SAN Archives - North East Screen

This March, Screen Alliance North will be hosting its first series of Connected Communities events, with the support of BFI National Lottery funding, and partners the BBC. These events aim to increase accessibility to the screen industry and help improve working practices, encouraging a more diverse and inclusive workforce. They form part of the BBC’s wider Bring The Drama festival which is running across the UK throughout March.

These learning and networking events will be hosted at key Northern Studios and facilities, including Space Studios in Manchester, The Northern Studios in Hartlepool, and FACT in Liverpool.

Open to all northern crew and those interested in working in the industry, the free events, which will take place in person, and can be accessed online, will focus on themes such as environmental and social sustainability, wellbeing and good working practices and inclusion and diversity, all aimed at encouraging access to the screen industry across the North of England.

Penny Hall, Skills Cluster Partnership Lead at Screen Alliance North said;
“Connected Communities is a new strand of flagship, annual Screen Alliance North events which aim to connect our underrepresented communities in the North through learning and networking, and to help grow and sustain a well balanced, forward thinking workforce. The free events are for anyone currently working in the screen industry as crew, in production companies as well as those interested in a career in the industry.

We hope the events will encourage local camaraderie and provide opportunities for learning, upskilling and making new contacts. For those new to the industry it will give that all important foot in the door providing a new network for helping to access future work. We are thrilled to be working with the BBC on these events, and a number of other fantastic partner organisations will be participating in our panel discussions.”

Each event will consist of a panel discussion with the BBC and other industry experts, a workshop designed to inform, educate and inspire and a networking event encouraging collaboration, knowledge sharing and contact making.

Dawn Beresford, Director of Talent and Skills, BBC Commissioning, said:

“I am delighted that Screen Alliance North have created these three events in Liverpool, Hartlepool and Manchester as part of our Bring the Drama Festival. The BBC are committed to investing in and supporting local creative economies across the UK and the Connected Communities events are one of the important partnerships to help build skills and develop talent across the creative landscape.”

Screen Alliance North Connected Communities events:

Film and TV sustainability day in Liverpool
Wednesday 6^th March
FACT, Liverpool
film.office@liverpool.gov.uk

Overcoming barriers in film and TV
Thursday 14^th March
The Northern Studios, Hartlepool
Overcoming barriers in film and TV Tickets, Thu 14 Mar 2024 at 13:00 | Eventbrite

Mental Health and Wellbeing in Film and TV
Thursday 21^st March
Space Studios, Manchester
www.screenmanchester.com

The new skills partnership created by Liverpool Film Office, North East Screen, Screen Manchester and Screen Yorkshire, and supported by the BFI, awarding National Lottery funding, has appointed a Skills Cluster Partnership Lead and a Skills Cluster Evaluation Manager.

In April 2023, Screen Alliance North was selected as the BFI Skills Cluster for the North of England and awarded £2.3m of BFI National Lottery funding to make the screen sector more accessible and representative and to build a thriving and skilled workforce across the North of England.

The funding is enabling the Alliance to work collaboratively with local industry, education and training providers to develop clearer pathways to long-term employment in film and TV production.

Working closely with all four screen agencies, Penny Hall, the new Skills Cluster Partnership Lead will support the development and delivery of an events programme and help to identify industry investment for priority activities. She will build key partnerships with screen industry employers and manage an advisory group to champion the Alliance’s vision of making the industry more sustainable and improving good working practice.

Penny, who previously worked at Into Film, the UK’s leading charity for film in education said;“I am delighted to work with the new partnership at such a crucial time for the screen industry in the North. There are many opportunities opening up for screen industry professionals and we want to build the skills base in the North quickly to fulfil the growing demand from production. Bridging the gap from training to industry is vital, as is ensuring the industry is more accessible than ever before.”

Cassandra White fills the position of Skills Cluster Evaluation Manager and has a wealth of experience in the not-for-profit sector. Cassandra will be responsible for evaluating the wide range of activities delivered by Screen Alliance North, capturing data, tracking participant engagement and compiling case studies to demonstrate the effectiveness of the work.

“I’ve had first hand experience of the challenges and hurdles of finding work in the industry,” said Cassandra, who looked to get into script editing at the start of her career. “I will be using my writing skills and vast experience in the charity sector to highlight the successes of the programme telling the stories of the people we support and inspiring the next generation of TV and film industry professionals.”

Caroline Cooper Charles, Chief Executive of Screen Yorkshire added;
“The two appointments are crucial in establishing our partnership and driving our vision forward. Penny and Cassandra have the passion, motivation and experience to support, co-ordinate and champion skills activity across our combined area.

We know we have the talent and ambition in the North of England and we want to open the door to the industry providing career opportunities for many from whatever background and walk of life. We are excited for what Screen Alliance North can achieve.”

Tag: SAN

Screen Alliance North launches Connected Communities events as part of the BBC’s Bring the Drama Festival

Screen Alliance North Connected Communities events:

Screen Alliance North makes two key appointments to take forward plans to build screen industry skills across the North of England

The new skills partnership created by Liverpool Film Office, North East Screen, Screen Manchester and Screen Yorkshire, and supported by the BFI, awarding National Lottery funding, has appointed a Skills Cluster Partnership Lead and a Skills Cluster Evaluation Manager.