Amazon will fund 350 apprenticeships and traineeships across TV, film and books, as new data shows its creative industry investments support 16,000 UK jobs - including 670 jobs in Scotland.
Analysis from independent macroeconomic consultancy Capital Economics shows that the e-commerce giant's investments in the creative industries supported more than 16,000 jobs in 2022, ranging from directly employed in-house designers to indirectly employed external producers.
The group also claims to have invested more than £4.2bn since 2010 across Kindle Direct Publishing, Amazon Publishing, Prime Video, Audible, Amazon Fashion, Amazon Music and Amazon Games.
These investments have contributed £4.8bn of gross value (GVA) to the UK economy since 2010, with Amazon doubling its investments in the UK creative sectors during the last five years.
It is now announcing support for more than 100 new apprenticeships in organisations across the creative industries, doubling its creative industries apprenticeship levy funding to £2m.
Prime Video today 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. It will be providing opportunities for a further 25 craft trainees, increasing the reach outside London, providing 50% of placements across Scotland, and for the first time, Wales.
John Boumphrey, vice president 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.
“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.”
Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport Lucy Frazer said: “Many of Amazon's ambitions align closely with our own plans for the creative sectors and we are going to build on Britain’s status as a world-class creative nation and maximise their potential to unleash economic growth and create jobs.”
Prime Video has commissioned home-grown original series such as The Rig staring Iain Glen, Emily Hampshire and Martin Compston, which is filmed in Leith. Wherever these commissions are filmed in the UK, they have an economic and creative skills ripple effect in the local economy.
Iain Glen, lead actor from The Rig, said: “Amazon’s investment in the creative industries in the UK has been transformative - we couldn't have made The Rig in my hometown of Edinburgh without it.
“A bold, original and challenging series imagined by a brilliant new Scottish writer, David MacPherson, needed real vision and finance behind it.
“The UK doesn't back itself enough - and we should - because there’s a great depth of talent in the UK film and television.”
Prime Video also filmed the second series of Good Omens, with David Tennant and Michael Sheen, in Bathgate and Edinburgh.
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