Resource Productions secures BFI funding for Berkshire film skills

The British Film Institute (BFI) has announced its renewed skills funding strategy, which will see a total of £8.1 million allocated to localised bodies like Berkshire’s Resource Productions.

This comes as Sara Whybrew takes over to head the BFI’s National Lottery Skills programmes.

As part of the new strategy, Resource Productions is set to receive £0.6 million over three years in order to develop a diverse pool of local filmmaking talent. This will involve the organisation working alongside Berkshire education and training providers such as the University of Reading and Shinfield Studios.

There is good reason for investment in the region – over the last five years, 58 per cent of film productions have used locations in London and the South East, accounting for 70 per cent of national spending in the industry.

Read more - Pictures reveal progress of Shinfield Studios development

By supporting bodies like Resource Productions, BFI is hoping to address two priorities revealed through public and industry consultation – to make the sector more accessible and representative, and to build a skilled workforce across the UK.

Sara Whybrew said: “There is no better time to be supporting the progression of diverse talent into and through this world-leading sector. Screen culture should be accessible to all, which means screen workplaces must be too.

“I look forward to working in collaboration with myriad partners and stakeholders to make this is a reality.”

Resource Productions is one of six BFI Skills Clusters across the UK, alongside Screen Yorkshire, Film London, Screen Scotland, Northern Ireland Screen, and Create Central in the West Midlands.

A total of £14.7 million has been allocated to the six organisations for skills development, with £8.1 million available for the initial rollout, as informed by the recent BFI Skills Review.

Harriet Finney, Deputy CEO of the BFI, added: “We seek to effect positive change across the screen sector through our National Lottery funding, but also by evidence-led policy – such as the BFI Skills Review – and working closely with industry and government.

“Evidence gathered and analysis conducted through the review concluded that radical change is needed to address current skills shortages and to retain and train those already working in the sector.

“It identified the need for industry investment, and we welcome the industry’s response in committing to the Skills Task Force.

“However, we believe BFI National Lottery good cause funding also has a vital role to play, particularly in redressing inequality of access to training, work place opportunities, and career-long support.”

Read more - Swindon’s Sandstorm film studio plans expansion

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