North East costume and prop design company, Orbital FX, secures £100k loan from Creative UK
// Film & TV // investment // North East
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Costume and prop design company Orbital FX has received £100k investment from Creative UK after completing the North East Create Growth Programme delivered by Creative UK
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Orbital FX to use investment to grow the business and expand their in-house equipment, building on their offer in high-end props and costume design
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The company’s previous commissioned work has featured In Disney’s Theme Parks & on sets, including Avengers: Quantum Encounter and season three of The Mandalorian
Photo Credit Supermax Creative Studios
The new year has brought new horizons for North East costume design and props company Orbital FX, which has secured a £100k loan investment from Creative UK’s Culture and Creative Investment Programme (CCIP). The CCIP is delivered in partnership with the North East Combined Authority to provide investment and support for creative businesses and freelancers in the region.
This investment comes at a crucial growth point for Orbital’s husband-and-wife team, co-founders Luke and Karen Daley, who plan to expand their equipment and technical team and to build on their company’s brand awareness.
Orbital FX was born in 2024 out of a shared hobby between Luke and Karen for creating high-quality replicas for costumed events around the globe. Since 2014, the pair have worked part-time on their passion while forging relationships with film and TV companies. They have worked to produce props and costume accessories for significant projects such as Avengers: Quantum Encounter (Short 2022), Costume Dept projects for Disneyland parks Globally and The Mandalorian Season 3.
Prior to this investment, Orbital FX was already well acquainted with Creative UK, having been a cohort business on the North East Create Growth Programme (CGP), which they completed in October 2024. Their participation in the investment readiness programme gave the team access to a wealth of business support and mentoring and a connection with a peer network of fellow creative businesses.
Photo credit Supermax Creative Studios
Carol Bell, Regional Associate Director, North at Creative UK commented:
“Orbital FX’s journey is a blueprint for scaling-up within the Cultural and Creative Industries, demonstrating what can crystallise within the creative economy when both business support and investment opportunities are available, working in tandem.
“I am delighted that we have been able to support Orbital FX via our North East Investment fund. Luke, Karen and their growing team are a fantastic example of the creative companies we want to nurture in the region. They are a team that has grown out of their passion and skills as well as their belief in the opportunities that the Creative Industries can bring. I look forward to seeing them grow to become not only the go-to prop company for Film & TV in the North East, but also nationally and internationally.”
Luke Daley, Co-founder and Creative Engineer at Orbital FX also commented:
“Securing a £100k investment is a pivotal moment for us, not just in terms of financial growth but in reinforcing the confidence Karen and I have in Orbital FX’s vision. This funding allows us to expand our capabilities, invest in state-of-the-art equipment, and bring even more innovative projects to life. It’s a step forward in building a future where Orbital FX continues to set the standard in creating immersive, high-quality experiences for film, TV, and live events. We’re incredibly excited about what’s ahead and grateful for the opportunity from Creative UK to make our creative and engineering dreams a reality.”
Cllr Amanda Hopgood, Cabinet Member for Culture, Creative, Tourism and Sport at the North East Combined Authority and Leader of Durham County Council also commented:
“Orbital FX represent some of the very best prop and costume design in the country, let alone the North East region. This timely investment means Orbital can reach new heights with their projects and network; one which they’ve already established strong foundations for both locally and globally. We’re thrilled the team are not only waving the flag for homegrown, Film & TV production talent, but also our region on the worldwide stage. We can’t wait to see what’s in store next for Orbital FX.”
