Directors UK launched in June 2008.  It evolved from the Directors and Producers Rights Society (DPRS), a collecting society that administered payments for film and TV directors for the secondary use of their works.

DPRS was initially established in 1987 by the Directors Guild of Great Britain (DGGB) for the purpose of collecting payments due to directors under other European legislation.  In 1992 it became a separate organisation.  Major achievements of DPRS include:

•    Establishing the right of the 'principal director' of a British film or television programme to be identified as an author of their work.
•    Securing agreements with European collecting societies to collect and distribute payments.
•    Following a major campaign in 2001, securing an agreement with British broadcasters and producers for secondary rights payments for television directors.
•    Launch in Autumn 2011 of a new Membership Scheme for all directors

Over the years DPRS has collected and distributed millions of pounds to British directors as a result of these agreements.

In 2006 a group of leading film and television directors got together to discuss the challenges facing their industry, and the need to improve working conditions, fees and remuneration for directors in the UK.   This informal group became known as The Century Group, named after The Century Club, the location of their first meeting.    They were concerned about the fragmentation of directors’ representation and the need for a single voice acting on behalf of directors.   Over the next two years this group worked closely with the Board of DPRS to create the current organisation - Directors UK, which was launched in June 2008.

In November 2011 Directors UK launched its new Membership Scheme, open to all directors (including students) whether or not they have works that are receiving payments from the collecting society.