The Bottle Yard Studios

Bristol City Council’s Film Services – comprising The Bottle Yard Studios, Bristol Film Office and Bristol UNESCO City of Film, secured funding from The Mayoral Priority Skills Fund to deliver the West of England Film & High-End TV Workforce Development Programme. The industry-focussed programme supports new entrants looking to break into behind-the-camera roles on scripted film and high-end TV productions made in the West of England.

The programme has run throughout 2024 supporting underrepresented talent from across the region. The 5-week training scheme, facilitated and delivered by local training providers Stepping Up featured masterclasses from industry professionals, equipping them with knowledge and skills to become set-ready for their first jobs in the industry.

A lady with specs, wearing a blue coloured top

Anna, a participant in the programme, is based in Bath but originally from Ukraine. In her home country she is an established TV Producer/Fixer but was looking to break into the industry here in the West of England.

Anna said, “I have 10 years of experience working in unscripted TV in Ukraine. I wanted to transition into scripted production in the UK, but it was difficult to find my first UK-based job in High-End TV.

The West of England Film & High-End TV Workforce Development Programme really helped me in many ways. We learned about various aspects of film and TV production in the UK, which also restored my confidence, and I began to feel more ‘set-ready’.

The team was very supportive, organising a film set visit in Bristol, where we were able to communicate and ask questions with different departments. There were also several meetings with productions currently working in the region. We gained new skills and started building a professional network.

What was particularly valuable was that job opportunities were shared with us, which is how I heard about the work experience opportunity with an HETV Drama BAND 3 production currently taking place in the West of England.

I applied and was offered two weeks of work experience in the sustainability department and have since been offered a job with them. This was one of the best things to happen to me in the last few years of trying to find a way into the industry”.

For further information about the Workforce Development Programme please visit here. (https://www.thebottleyard.com/home/skills/west-of-england-film-high-end-tv-workforce-development-programme-2024/)