High-End TV Schools Roadshow to engage future talent launches in Bristol

A pioneering industry-led initiative aimed at connecting Bristol’s future creatives with the local TV and Film sector is being launched next week; funded by ScreenSkills’ High-end TV (HETV) Skills Fund and delivered by Gritty Talent.

The HETV Careers Schools Roadshow is for key stage 3 pupils (aged 11-14) to help them learn about the breadth of careers available in Bristol’s high-end TV industry.

The UK industry trade body Pact (The Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television) are also collaborating on the project.

The roadshow will be delivered by Gritty Talent, a Bristol based company specialising in supporting creative sector talent from under-represented groups.

Hundreds of Bristol pupils and their parents will take part in workshops, training and Q&A’s with TV industry professionals. The roadshow will highlight the various job roles within the HETV sector that people may never have heard of, and particularly those currently experiencing skills shortages.

It will also provide invaluable guidance to pupils, teachers, and parents, directing them towards resources that can help them learn about career pathways into the dynamic world of high-end TV in Bristol.

Gritty Talent is seeking local HETV industry professionals to join the initiative, as paid contributors, to share their expertise, passion and insights. If you are interested in getting involved and sharing your experience with the next generation, please contact roadshow@grittytalent.tv

HETV projects are television productions made with a budget of at least £1 million per hour, which in the South West of England includes award-winning series like The Outlaws, Mcdonald & Dodds, Rain Dogs, Chloe, The Blue Planet and Our Great National Parks.

Productions like these need a plentiful supply of skilled talent to create the big titles of the future. Despite the success of the screen industry – which has grown at twice the rate of the overall economy in the last five years and contributing 20.8 million pounds to the Bristol economy in 2021 – there is an urgent need to secure the local future talent pipeline.

According to research by ScreenSkills, the UK screen industries need to attract around 10,000 new entrants each year to maintain the workforce at its current size.

Vicki Ball, HETV First Break and Careers Outreach Manager at ScreenSkills, explained: “Bristol is a key player in the UK’s screen industries, and it’s important that we invest in the local talent that will help the industry thrive. That’s why we’re working with local people and partners to help inspire the next generation of talent and help them find their pathway into one of the many roles available.”

Mel Rodrigues, Founder & CEO at Gritty Talent said: “At Gritty Talent we work with production companies, media channels and emerging talent to join the dots between the two and build sustainable career journeys. We want to ensure that Bristol’s best creative talent – from all backgrounds – is retained in the city and region. Starting young is essential – as a young person you need to know about the types of jobs you might be great at, and the skills you’ll need, before you choose your GCSE options.”