• Swindon & Wiltshire Culture
• Tuesday February 25 2025
• Author Name: Peter Davison

BFI funding gives boost to South West creatives seeking behind-the-camera careers

People hoping to pursue a behind-the-camera career in Bristol’s thriving film and television industry will benefit from a quarter million pound boost from the British Film Institute.

The BFI has awarded Bristol City Council’s Film Services £245,425 through its National Lottery Places Fund: Skills and Training fund.

All Set West will launch in April 2025, to support regional participants from backgrounds currently underrepresented in the film/TV workforce with inclusive training, information, connections, work opportunities and networks, to help them gain industry employment – and thrive in their new careers.

The programme will be delivered by The Bottle Yard Studios, Bristol UNESCO City of Film, and Bristol Film Office – the three partners that make up Bristol City Council’s Film Services. All Set West’s bespoke package of skills support will include:

• All Set West Hub: a new and inclusive online hub full of opportunities, events and resources relevant to local scripted film/TV production entrants or those progressing through their first few credits
• All Set West Training: two rounds of a free, five-week training scheme delivered at The Bottle Yard Studios, that demystifies the world of scripted production and prepares trainees for entry level positions in the industry
• All Set West Placements: matching industry entrants to scripted film and TV productions that are active at The Bottle Yard Studios and on location in the region and seeking to provide work experience or paid placements for local entrants
• All Set West Outreach: targeted community and educator engagement to widen awareness of careers in the region’s fast-growing scripted film/TV production sector

Additional industry consultation delivered in partnership with the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority will analyse regional industry skills gaps and set a future strategy for addressing workforce development and retention challenges.

The BFI Places Fund aims to help develop new and emerging production centres across the UK. It is providing targeted funding to organisations to pilot new skills and training activity in the region and develop strategic plans that seek to cultivate and encourage more film and television production in the area.

Alex Roxton, senior skills programme manager at the BFI, said: “This partnership between Bristol City Council Film Services and West of England Combined Authority brings a wealth of industry knowledge and expertise, as well as insight into skills gaps and the local growth potential. We believe that together, they can develop a sector skills strategy and training pathways that realise a skilled and representative local workforce.”

Councillor Tony Dyer, leader of Bristol City Council, said: “It’s fantastic that our Film Services team has secured this funding from the BFI. Bristol’s film and TV industry is thriving, and we should be encouraging more people to explore opportunities in the arts.

“Ensuring access for people from all backgrounds is so important, and this initiative is creating apprenticeships, training, and employment for the next generation of filmmakers. We’re grateful to the BFI for recognising Bristol’s potential to lead change and make the regional industry more inclusive.”

All Set West’s package of support will be available to all residents of Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.

All Set West’s Training element will follow a similar format to that which was piloted during the West of England Film & High-End TV Workforce Development Programme, funded by the West of England MCA’s Mayoral Priority Skills Fund and delivered at The Bottle Yard in 2024.

Of the 47 trainees who participated in that training, 32 have since gone on to some kind of paid work in the industry.

Pictured: Filming for the BBC TV drama Rain Dogs 

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