased by 12.1%, from 2021 to 2023, from 10,940 full-time equivalents (FTEs) to 12,260 FTEs respectively.

In the UK as a whole, the industry contributes approximately £13.4 billion GVA annually and production spend reached a record £6.8 billion in 2025, growing by 22%.

The growth of film and television production in Scotland has created opportunities for studio facilities, production services, location services, tourism, hospitality, legal and accountancy services and charity and cultural organisations.

The first of the three business and investment briefings takes place at Morton Fraser MacRoberts LLP, 60 York Street, Glasgow, G2 8JX, on 29 September 2026. For more information and to register, visit the event portal at www.mfmac.com . Venue and registration details for the following sessions will be announced in due course.

Azets is a UK top ten accountancy and business advisory firm with its Scottish offices located in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness, Perth and Renfrew.