BBC Studioworks outlines mentoring plans

Eight BBC Studioworks staff have committed to mentoring eight Elstree Screen Arts students, beginning next month.

The programme, run in partnership with ScreenSkills, is part of Studioworks’ work to tackle the skills shortage in the industry.

Using National Lottery funds awarded to ScreenSkills by the BFI as part of the Future Films Skills programme, the mentoring scheme provides support for school leavers from underrepresented groups.

As well as mentoring on this programme, BBC Studioworks is also enhancing its partnership with Rise Up to deliver video content designed to inspire the next generation of engineers (especially female engineers) into the industry.

The content showcases the breadth of the opportunities available within the industry and will be available to all primary and secondary schools as part of a toolkit provided via the Rise Up Academy.

BBC Studioworks has also volunteered to be part of Rise Up Academy’s ‘Project1000’ initiative, to deliver live broadcasting workshops and masterclasses to 1,000 technical college students and school children by Christmas.

The studio complex is also opening its doors to students from the National Film and Television School and Elstree Screen Arts this autumn. The students will get a feel for life on a production, shadowing Studioworks’ off-screen technical talent, seeing real situations on a live show and gaining hands on experience with broadcasting kit.

Katie Leveson, culture and transformation director, BBC Studioworks, said: “We’re on a mission to engage and connect with a young audience like never before. We’re an operational business that relies on the best off-screen talent to deliver the most ambitious and complex light entertainment shows in the country. We need to continue to inform and inspire the next generation of talent, opening their eyes to the many opportunities available to them off-screen. Only by opening up access to our industry, and investing in training and future careers, will we broaden horizons and help to build the strong and diverse pipeline the industry is crying out for.”