Sponsored content
The HETV Skill Fund’s Leaders of Tomorrow programme aims to give people from all backgrounds the tools to progress in their careers
A commitment to supporting comprehensive career progression has been central to the work of the High-end TV Skills Fund for more than 10 years. By directing contributions from qualifying productions into tailored training programmes, the Fund invests in the development of the UK workforce at all levels.
In 2021, the Fund launched Leaders of Tomorrow, an inclusion programme responding to an industry need for a viable pathway to improve diversity among senior roles. This was designed by industry in partnership with the Fund, with the ambition of addressing the issue of ‘you can’t be what you can’t see’.
Leaders of Tomorrow is focused on giving people from different backgrounds opportunities to become that change. All candidates are nominated and selected by industry. It provides comprehensive support for mid-level professionals to give them the tools, networks and opportunities to progress into senior decision-making roles.
Now, after three years of bespoke training, the first cohort of candidates are ready to graduate. Hannah Green, senior professional skills manager at ScreenSkills, says: “It’s been heartening to see the cohort, from all backgrounds and based across the UK, take on new responsibilities and be able to grow and develop. This would not have been possible without the support of the programme’s partners – Netflix, the BBC and Sky – who enabled us to expand the programme.”
Helen Mattioli, senior business partner, BBC comedy & drama commissioning, says of the programme: “We are proud to work with the HETV Skills Fund in delivering the Leaders of Tomorrow programme. It’s a unique initiative that helps address some of the direct needs of our industry, and the achievements of those who’ve taken part is an indicator of its success.”
An independent review into the programme has helped inform decisions and further evolve the training. Feedback from candidates highlighted the importance in championing those from different backgrounds and access needs, and praised the programme’s ability to foster a community of like-minded people where they are able to talk openly and bounce ideas off each other. Others spoke of the high-level leadership training and how this encouraged them to step outside their comfort zone.
“Leaders of Tomorrow is a life-changing programme that has accelerated both my career and my confidence”
Kiri Degon
Kiri Degon started on the programme as a post co-ordinator but quickly stepped up to post super on her first placement, where she had a mentor to guide her. With the support of the programme, Kiri was able to confi dently tackle each new challenge she faced and on her most recent placement, Sky Original drama Sweetpea, she had the opportunity to shadow line producer Emma Biggins.
Kiri says: “Leaders of Tomorrow is a life-changing programme that has accelerated both my career and my confidence. Sweetpea offered me the chance to enhance my knowledge of HETV production to a new level. The opportunity to shadow producers has given me a wider context of the many decisions that come to affect post-production. The responsibility of overseeing a series of this size – from prep to delivery – has helped boost my confi dence and strengthened my desire to continue my career path towards producing.”
A Sky spokesman says: “Kiri, who shadowed Emma Biggins, was able to upskill mid-career through working on a show as a post supervisor, while also gaining insight into the workings of a production office. Kiri gained an understanding of the end-to-end production process and Emma gained insights into post, which could at times influence decision-making during the shoot. A win-win mutual sharing of knowledge.”
The HETV Skills Fund will be announcing a new Leaders of Tomorrow cohort, who will start their three-year journey in 2025.
