PGGB rolls out new national and regional committees

The Production Guild of Great Britain (PGGB) has begun the rollout of new national and regional committees.

Aiming to reflect the boom in film and high-end TV across the UK, the new committees are being established in line with the British Film Commission’s Stage Space Support Development (SSSD) hub centers.

Bristol and South West England is the first to be formed, with Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the North West of England, and Yorkshire to follow. They will meet a minmum of four times a year and provide activities such as forums, masterclasses and networking events. The six heads of the committees will meet with the chair and CEO of PGGB annually to act as a steering group. 

The Bristol and South West England committee is chaired by producer Christine Healy, COO of Bristol-based Watford & Essex and chair of the ScreenSkills’ High-end TV Skills Council. The vice chairs are Bristol-based line producer Ben Greenacre (The Trial of Christine Keeler, The Pale Horse, Fortitude) and Cardiff-based production accountant Jennine Baker (War of the Worlds, The One, Kiri). Committee members include Bristol City Council’s senior Bristol film manager Laura Aviles who oversees the management of The Bottle Yard Studios and Bristol Film Office; and Bath-based producer Mia Martell (Blood and Oil, The Passion, Ben Hur).

Lyndsay Duthie, PGGB CEO, said: “The Production Guild of Great Britain is fully committed to highlighting geographical representation of film and TV professionals in the Nations and Regions. We are supporting the fast-paced growth taking place in key production centers around the UK, through a raft of initiatives such as our partnership with the British Film Commission supporting their SSSD hubs.

“The challenges and opportunities faced by production teams on the ground will differ depending on where they are working. Through our new National and Regional Committees we can have direct, regular dialogue which will enable us to provide more targeted support. This is all underpinned by the belief that together we are stronger.”

Healy added: “I’m delighted to Chair PGGB’s newly formed Bristol and South West England Committee. Having produced a major international high end TV drama in the region (New Pictures’ The Spanish Princess for Starz) and established a UK scripted production company based in Bristol, I have developed firsthand understanding of the region’s robust filming infrastructure, with its skilled workforce, active studio hub at The Bottle Yard and versatile locations.

“Crew in this region are extremely experienced, but we need to make sure their needs are fully understood and spot the skills gaps that need support, if we’re to keep talent moving through the pipelines to meet production demand. By better engaging with freelancers in Bristol and the South West, PGGB can better help them, ensure they benefit from national interventions intended to strengthen the production sector, open more doors to people from all backgrounds and ensure effective training is provided to help career progression.”