For various clients, SPI designs and runs intensive, residential programmes, which redefine co-production training methods and builds producers’ abilities in the co-productions area. SPI has branded these programmes as Co-Production “Tournaments” reflecting the original nature of the training design.

SPI was hired to research, study, map and evaluate the training and development needs in the screen industries of 32 European countries. The assignment included mapping the existing training and development provision, as well as identifying gaps and new training needs on a European and national basis.

SPI was hired by Telefilm to give it strategic advice concerning the possible renegotiation of the Canada-UK Co-production Treaty. SPI was subsequently retained by Telefilm Canada to conduct a series of assignments related to UK/Canada co-productions in film and television.

SPI examined the UK Film Council’s track record in supporting the development of major film talent (producers, directors and writers) including a dozen case studies and a set of recommendations for enhancing their efforts in the future.

SPI undertook an extensive development study on a proposed digital screen initiative, which would create a digital cinema network across the East Midlands region. SPI examined the proposal from the perspectives of technology, business models and market demand.

SPI conducted a study of conditions in Victoria's film and television sectors, and proposed a set of possible new, cost-effective, public initiatives to be adopted by state screen agency, Film Victoria, aimed at countering a downward trend in economic activity.

This exhaustive study on the development of the film and television industries in Scotland was commissioned by the Scottish Office. The assignment resulted in the writing of a major report, “Scotland on Screen”, which articulated a development strategy for the entire film and television sector in Scotland.

Prior to the creation of the UK Film Council, SPI was hired by the UK Government to analyse the range of separate support agencies for film in the UK. The report recommended a set of options for how these support activities could be rationalised and made more strategic.

SPI undertook a complete examination of the national agency’s various funding schemes for project and company development.

SPI has created an original and innovative course on business strategy for the screen sector. Since then it has been conducted in Scandinavia, Scotland, Portugal, the UK, and three times in Australia. During the course, film television and new media producers benefited from the opportunity to look at their businesses strategically and create realistic and informed plans and strategies for corporate growth.

SPI was hired by the UK Film Council in 2008 as the monitoring and evaluation partner of its £3 million Digital Film Archive Fund, The DFAF fund represents a stream of National Lottery funding, operated by the UK Film Council. The fund has been delegated by the UKFC to the 9 Regional Screen Agencies to enable them to fund projects that enhance public access to UK’s screen heritage. This work is ongoing

SPI was hired to conduct three separate assignments to explore the feasibility of creating a Highlands and Islands Film Fund and a fund in each of Jersey and Guernsey. The study considered and recommended a framework for the fund’s operation and identified the benefits that would result from its creation.

SPI wrote a much-discussed report for UK producers’ body PACT, spelling out ways that independent producers could build sustainable businesses. The proposals suggest a future in which producers can use public funds in a more entrepreneurial way, with greater control of their own IP and the potential to reinvest revenues from successful films in creating growth.

SPI wrote a much-discussed report for UK producers’ body PACT, spelling out ways that independent producers could build sustainable businesses. The proposals suggest a future in which producers can use public funds in a more entrepreneurial way, with greater control of their own IP and the potential to reinvest revenues from successful films in creating growth.

Olsberg|SPI, on behalf of a major film agency, recently conducted an extensive review of how far the international public policy environment helps build industry sustainability through the emergence of film companies of scale.

SPI was retained to conduct a feasibility study into the possible creation of a new fund to invest in local and incoming productions in order to expand inward investment and increase exports. The assignment included an assessment of competing Northern European film production centres (London, Hamburg, Berlin, Trollhattan in Sweden).

SPI assist a maximum of 23 Chilean audiovisual producers selected by APCT to prepare for a successful business trip to the 2010 Cannes Film Festival.

First Light administers a talent development scheme for young BME audiences, entitled “Second Light”. The scheme is aimed at supporting and providing training opportunities to 30 young people from BME backgrounds, to enable them to pursue successful careers in the film industry. SPI was commissioned in late 2009 to conduct an evaluation of the scheme.

SPI was commissioned by the UK Film Council (UKFC) to undertake a detailed and objective review of the UKFC's support to talent (writers, producers, and directors) since its inception. This was the first study of its kind to be conducted in the UK. Key findings and strategic recommendations were put forward by SPI.

The team produced a report on the facilities sector and its sizeable contribution to the UK’s wider film and television industry. SPI was retained by UK Screen, the trade body representing service companies in the television and film industry in the UK, to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the opportunities and challenges that face the facilities sector in the UK.