Tag: Screen Alliance North

Screen Alliance North launches industry wide working group to improve sustainability across productions in the North

Posted on 7 May 20257 May 2025 by Jo Macleod

Screen Alliance North, the northern screen industry skills cluster, (thanks to support from the BFI awarding National Lottery funding), is working closely with sustainability consultants Picture Zero to establish a new Sustainability Working Group.

Made up of members representing a cross section of industry professionals who are interested in improving sustainable practices, the north-wide peer group will be run by Picture Zero on behalf of Screen Alliance North and is sponsored by Sunbelt Rentals.

Representatives from ITV, BBC, Channel 4, 5, BFI and Heads of Department in the industry will implement sustainable working practices across production companies, freelance crew, new entrants and on all types of productions shooting in the North.

Penny Hall, Skills Cluster Lead at Screen Alliance North, said;

“We continue to work towards our aim of becoming a beacon of sustainable good practice and are establishing this group to allow us to communicate sustainability messages across the industry. Members of the group are at a senior level with significant experience of working on productions in the North. They will be sharing best practice, advocate for sustainable practices and aim to positively influence productions and crew.

The group will meet four times a year to workshop solutions, share resources and use their network to drive change ultimately feeding into a joined-up set of criteria for productions to adhere to when filming anywhere in the North.”

Eve Stollery, Picture Zero, added;

“Reducing the environmental impact of production and putting climate messaging on screen requires action right from the start. The earlier sustainability is considered, the bigger the difference the production can make. We hope through working closely with Screen Alliance North and members of the Sustainability Working Group we can find ways to affect change early in the production process, communicate best practice and share new sustainable ways of working.

We are delighted to be collaborating with Screen Alliance North and I look forward to meeting with members and working towards a greener and more sustainable northern screen industry.”

Jenny Clark, Partnerships and Development Manager at Sunbelt Rentals UK and Ireland, said;

“We are proud to support the Sustainability Working Group in their mission to create a more sustainable future for the screen industry. By partnering with innovators and leaders, we can drive meaningful change that reduces environmental impact and sets new standards for sustainability across the sector. Together, we’re committed to a greener, more responsible future for production, and we look forward to being part of this transformative journey.”

Screen Alliance North are looking for sponsors for various elements of the Sustainability Working Group – meetings, a suppliers list, newsletter and programme of activity. If this is something your company would be interested in, please contact eve@picturezero.com.

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

Posted on 1 March 202423 May 2024 by 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

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

Posted on 24 October 20235 March 2024 by North East Screen

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.”

Cassandra White, Skills Cluster Evaluation Manager

Deadline extended for Skills Cluster Evaluation Manager role

Posted on 25 May 202325 May 2023 by North East Screen

You now have until the 13^th of June to apply for the Skills Cluster Evaluation role with Screen Alliance North.

This role is full time (37 hours per week) on a three year fixed contract. You can be based at any of the partner offices in Sunderland, Hartlepool, Manchester, Liverpool or Leeds and will see work across all of the partner regions.

Screen Alliance North, a new £2.3m BFI Skills Cluster led by Screen Yorkshire, Liverpool Film Office, Screen Manchester and North East Screen, has been created to support the development and training of the screen sector workforce across the North of England.

Visit our careers page to learn more about this role.

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Screen Alliance North are hiring – Skills Cluster roles

Posted on 26 April 202324 May 2023 by Jo Macleod

Screen Alliance North, a new £2.3m BFI Skills Cluster led by Screen Yorkshire, Liverpool Film Office, Screen Manchester and North East Screen, is recruiting for two new full-time roles, to support development and training of the screen sector workforce across the North of England.

Skills Cluster Partnership Lead – £47,000 – £49,000

Skills Cluster Evaluation Manager – £42,000 – £44,000

These roles are full time (37 hours per week) and a three year fixed term contract. They can be based at any of the partner offices in Sunderland, Hartlepool, Manchester, Liverpool or Leeds and will see work across all of the partner regions.

For more information on the jobs and how to apply, please visit our careers page.

Applications close on Wednesday 24th May.