BBC Studioworks has announced that following a successful pilot last year, it will be running a mentoring programme that will see eight BBC Studioworks staff mentoring eight Elstree Screen Arts students starting in November.
The programme will be run in partnership with ScreenSkills and will be able to call on National Lottery funds awarded to ScreenSkills by the BFI as part of the Future Films Skills programme. BBC Studioworks said that the mentoring scheme “will provide much-needed support for school leavers from underrepresented groups… and forms one element of Studioworks’ strategy in tackling the skills shortage in the industry.”
BBC Studioworks also revealed that it is 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 will bring to life the role of broadcast engineers for those considering their career choices, as well as showcasing the breadth and depth of the opportunities available, and will be made available to all primary and secondary schools as part of the toolkit provided via the Rise Up Academy.
In addition, BBC Studioworks confirmed it has 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.
“We’re on a mission to engage and connect with a young audience like never before,” said Katie Leveson, culture and transformation director, BBC Studioworks. “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.”
