Amazon has published figures from consultancy Capital Economics that shows it has invested more than £4.2bn in the UK creative industries since 2010.
The investment is spread across Kindle Direct Publishing, Amazon Publishing, Prime Video, Audible, Amazon Fashion, Amazon Music, Amazon Games.
The streamer says it has doubled its investments in the creative sectors across the UK in the last five years, in Amazon Originals filmed in the UK, studios and facilities for Amazon Music, Audible and Prime Video, including its new production facilities to open at Shepperton Studios.
Amazon said its investments in the UK creative industries supported more than 16,000 jobs in 2022. 50% of the direct and indirect jobs it supported are in areas outside of London and the South East according to Capital Economics analysis.
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The streamer also said its creative industries apprenticeship levy funding has now hit £2m, funding more than 100 new apprenticeships in organisations across the creative industries. This includes a Screen Skills flexible apprenticeship pilot to support both Amazon Original productions such as The Devil’s Hour and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power as well as funding apprentices on non-Amazon productions including Channel 4’s Derry Girls.
Prime Video also announced the second phase of Prime Video Pathway, an initiative designed to open up access to jobs in TV and film, which will support 250 additional trainees over the coming years.
John Boumphrey, VP and UK country manager at Amazon said: “The UK has long been a creative powerhouse, brimming with some of the world’s most talented authors, musicians, actors, designers, technicians and more. Amazon is unique in the breadth of creative industries we support, from TV and music, to fashion and publishing, and new data shows that our investments in these industries have contributed more than £4.8bn to the UK economy since 2010. We are committed to supporting this vital sector, and we have more than doubled our investments in UK-based productions, skills programmes, production facilities, and more to power the UK’s creative sector today, and support the creators of tomorrow.”
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