Centre of Screen Excellence: Yorkshire Opens Applications to Six Hands on Courses to Fill Skills Gaps

@ScreenYorkshire and @UKScreenSkills open applications to Centre of Screen Excellence: Yorkshire for the third year today (2 Feb).

Two new vocational courses – Art Direction & Props and My First Factual TV Job – have been added to the suite of part-time Film & TV craft and production courses for 2022, offering training in areas identified as those most ‘in demand’ locally, as the region’s hugely-successful film & TV industry emerges from the impact of COVID.

Six craft certificates in Lighting Technician, Hair & Make-Up, Costume, Production Assistant (scripted), Art Direction & Props and My First Factual TV Job are open for applications today via Screen Yorkshire.

Centre of Screen Excellence: Yorkshire aims to build a large, talented and versatile local workforce, which reflects the diversity of the region.

The courses have been specifically designed to provide trainees with a clear pathway to entry level jobs in the Film & TV industry. To achieve this, they will work hand-in-hand with numerous high-profile employers in the region.

The part-time training courses – which have ambitious targets to support applicants from diverse and disadvantaged backgrounds – will be delivered by Screen Yorkshire from March – August 2022 in partnership with local education providers: University Centre Leeds and Keighley College.This will be the third year of recruitment in the Centre of Screen Excellence: Yorkshire, a ScreenSkills initiative supported by the BFI awarding National Lottery funds to support the building of capacity outside of London and the South East.

Gareth Ellis-Unwin, Head of Film and Animation at ScreenSkills, said:

“We are really pleased that the Centre of Screen Excellence: Yorkshire is succeeding in the ambition of expanding the skilled and inclusive local workforce for production in the region. Alumni from the first two years are already forging great careers and providing local industry with the skilled people it needs to thrive. We hope that this encourages other potential recruits from all backgrounds to apply for the courses that open today.”

Screen Yorkshire has bolstered their skills team with two new hires, who will deliver the CoSE:Y courses.

Beatrice Neumann, a highly experienced training expert, whose previous engagements include ScreenSkills supported Inside Pictures, Creative Enterprise’s Market Trader, Distribution Rewired in collaboration with EIFF alongside her consultancy work as a sales & distribution expert. She joins Screen Yorkshire as Manager.

Centre of Screen Excellence: Yorkshire and is supported by Senior Coordinator Hannah Kenworthy, who is Yorkshire born and bred, with industry experience as a freelance crew member across many different genres of scripted and non-scripted productions all over the UK for the last 10 years. Hannah has worked with Screen Yorkshire as a freelancer previously, supporting promotion of its training programmes and has a great track record for recruiting successful participants for both previous CoSE:Y editions.

Together they will oversee the recruitment and delivery of all six craft courses which form part of a wide-ranging Screen Yorkshire skills initiative headed by Head of Skills and Industry Engagement Glyn Middleton. Other projects include Beyond Brontës, the Mayor of West Yorkshire’s Screen Diversity Programme and Connected Campus. 

Glyn Middleton, Screen Yorkshire said:

“The courses run as part of the Centre of Screen Excellence: Yorkshire have proved hugely successful in getting trainees their first jobs in the industry – and many are now carving out fantastic careers. But there’s more work to do – this is the busiest time any of us can remember and a large number of films, TV dramas and factual shows are on the horizon. We have designed these courses specifically to tackle skills gaps in the region and to get more and more trainees, from a wide range of backgrounds, into inspiring and rewarding creative careers”.

Beatrice Neumann, Manager, Centre of Screen Excellence: Yorkshire at Screen Yorkshire said: 

“I’m delighted to be joining the Screen Yorkshire team to manage CoSE:Y and thereby contribute to building a strong regional workforce that will attract even more productions to Yorkshire and the wider region. I can’t imagine anything more gratifying than paving the way for young people intent on becoming part of our vibrant Film & TV industry.” 

The courses will be taught by craft specific tutors alongside top level Film & TV practitioners through a combination of practical training in person, 1-2-1 tutorials, masterclasses and mentoring support as a pathway to industry. A work experience module is intended to be included in the programme if COVID restrictions permit.Local industry partners include ITV, and ProVision in Leeds.

Demand for local skilled crews is high following Screen Yorkshire’s busiest year to date for filming enquiries to its Film Office and more productions than ever scheduled for 2022. Major TV productions that have filmed in the region supported by Screen Yorkshire’s Film Office include: feature films Indiana Jones, Mission Impossible 7, The Railway Children Return, Emily, Enola Holmes, City Girls, Three Day Millionaire, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and HETV productions:The Gallows Pole, The Witcher (2 and 3), The Confessions of Frannie Langton, Gentleman Jack (2), All Creatures Great and Small (2).

The six film & TV craft courses, delivered as part of Centre of Screen Excellence: Yorkshire, aim to demonstrate how partners joining forces can amplify the impact of targeted investment into training and build a greater skilled workforce where needed regionally.

Centre of Screen Excellence: Yorkshire is establishing innovative partnerships to meet the demand for local crews to work on these productions and support further growth in the region.  The courses will provide trainees from any background with a clear pathway into the industry, developing their skills, and preparing them for the specific demands of working within these industries. 

All trainees will also take part in two week-long ‘boot camps’ designed to prepare them for the specific requirements of film and TV, such as their role within a department, set etiquette, working as part of a large crew, sustainability training, Covid-19 safety measures, the challenges of finding that first job and freelance life (including CV and application training, tax, invoicing and networking). 

The craft courses are part of a portfolio of initiatives being rolled out across the region by Centre of Screen Excellence: Yorkshire, aimed at upskilling the local workforce and creating new pathways and opportunities for individuals, especially those from disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds, wishing to develop their careers in the screen industries. To achieve this, recruitment will pro-actively target regional and local organisations, colleges and businesses to encourage applications from a wide range of people.  The long-term aim is to ensure that the region is a nationally-recognised centre for training in the screen industries. 

The previous 2 editions of craft courses were delivered successfully under difficult circumstances. In spite of COVID restrictions, as little as possible compromises were made to provide practical training and trainees were given access to some of the most vibrant film & TV talent from around the world through a series of exclusive online industry masterclasses. 

The 2021 courses were incredibly successful in paving the way for subsequent employment. The majority of course participants found paid work in the Film & TV industry as a result of attending the CoSE:Y courses, course graduates worked on productions including The Railway Children Return, Gentleman Jack – Series 2, Sanditon – Series 2, Industry, The Confessions of Frannie Langton, The Gallows Pole, Ackley Bridge and Steph’s Packed Lunch.

Georgina Vaughan, Centre of Screen Excellence: Yorkshire Alumni (Production Assistant) says: 

“Course leader Rachel is an invaluable fountain of expertise. With her guidance, I gained deep insights into the industry, learned actionable skills which were immediately applicable to my future roles, and forged a strong network of like-minded and creative professionals.”

“The course left me with a new found confidence and understanding which contributed to securing me roles on Yorkshire based productions such as ‘The Railway Children Return’ and ‘Gentleman Jack’ to name just a few.”

Paolo Francesco, Centre of Screen Excellence: Yorkshire Alumni (Lighting) says:

“The lighting course was great and very hands-on. The teaching was easily accessible, well-structured and the tutors very friendly and approachable. They were able to pass on their years of experience to instil confidence and gave me the right platform to progress further within the industry. Since the course, I have worked on feature films, HETV dramas and commercials and have made some invaluable connections.”

The six film & TV craft courses are specifically targeted towards trainees who want to break into film and television. We actively seek to address under representation within the screen industries by encouraging people to apply whatever their background. No previous experience is necessary, but training is an investment both for the candidate and the provider, so candidates must demonstrate a clear commitment to achieving a high level of proficiency and dedication to the craft.

Applications close on 28th of February 2022 for the Production Assistant (scripted) course and on 14th of March 2022 for all the other courses.