A Bristol visual effects firm that has worked on major natural history series such as BBC’s Earth and Netflix’s Our Oceans is looking ahead to further growth after receiving investment through a special creative industry fund.
Moonraker VFX will use the £400,000 from the Creative UK-run scheme to continue its expansion into location-based entertainment (LBE), a developing market where it has already led the way on projects such as Inside Pop Art, (pictured), and Hong Kong’s first ‘flying theatre’ – Timeless Flight Hong Kong.
Location-based entertainment combines elements of retail, hospitality and leisure to offer immersive experiences that can transport visitors to different times and world.
Venues ranging from zoos and aquariums to theme parks and cinemas are increasingly using the concept to attract more visitors.
Moonraker’s loan has come from Creative UK’s landmark fund Creative Growth Finance, which is run in partnership with Bristol-based ethical bank Triodos Bank, with the aim of growing the UK’s cultural and creative industries.
The successful application was its second through the fund. It previously secured loans worth £700,000 to fund and released its film Moonbase: The Next Step, an immersive film telling the story of future Moon landings and the permanent base being created there.
Moonraker’s work on Earth recently landed the VFX category at both the Televisual Bulldog Awards and the New York Festivals TV & Film Awards.
This investment is the latest in a series of loans from Creative UK Investments, with whom Moonraker has enjoyed a long-term strategic partnership. 
Over the past 10 years, Creative UK has invested more than £68m into more than 400 creative businesses and continues to support both new businesses and those already on its portfolio through the landmark Creative Growth Finance fund.
Creative UK investment manager Nick Donaghy said: “It’s rewarding to work with a creative company that is doing truly innovative things within its industry.
“This is doubly true when we are talking about a business like Moonraker VFX who, as well as winning awards and industry clout for their work within nature-based documentaries, are now making waves in a much newer and less-known space – that of location-based entertainment and immersive experiences.”
Moonraker VFX co-founder and managing director Jon Grafton said 2024 had been a tricky year for television, which historically formed a core part of the business.
“So it is now more important than ever that we continue to diversify and grow within the LBE sector.
“Creative UK Investments have once again stepped up to support our growth with investment from their Creative Growth Finance fund,” he added.
“With this latest loan, we have the extra funding needed to support us in growing our plans to their maximum potential.”
