The British Film Institute (BFI) has announced a significant investment of £900,000 to establish a BFI Skills Cluster in Wales. This initiative, known as the ‘One Stop Shop’, aims to support the development of the nation’s screen production sector by providing clear pathways to long-term employment in film and TV production. The BFI Skills Cluster in Wales will collaborate closely with Sgil Cymru, Creative Wales, and Screen Alliance Wales (SAW) to achieve its goals. This funding, made possible by the National Lottery, will make Wales one of seven BFI Skills Clusters across the UK.
Investing in the Future of the Welsh Screen Sector
The One Stop Shop, funded by the BFI, Creative Wales, and BBC Studios, will serve as a collaborative partnership between training providers, educators, and industry professionals. Its primary objective is to offer comprehensive and transparent pathways for individuals seeking to enter or progress within the screen industry. By focusing on underrepresented groups within the sector, the One Stop Shop aims to engage and benefit over 2000 workers in its initial two-year phase.
According to Sara Whybrew, the BFI’s Director of Skills and Workforce Development, Wales plays a crucial role in the UK’s screen sector. With its large-scale productions and content in the Welsh language reaching global audiences, the BFI Skills Cluster in Wales will build upon existing work and provide game-changing training and work-based learning opportunities for diverse and representative talent across the nation.
A Collaborative Approach to Workforce Development
Sue Jeffries, Managing Director of Sgil Cymru, expressed her pride in leading this partnership and the immense confidence shown by the BFI, Creative Wales, and BBC Studios in Wales and its screen sector. Jeffries emphasized the eagerness of Sgil Cymru to begin work on this exciting new project, which will unite ongoing training initiatives in Wales and introduce innovative programs to foster the sector’s growth.
Hannah Blythyn, the Welsh Government Minister for Creative Industries, highlighted the success of the creative industries in Wales, particularly the screen production sector, which generates an elevenfold return on investment. Blythyn emphasized the importance of nurturing and harnessing the creative talent present in Wales to further develop and grow the creative industries. The additional funding of nearly £1 million into Wales, in collaboration with key providers, will enhance the capacity to match talent with the expanding opportunities across the sector.
The Four Key Strands of the One Stop Shop
The One Stop Shop will provide a range of services and opportunities to individuals seeking to forge or advance their careers in the screen sector. It will consist of four key strands, each addressing specific aspects of workforce development:
1. The One Stop Shop Online Resource
The One Stop Shop will feature an online resource that includes a comprehensive calendar of training and work experience opportunities, job postings, and links to crew databases. This centralized platform will streamline the process of accessing opportunities within the screen industry, making it much easier for individuals to navigate the sector’s various pathways.
2. The Start of the Journey: Entry Level Training and Outreach
The Start of the Journey strand will focus on entry-level training, community and educational outreach, and the establishment of an ‘Opportunities for All’ bursary fund. This initiative aims to eliminate barriers to entry and provide equal opportunities for individuals from all backgrounds to enter the screen industry.
3. Bridging the Gap: Coordinating Education and Industry
Bridging the Gap will bring together further and higher education institutions with industry professionals. By providing coordinated work experience placements and organizing ‘Educating the Educators’ sessions, this strand aims to establish stronger connections between education and industry, ensuring that students receive practical and relevant training.
4. Continuing the Journey: Further Training and Upskilling
Continuing the Journey will focus on providing ongoing training and upskilling opportunities for individuals already working in the screen industry. By investing in the professional development of the existing workforce, the One Stop Shop aims to ensure that industry professionals stay up to date with the latest trends, technologies, and techniques.
Partnerships and Leadership
The success of the One Stop Shop will rely on collaboration and partnership with key industry players and educational institutions across Wales. The program will be strengthened by the involvement of delivery partners such as BBC Studios, NFTS Cymru, Ffilm Cymru Wales, Into Film, Culture Connect Wales, TAPE, Cardiff & Vale College, Coleg y Cymoedd, University of South Wales, Bangor University, and Aberystwyth University. These partners will work together to ensure that the One Stop Shop operates effectively and benefits individuals from every region of Wales.
To ensure a cohesive and impactful start for the cluster, a dedicated team will be employed to drive and deliver activities over the first two years. Sue Jeffries, the Managing Director of Sgil Cymru, will oversee the project, while Lowri Thomas, an experienced Location and Production Manager, will lead the day-to-day operations.
Enabling Inclusivity and Representation in the Screen Industry
Allison Dowzell, Managing Director of Screen Alliance Wales, expressed enthusiasm for joining forces with Sgil Cymru and Creative Wales in this pivotal project. The One Stop Shop represents an opportunity to foster a more inclusive and representative screen industry in Wales. Dowzell emphasized the importance of breaking barriers, nurturing talent, and shaping a workforce that mirrors the diversity of the communities it serves.
Kris Green, Training Executive at BBC Studios Drama Productions, highlighted the significance of this collaboration, particularly in the context of the 50th anniversary of the Welsh-language soap opera, Pobol y Cwm. This partnership will enable the creation of the first-ever Pobol Academy, a training initiative aimed at securing the future of Welsh-speaking production and editorial talent. Additionally, the partnership will provide upskilling opportunities for talented creatives through the second series of the Welsh-language comedy, Anfamol. Moreover, it will support the creation of new trainee roles on BBC Studios’ award-winning primetime medical show, Casualty.
The BFI Skills Clusters are designed to develop local skills bases and provide viable routes into the screen industry for individuals from underrepresented backgrounds. The BFI has already invested a total of £9 million of National Lottery funding over three years in various regions across the UK, including Screen Yorkshire, Film London, Screen Scotland, Create Central, Northern Ireland Screen, Resource Productions, and now Sgil Cymru in Wales.
The BFI Skills Cluster in Wales, in partnership with Sgil Cymru, Creative Wales, and Screen Alliance Wales, is set to revolutionize the workforce development of the nation’s screen production sector. The One Stop Shop initiative will provide clear and transparent pathways for individuals seeking to enter or progress within the industry, with a particular focus on underrepresented groups. By combining the expertise and resources of training providers, educators, and industry professionals, the One Stop Shop aims to create a more inclusive and representative screen industry in Wales. This investment marks a crucial step towards building a sustainable future for the Welsh screen sector, backed by the support of the BFI, Creative Wales, and BBC Studios.