How an innovative programme for scripted film and TV companies across the North of England is helping build a more skilled and accessible joined-up screen sector.
As a new leadership programme for the screen sector, Into the Lead, comes to a close, Screen Alliance North is celebrating an exceptional group of SME leaders who are transforming the scripted screen sector in the North of England as they navigate industry changes, leverage new technologies and nurture positive workplace cultures.
Delivered by Under The Moon Ltd and Creaticity Ltd on behalf of the four Northern regional screen organisations that together make up Screen Alliance North, the programme set the stage for unprecedented collaboration, igniting fresh momentum and new possibilities among independent businesses across the North.
“Into the Lead has been a gamechanger for the scripted screen indies in the North, empowering leaders to dream bigger and act bolder and encouraging them to build a more sustainable future, one that embraces innovation and puts people, and the environment first. Collaboration is no longer just a buzzword – it’s the driving force behind our brightest creative breakthroughs,” says Penny Hall, partnerships lead at Screen Alliance North.
The 17 scripted Into the Lead participants selected for the programme are already leveraging new knowledge and connections they’ve gained – creating original IP, pioneering innovative formats, securing new funding and breaking down regional boundaries for the first time.
“It’s such a powerful statement about leadership, ambition and creative confidence outside London,” says one participant, with another adding “This programme has arrived at exactly the right time, offering me space to reflect, not just on projects but on how to lead people and ideas in a shifting industry.”
Most remarkable of all, this cohort has forged an enduring peer network – a powerhouse of advice, opportunity and unwavering support, continuing well beyond the formal programme.
As a third participant says, “I can already see how the peer network created through this training will be an important source of support, insight and collaboration going forward.”
In a sector undergoing rapid transformation, Into the Lead sends a rallying call: leadership development, strategic vision and regional collaboration aren’t just desirable – they’re the bedrock of a bold, accessible and sustainable screen industry.
Running between January and March 2026, Into The Lead consisted of an in-person networking event and six modules featuring presentations, industry speakers and collaborative challenges. It was specifically designed to upskill business leaders in good working practice, sustainability and inclusivity and to help business leaders respond to shifting commissioning models, longer development cycles and growing pressure to diversify income – challenges that have become increasingly familiar across the UK screen industry. Specific sessions were delivered in partnership with partners BAFTA Albert and the BFI’s Workwise for Screen Programme.
“Strong companies need strong leaders. Programmes like this are the lifeblood of creative business – powering survival, adaptation and dynamic growth,” says Ruth Pitt, Programme Director.
The programme was funded by Screen Alliance North, a BFI Skills Cluster, supported by the BFI awarding National Lottery funding. https://www.screenalliancenorth.co.uk/into-the-lead/
