The London Film School (LFS) and the National Film & Television School (NFTS) will receive a £4m investment from Creative Skillset to expand their school facilities. The investment is part of Creative Skillset’s Capital Investment Fund and follows over £1m in development funding already awarded.

The NFTS will receive an investment of £2.18m, with £600,000 already granted for the further development of plans to construct an education and student services block. Office space will also be converted into teaching facilities.

The LFS is to get an investment of around £1.82m, with £468,596 already awarded to help with the development plans for the school’s move to a new site at London’s Barbican Centre. The plan includes a 130-seat cinema, sound stages and additional teaching space.

It doesn’t end there however – in addition to the £4m allocation of funds, £1m will be used for facility upgrades; all great news for our future filmmakers we’d say.

Nik Powell, NFTS’ director said: “This fantastic funding from Creative Skillset will enable the NFTS to develop more talent and train more students in the globally competitive high-level skills required by the creative industries. It is a tremendous vote of confidence in the School and its ability to train Oscars and BAFTA winners as well as the craft skills needed to support the creative industries.”

“We’re delighted with this award, which allows LFS to deliver more teaching to more people in the UK, and to offer other services to the industry and the public, in a newly converted space as part of the emerging Barbican arts quarter. It follows a decade of ambitious consolidation, and the recognition and support are a great reward for that work,” said Ben Gibson, LFS’ director.

Click here to read our interview with Creative Skillset’s head of film about the challenge of entering the film and TV industry.