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Liverpool has emerged as the most-filmed city in the UK outside of London, with a vibrant screen industry at its core. Central to this success story are sisters Faye and Claire Newton, experienced location managers whose portfolios include notable productions such as *Peaky Blinders*, *Bridgerton*, *The Ipcress File*, and Amazon’s *Heads of State*. Together, they established Liverpool Locations, a company designed to connect film and TV productions with local knowledge while opening doors for newcomers to the industry.
Faye explains the motivation behind their venture, emphasizing a balance between professional passion and personal life: “We love what we do, but it was about finding a way to stay in this exciting industry while also having a family life.” She adds, “Liverpool Locations gave us the balance we needed – and a platform to grow something bigger.” The Newton sisters’ relationship with the Liverpool Film Office eventually led them to the Liverpool City Council’s Business Support Service. This initiative is backed by funding from the UK Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund and coordinated through the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.
Despite their extensive experience, gaining wider recognition presented a challenge familiar to many small enterprises. “People didn’t always know who we were,” Faye admits. Realizing the need to elevate their public profile in order to continue working on desirable projects independently, the sisters sought advice from business consultant Mark Butchard. With his guidance, they sharpened their business focus, improved their digital outreach, and explored ways to enhance their community engagement. Faye reflects on this support: “Mark helped us find focus. He’d give us a mission and check in on our progress. It gave us structure and accountability when we were struggling to find time to move the business forward.”
An important outcome of these efforts has been the creation of Crew Night, a casual networking event bringing together members of Liverpool’s screen industry from varied disciplines, ranging from costume designers to camera operators. What began as a simple idea has grown into a widely attended fixture on the city’s creative calendar, fostering collaboration and growth. In parallel, with funding from the British Film Institute via the Liverpool Film Office, Faye and Claire have expanded their training programmes. These initiatives have enabled dozens of newcomers to secure work in the film and television sectors. Proud of their achievements, Faye states, “We’ve built something we’re really proud of. We’re helping people find their way into this amazing industry – and keeping experienced crew connected, too.”
Liverpool Locations has flourished with continued business support, becoming an important part of the region’s creative economy. Their efforts have strengthened the local crew base through training and mentoring; facilitated economic growth by linking productions to homegrown professionals; created fresh opportunities for freelancers and small enterprises; and helped maintain Liverpool’s prominent position within the UK film and TV landscape.
Councillor Nick Small, Cabinet Member for Growth and Economy, praises the sisters’ accomplishments: “Liverpool Locations is a brilliant example of how local businesses can grow and thrive with the right support. Faye and Claire have shown that with creativity, collaboration and determination, Liverpool businesses can compete on a national – and international – stage.” The Liverpool City Council’s Business Support Service, which benefits from a £451,000 investment by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and is administered by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, continues to provide free, customised advice for small and growing businesses across the region
Read the full article on Liverpool Express here: Read More
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