Netflix donates £1m to Beaconsfield film and TV school
The donation will fund the launch of The Netflix Lounge at the National Film and Television School
Netflix has announced a £1 million contribution to the National Film and Television School (NFTS) for its Beaconsfield campus.
The donation will fund the launch of The Netflix Lounge at NFTS.
This is part of a significant campus expansion plan at the school, which aims to increase student capacity by 25%.
Ted Sarandos, Co-CEO of Netflix, expressed pride in Netflix’s longstanding involvement in the UK’s creative community.
“We’re proud to have been part of the UK’s creative community for more than 12 years, and we remain deeply committed to supporting the next generation of storytellers. The Netflix Lounge at NFTS is a long-term investment in people, skills and ideas, and it builds on the wider work we’re doing across the UK through Generation N to help strengthen the talent pipeline that underpins one of the world’s great creative industries," Sarandos said.
The announcement precedes Sarandos’s upcoming visit to NFTS, along with the school’s Director Jon Wardle and producer Barbara Broccoli.
Since 2021, Netflix has allocated over £30 million towards UK-based training initiatives.
Director of NFTS, Jon Wardle, highlighted the importance of Netflix’s investment: “The UK’s film, TV and games industries depend on a constant flow of bold, original and highly skilled talent. Netflix’s investment in the NFTS is a powerful vote of confidence in that future. The Netflix Lounge will sit at the heart of our expanded campus - a vibrant, collaborative space where students can connect, share ideas and develop their creative voice. It reflects a shared commitment to nurturing the next generation and ensuring that opportunity continues to grow and remains accessible to all.”
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy emphasized the importance of supporting emerging talent.
"Britain’s film and television industry is the envy of the world but it isn’t built on red carpets and premieres. It’s built on people. The camera operators, the set designers, the editors, the writers, the extraordinary talent, on screen and off, who turn ideas into stories that travel the globe."
"Talent is everywhere in this country. Opportunity is not. If we want the UK to remain a creative powerhouse, we have to back the next generation from every town, every city, every background with the skills, confidence and pathways they need to thrive."
"That’s why we’ve invested £10 million to expand the National Film and Television School."
"And it’s fantastic to see Netflix stepping up to back this brilliant institution. When government and industry work together like this, we don’t just protect our creative industries, we grow them, creating opportunity, good jobs and stories that carry Britain’s voice to every corner of the globe."