The Yorkshire Film Archive collects, preserves, and shows film made in, or about Yorkshire. Our collections are non-fiction, dating from the 1890s to the present day, and providing a rich and visually compelling record of all aspects of lives, cultures, landscape, industries, major events and everyday activities, many of which are available to watch, free of charge, on our website.
This film is part of Free
Your Move Next
This endearingly stilted glamorisation of Sheffield, debunking popular stereotypes, “like the inside of a chimney", paints a vivid picture of the city at the onset of the 1980s.
From the collection of:
Overview
As Sheffield’s steel and engineering industry goes into decline, Sheffield City Council seek to persuade businesses from down south to relocate to this green and friendly city, using all the incentives at its command. Highlighting all that is best about the city – the surrounding countryside, the transport, the Crucible Theatre, the University – the film shows Sheffield at a pivotal transitional period in its history.
With the dramatic changes to the economy during the Thatcher years, David Blunket, the Leader of the City Council at the time, in his effort to attract business, was perhaps preparing himself for his future role as Employment Minister. A similar film with the same title was made in 1965 by the GLC, which also sought to encourage people and business to relocate out of London, only this time just to the suburbs. The makers of this film, Martin Harris and David Rea, also worked together on another City Council promotional film, Free for All (1976). The claim that Sheffield only had one stoppage in 30 years – presumably the recent 13 week steel strike – ignores numerous strikes and occupations that in fact occurred.
Related
StoryTrails: The People's Map Sheffield StoryTrails: The People's Map Sheffield
Documentary 2022 17 mins Location: Sheffield
This map showcases a curated selection of audio stories and digitally animated 3D scans of the people and places in and around Sheffield.
The Queen at Sheffield The Queen at Sheffield
Documentary 1897 1 mins Silent Location: Sheffield
Sheffield gives the capital a run for its money with an impressive parade celebrating the monarch, a month before the Diamond Jubilee.
Special Olympics Special Olympics
Factual TV 1988 5 mins Location: Sheffield
Sheffield professional sportsmen train determined disabled adults to compete at the Special Olympics in this heart-warming short film. (
Women's Munitions Workers, Sheffield Women's Munitions Workers, Sheffield
Amateur film 1940 7 mins Silent Location: Sheffield
Highly-skilled women defy 1940s gender prejudices and produce munitions in one of Sheffield’s many wartime factories.
Wartime Events in Sheffield Wartime Events in Sheffield
Amateur film 1942 19 mins Silent Location: Sheffield
Military men and women from Sheffield put on a show from 1942-1947 in this patriotic compilation film.
Bus Strike Traffic Bus Strike Traffic
Sponsored film 1959 9 mins Silent Location: Sheffield
A Sheffield bus strike causes traffic congestion in this film that shows the significant local impact that a workplace dispute can have.
Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A
Inside Film 2024 22 mins
The director of a documentary about British funk pioneers Cymande joins the band at BFI Southbank to talk about the film.
The West Case The West Case
Action and Adventure 1923 28 mins Silent Location: Tilbury
Plotting world domination, Devil Doctor Fu-Manchu steals plans for a new aero-torpedo in this earliest surviving thrill-a-minute serial instalment.
Enter the Scala!!! Enter the Scala!!!
Inside Film 2024 16 mins
Filmmakers Jane Giles and Ali Catterall discuss their documentary Scala!!!, revisiting the legendary and inspirational cinema venue and some of the most notorious films that screened there.
Smith Smith
Charity appeal 1939 10 mins
Long thought lost, this Powell-directed promotional short for a veteran’s charity was only rediscovered in 2003.
An Airman's Letter to His Mother An Airman's Letter to His Mother
Documentary 1941 6 mins
A poignant, stirring letter from a recently deceased pilot to his mother is read by John Gielgud.
The NHS75 Celebration The NHS75 Celebration
Short documentary 2023 3 mins
Former Bristol Poet Laureate, Miles Chambers reads a poem specially commissioned for the 75th anniversary of the NHS.