Croydon film push targets local jobs and skills

beehiveweb.co.uk editorial team 2026-06-09 19:26 2 min read

Close up of a film clapperboard held by a person on set.

By Beehiveweb Newsroom

Croydon’s growing role as a film and television location is being tied to a new push for local jobs, skills and creative investment, after Executive Mayor Jason Perry announced plans for a CRO-llywood Working Group.

The group is intended to bring together production professionals, education providers, creative businesses and industry partners. Its brief is to turn the borough’s screen profile into clearer routes for residents who want work in film, television and digital media without having to leave Croydon.

The announcement was made at a film and video industry conference at CEZ Creative Space on Tuesday, 2 June 2026. Croydon Council said the group will be formally set up in the coming months.

Croydon film push targets local jobs and skills

Local jobs at the centre of the plan

The working group is expected to focus on the wider screen economy, not only filming permits and location shoots. That means looking at roles behind the camera as well as on screen, including editing, sound, production, visual effects, camera work, writing and producing.

For residents, the practical test will be whether the plan leads to training routes, paid placements, local supplier opportunities and stronger links between studios, colleges and creative businesses. For Croydon’s town centre and neighbourhoods, more filming can also bring demand for catering, transport, security, accommodation and other local services.

Croydon locations already on screen

Croydon has built a visible screen presence in recent years. The Whitgift Centre was used for Taylor Swift’s music video Opalite, while All of Us Strangers featured streets in Sanderstead.

The Crown used Fairfield Halls as a modernist backdrop, and Amazon’s Heads of State brought Idris Elba and John Cena to St George’s Square. The borough’s mix of shopping centres, civic buildings, markets, streets and skyline has helped create the CRO-llywood nickname.

Working group to shape the next stage

Croydon Council says the group will develop a longer-term vision for the borough as a place where content is made, businesses grow and careers are built.

Perry said Croydon has “the locations, the talent, the transport connections and the creative energy” to become one of London’s leading destinations for film, television and digital media production.

Source: Croydon Council

Context & actions About this article

Source check Source trail

This report is based on Croydon Council’s announcement and keeps claims limited to the stated working group plan and named local screen examples.

Checks

Checked the announcement date and venue against the supplied council text.
Kept the working group timeline to the stated setup period in the coming months.
Separated confirmed screen-location examples from future job and skills aims.
Used Croydon as the geographic scope rather than the publisher name.

Croydon Council Check wider coverage