Helping to prepare the talent of the future

Connected Campus students from Leeds Trinity University, filming a segment of 'Quantaform', at the Cardigan Arms in Leeds

Training and Skills

Yorkshire’s Film and TV sector is booming – and we want to ensure it has a dynamic, talented and diverse workforce to meet all of its needs.

Whether it’s drama or factual – in any genre and on any platform – it’s our job to make sure the region’s workforce has all of the creative, technical and editorial skills needed by a huge range of production companies, whether they’re based in Yorkshire or travel here to film their productions.

To do this, we partner with key agencies like the BFI and ScreenSkills, we work closely with employers, councils and local enterprise partnerships and collaborate with universities, colleges and specialist training providers, to help find, develop and support the production teams and crews of the future.

Our training initiatives always involve working professionals – so the training is for the industry, by the industry.
We place diversity right at the heart of all recruitment. We’re passionate about making the region’s workforce reflect all our communities – we’re looking for new people, new skills and new voices, to tackle head-on some of the under-representation challenges the industry faces and make Yorkshire the most exciting and welcoming place to work.

Special Effects demo from Rowley FX at the Bootcamp, September 2019

How we are doing this?

Beyond Brontës is our exciting training programme with a clear focus on addressing under-representation within the screen industries. It is designed to break down the barriers which can prevent young people (aged 18 – 24) from diverse backgrounds break into the screen industries.

Working closely with a wide spectrum of industry partners, Beyond Brontës offers targeted and dedicated support, designed to reflect the amazing opportunities for young people keen to enter the screen industries in the region.

The bespoke training package, tailored to the needs of the individual, includes masterclasses, training, mentoring, one-to-one support and detailed careers information. It also includes internships and work experience – where feasible and practical – our trainees have enjoyed hands-on experiences on productions such as All Creatures Great and Small, The Syndicate and Gentleman Jack and with high-profile production companies such as True North, Wise Owl Films, Buttondown Productions and Meridian Line Films.

For those in education, we’re incredibly proud of our pioneering Connected Campus programme, where we’re forging strong bonds between an extensive network of university and college partners to help ensure the next generation of TV and Film workers are not just talented, but industry-ready.

Our team offers boot camps, masterclasses, special events – and working visits by successful industry professionals – to ensure they’re learning everything they need to succeed in a competitive industry and to provide a conveyor-belt of talent to the region’s employers.

The Centre of Screen Excellence: Yorkshire (COSE:Y) is another exciting initiative, in which Screen Yorkshire has joined forces with ScreenSkills, the National Film and Television School and three local colleges to run five Craft Courses for film & TV – for hair and make-up. costume, grip, lighting technician and production assistant.

The aim is to tackle specific skills gaps in the regional industry and to build a greater skilled craft workforce outside London and the South East. Year One of CoSE:Y launched in Leeds in early 2020 and Year Two is due to run out of NFTS Leeds between March and July 2021.

As part of our training provision, we also run our Continuing Professional Development Programme, Skill Up. It is designed to help enhance and develop the skills of people already working in the industry. It will help ensure that regional production companies have the skilled staff they need to grow and succeed in a highly competitive environment, in turn bringing benefit to the whole screen sector in Yorkshire. Find out more and how to apply here.

Make sure that you are the first to hear about our latest training opportunities by signing up to our newsletter and following us on social media – find the links to follow in our footer.

Beyond Brontës has been such an incredible experience, it has given me access to opportunities I never knew were out there. Most importantly I’ve gained a community of people I can talk to about my goals and feel understood because we are all in the same place.

Kudzai Chinembiri, Beyond Brontës graduate

Kudzai Chinembiri, Beyond Brontës graduate

My course has been a life-changing experience. I had no experience whatsoever in film and now I have been working full-time in TV since July - in a pandemic! Amazing teaching and support, and contacts that I have no doubt I'll continue to use throughout my career."

Bethan Tanner, Craft Courses graduate (production assistant)

Bethan Tanner, Craft Course graduate (production assistant)

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Get in touch with our training and skills team

  • Glyn 2019-crop

    Glyn Middleton, Head of Skills and Industry Engagement

    Glyn is a member of our senior management team, and is responsible for all our skills and training initiatives, including new entrant and professional development programmes. Glyn oversees a number of projects including the Centre of Screen Excellence: Yorkshire, Connected Campus and Beyond Brontes. Glyn also heads up our industry engagement and support activities, developing and maintaining Screen Yorkshire's relationships with Yorkshire based indies working in the broadcast sector.

    You can contact Glyn on 07753 838048 or glyn@screenyorkshire.co.uk

  • Richard Knight, Production Liaison and Education

    Richard Knight, Production Liaison and Education

    Richard assists with the day to day running of the Film Office and also manages Screen Yorkshire’s training and education programmes. Richard has worked for fifteen years as a location manager, predominantly in Yorkshire on films including Four Lions and This is England, and TV Dramas such as Utopia and Prisoners Wives. As such, he has an excellent knowledge of Yorkshire’s diverse range of locations and the logistics of filming in them.    

    You can contact Richard on 0113 236 8221 or richard@screenyorkshire.co.uk

  • abigail-website-crop

    Abigail Houseman, Beyond Brontës Senior Coordinator

    Abigail runs our Beyond Brontës programme, established in 2019 to address the lack of diversity in the screen industries workforce. Beyond Brontës supports young people in the Bradford District and Leeds City Region to develop the skills, confidence and connections to enter and succeed in the screen industries.

    You can contact Abigail on 0113 236 8231 or abigail@screenyorkshire.co.uk