The event provided those who gained experience on Sunset+Vine’s Host Broadcast Training Initiative a chance to learn more about industry opportunities

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West Midlands industry body Create Central has held a Careers Day for the local talent who participated in Sunset+Vine’s Host Broadcaster Training Initiative (HBTI) scheme during the Commonwealth Games.

The HBTI delivered training to more than 200 people in the West Midlands area to prepare them for employment opportunities on the host broadcast of the Games. 

61% of those employed were from underrepresented groups.

The Careers Day was attended by many of the region’s employers and designed to give the trainees a chance to network and learn more about industry opportunities with one-to-one interviews and a series of masterclasses.

Industry attendees included BBC Studios, BBC Sport, Shine, Optomen, North One, Sunset+Vine, Spark Media, Nine Lives Media, Banijay, Yamination, Streamland Media and ISG Productions.

Emma Riley, HBTI director, Sunset+Vine, said: “It’s a measure of the success of the HBTI, combined with the breadth of talent in the region that so many of those attending the Create Central Careers Day have already secured work in the industry. We’re immensely proud of all of the trainees for their dedication, determination and drive and we’ll be following their career progression closely, continuing to mentor and guide them towards opportunities.”

Ruth Hayman, host broadcast COO, Sunset+Vine added: “Three women in particular made such an impression on our OB suppliers that they’ve been offered employment in a sector that is historically male dominated. These are Deepali Mistry for Timeline, Aniyah Butt for Cloudbass and Mariana Galego for Gravity Media. A special mention too for Preetcharan Singh who progressed to operating a live RF camera at Northampton on BT Sport’s Rugby output last weekend and Karum Cheema who is now working with Optomen as a camera assistant on the Great British Menu. Suffice to say this was the legacy that we’d hoped for, and these people are the future of live broadcasting and we’re immensely proud to have played a part in getting their careers started”

Jeff Foulser, chairman Sunset+Vine, said: “We couldn’t have achieved our ambition for the HBTI without the support of our partners – Create Central, The West Midlands Combined Authority, Birmingham 2022’s Legacy team, Solihull College, Birmingham City University and University Centre. We’re now looking to develop future partnerships to continue the positive momentum of the HBTI.”