Tag: Skills

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

Channel 4 and North East Screen Industries Partnership collaborate to help build the production sector in the North East

Posted on 12 October 202312 October 2023 by North East Screen

Channel 4 and the North East Screen Industries Partnership (NESIP) have signed up to a collaboration to help build the production sector and develop talent in the North East.

Working closely with North East Screen and other partners across the region this collaboration will:

● enable better opportunities for the production community to engage with Channel 4 and forge strong creative relationships
● include specific commissioning and development initiatives to develop the production capability in the region and
● provide bespoke training and skills support to tackle skills gaps and open up creative careers to a wider range of people.

The overall aim of the agreement is to support the growth of independent production in the North East building the potential for more commissions from the region and enabling more careers in TV production.

Sinead Rocks, Managing Director Nations & Regions Channel 4, said: “As part of 4 All the UK we have regularly focused the different resources and initiatives on specific areas to help grow the production capacity. We know that there is enormous potential for the screen industries in the North East, and this collaboration with NESIP should provide tangible value and have real impact to help realise that potential.”

Alison Gwynn, Chief Executive of North East Screen, said: “This is an exciting statement of intent from Channel 4 to work closely with us and NESIP to provide more opportunities for our regional based indies, talent and crew. Channel 4 are a great broadcaster doing some really interesting work developing content and engaging audiences across linear and digital platforms.”

Channel 4 will build on its greater Nations and Regions presence to forge stronger and closer relationships in the North East. As part of this plan, there will be a range of activities geared towards supporting talent from across the region, including established to medium and smaller indies, freelance talent in TV and Film production, and those looking to launch their careers.

The first example of this will be a Channel 4 ‘Open Day’, a mix of virtual sessions and in-person activities for indies, freelancers and other stakeholders to find out more about the channel, meet commissioners and build relationships. This will take place on Wednesday 25^th October in Darlington.

Channel 4’s model is built around our unique relationship with independent production companies. There are already a range of schemes and interventions to support indies, especially those that are smaller and medium sized. Two North East indies (Sea and Sky Pictures and Motif Pictures) have already taken part in Channel 4’s Emerging Indie Fund. Channel 4 will continue to encourage and support applications from indies in the North East, including running individual and group workshops and surgeries.

Channel 4 and NESIP will work jointly to ensure that future opportunities, schemes and productions fund are shared across our collective networks in the region.

This collaboration will also involve bespoke development opportunities. To begin this work Channel 4 and NESIP have agreed to match-fund a development opportunity in the region for their new In Too Deep digital factual strand. This will be led by the digital commissioning team which is keen to commission a number of developments from the North East, either from indies directly or by pairing talent with indies in the region.

Funding is jointly provided by Channel 4 and NESIP. This will be a unique opportunity for talent and indies looking to work in the factual online space. Digital commissioners will take part in the North East Open Day on the 25^th October in Darlington to talk about this in more detail.

Alongside this work, there will be a major focus on training and skills. Channel 4 will look to support talent across all career stages through 4Skills – from inspiring young people, supporting early-stage writers to hone their skills, to progressing industry professionals in skills such as ideas development, pitching and business skills.

The North East has already been a priority area for 4Skills.

4Schools – Channel 4’s school engagement programme designed to encourage 11–16-year-olds to explore a career in the creative industry. Since 4Schools launched in 2022, it has engaged with 22 schools in the north east, and worked with 11,000 students in the region, with a particular focus on schools with higher percentage of free school meals. 4Schools will continue to prioritise the North East and engage with the regional and local authorities to ensure schools are aware of the opportunity.

Channel 4 will also build on its existing partnership with New Writing North (based at Northumbria University) to support emerging writers in developing their writing skills and providing career advice.

In addition to what is already underway, Channel 4 will develop and deliver new training initiatives that are designed to support the growth of skills in the region. The National Film and Television School will run a two-day careers roadshow in mid-October covering both scripted and unscripted roles. In 2024, Channel 4 and North East Screen will explore training that accelerates business development, covering leadership and management skills, as well as investment and distribution, along with other bespoke training requirements.

Finally, this collaboration will formalise the already strong working relationship between Channel 4 and North East Screen who will meet on a quarterly basis. In addition, Channel 4 will attend the already established NESIP Workforce Skills and Development Group which includes regional further and higher education bodies and representatives from Employment and Skills teams in each local authority.

We are hiring – come work for the North East Screen family!

Posted on 13 September 202313 September 2023 by North East Screen

We are looking for two people to join us as Development Coordinator and Skills Coordinator and continue to develop and support the North East’s film and TV industry.

If you love film and TV, have solid admin skills, a creative eye and want to make an impact then the Development Coordinator role may be just right for you. You’ll be part of the Talent and Business Development team helping to support North East companies and talent to land opportunities and thrive.

There’ll be a number of administrative duties you’ll have to do and be first port of call for all development related enquiries, as well as assisting the wider team with events and content creation.

Apply now for the Development Coordinator role.

If you fancy helping people get work in film and TV and supporting them on their journey, then apply to be our Skills Coordinator? You will be part of the Film Office team, reporting to the Skills Manager.

Your role will see you support North East based crew and those looking to get into the industry, offering insights on work opportunities, and give our Crew Academy members support and advice that will lead to them landing that next role. You’ll also look after our Crew Academy database, ensuring it is up-to-date and explore ways to grow and maintain it.

Apply now for the Skills Coordinator role.

You have until Midnight, Sunday 8^th October to apply.