Icon Films

• Laura Marshall, managing director

How do you spot talent and develop members of the team?

Our annual work experience programme, in collaboration with local organisations in Bristol, allows us to spot emerging talent. Over the past two years, 56% of our runners have been recruited in this way.

Rebecca McEwan joined us from the programme and went on to be a production co-ordinator, PA to commercial director, junior business affairs manager and now business affairs manager. James Bickersteth, who joined us 10 years ago as a runner, has progressed to sound recordist, cinematographer and offline and online editor.

How do people get a foot into your company? What is your approach to apprenticeships and mentoring?

We appoint an apprentice annually through local colleges and universities, for all parts of the business, from
IT to post-production.

On our new internal mentoring scheme, we pair a junior and senior member of staff and encourage them to meet once a month.

How workable is formal training in the modern TV environment - and what do you offer?

We offer formal classroom or training course sessions in production, first aid, remote trauma, fire warden, risk assessment, management development and camera skills. We work with external partners such as ITF,
DV Talent, ACAS, St John Ambulance and more.

This has to fit with on-the-job training to ensure the learnings from these sessions are used in the workplace and that both Icon and the individual benefit.

What one thing could make Icon a more attractive place to work?

For 2017, we are expanding our wellbeing programme, which includes exercise and mindfulness classes, free cereals and fruit and regular subsidised lunches, and we will be offering staff monthly themed activities, ‘lunch n learns’ and social events.