Key production office roles are to be the beneficiary of £100,000 in the next wave of training grants from the British Film Commission.
In the second phase of its partnership with the Production Guild of Great Britain, the BFC is committing to invest in training courses for production secretaries, production coordinators and line producers working in scripted TV and film.
Crew working in the nations are particularly encouraged to apply, with PGGB’s Diversity and Inclusion Action Group overseeing diversity among participants.
The scheme is delivered online via the PGGB’s Virtual Learning Environment platform, which is regularly updated with CPD materials, additional recordings, updates and resources for participants to access at their own pace and beyond the formal training.
“This additional investment empowers us to do even more to support skills progression for UK crew in direct response to industry need, during an intensely busy time,” said PGGB chief executive Lyndsay Duthie.
“Accessing the right training that helps people work confidently or move up to a leadership level capably, is crucial.”
BFC head production UK Samantha Perahia added: “It’s an extremely exciting time for UK film and TV and the benefits are being felt right across the UK’s nations and regions, with existing production hubs growing to accommodate the demand, and new stage space developments in the pipeline.
“Sustainability and skills development are central to the BFC’s Stage Space Support and Development work and essential to maintaining increased levels of production.”
In the first phase of the £4.8m three-year partnership, delivered over six months from May last year, 75 professionals – junior location managers, production secretaries and production coordinators – received targeted training and mentoring, contributing to a 400% growth in PGGB’s overall trainee turnover in the past year.
Among those receiving training to date are Leon Seth, a location manager who has worked on Peaky Blinders, The Syndicate and Downton Abbey, and production secretary Annie-Grace Thorpe.
Additionally, a joint Diversity and Inclusion Mentor Scheme, unveiled last August, matched 15 people with mentors working in film and high-end TV.
Applications for the latest courses will open later this month.
