ENVY Group’s Natascha Cadle on What the ENVY–Halo Merger Means for UK Post and VFX

The UK post-production and VFX landscape is undergoing a seismic shift, following the recent closure of Glassworks, The Mill and MPC (both formerly of the Technicolor Group). In an era defined by rising costs, tighter margins, and a wave of high-profile closures, two of the industry’s most respected independent players – ENVY Group and Halo – have chosen collaboration over competition.

Their merger brings together complementary strengths across longform, entertainment, commercials, and VFX, with the aim of delivering greater capacity, flexibility, and creativity for clients.

For ENVY Group’s co-founder and creative director, Natascha Cadle, the move is about more than business strategy: it’s about protecting craft, nurturing talent, and building a sustainable future for post production in the UK. She tells LBB why it’s such an important time for post production in the UK.

LBB> This is being called a major industry shift, what makes this acquisition so significant for the UK post-production and VFX landscape?

Natascha> This is the first time two major independent post groups in the UK have come together with different strengths across long-form, entertainment, commercials, and VFX. The content industry is evolving rapidly, and this acquisition strengthens our ability to deliver at every level from scale and facilities to talent and expertise across multiple genres. By combining all our strengths, we are building a future to give clients greater capacity, flexibility and creativity.

LBB> Both ENVY and Halo have built strong reputations independently. What values or philosophies made this partnership feel like the right fit?

Natascha> We share a belief that post production and VFX should be as much about people and culture as it is about craft. All companies in the ENVY group are keen to nurture talent and all have created collaborative partnerships with clients.

LBB> With closures at The Mill, MPC, Jellyfish, and Glassworks, what pressures do you think are reshaping the industry, and how does this move address them?

Natascha> There’s no denying that the industry is under pressure from rising costs, squeezed margins, and the demand for ever faster, more complex workflows. For many businesses, that pressure has proved unsustainable. Our approach is to combine scale with stability and by getting together we can withstand those pressures and create opportunities.

LBB> You’ve spoken about resilience and protecting talent – what specific steps will the Group take to support people at every stage of their careers?

Natascha> We created a talent pathway in 2008 with the ENVY Academy to nurture the next generation of post-production people. We have further developed this and now have our own staff development manager which means we are able to formalise career progression, offering cross discipline opportunities and ensuring people have access to the latest tools and training. It has worked well as over half the company, started with us and progressed into more senior roles.

Above: Natascha with the new team

LBB> How will the combined expertise across drama, factual, entertainment, commercials, and VFX give clients a unique advantage?

Natascha> Clients increasingly want to work with partners who can deliver excellence across formats, while still bringing specialist focus to each discipline. With all our brands, clients gain the benefit of deep expertise in their particular field, plus the ability to tap into world class skills across other genres. Whether it’s a documentary that needs cinematic audio or a drama that demands cutting edge VFX, we can now deliver a joined up solution at the highest level.

LBB> What role do you see technology – from remote workflows to advanced VFX pipelines – playing in the Group’s future growth?

Natascha> Technology underpins everything we do, from cloud based collaboration and global workflows, to next generation VFX pipelines and AI assisted tools. We see technology as an enabler, not a replacement, for creativity. Our focus is on building infrastructure that gives artists what they need, making it easier for clients, and making projects of any scale achievable. By investing in technology strategically, we can expand possibilities while keeping the craft at the heart of the process.

LBB> Looking ahead, how do you plan to balance operational scale with preserving the craft, creativity, and personal client relationships that both brands are known for?

Natascha> Scale gives us resilience and reach but it’s the craft and relationships that make the work special. The key is empowering teams within each brand to maintain their creative cultures, while using the Group’s scale to provide stability and shared resources. That way, clients still get the personal care they expect, while benefiting from the security of a larger organisation.