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High-end TV Skills Fund unveils the next Leaders of Tomorrow.
ScreenSkills’ High-end TV Skills Fund is responding to the need for growth in skilled senior roles by unveiling the next Leaders of Tomorrow. The career progression programme has selected 22 mid-level crew, nominated by industry colleagues and identified as ready to step up to more senior roles, and will now champion them through a three-year programme of mentorship, networking, paid placements and bespoke skills training.
Having been designed by the HETV Skills Fund through collaboration with industry partners and launched in 2021, the initiative is now welcoming its second cohort. It aims to develop effective career pathways and increase diversity among leadership roles within HETV, with those selected being representative of the whole of the UK.
ScreenSkills director of HETV Kaye Elliot says: “I am really proud to welcome our second cohort on to our HETV Leaders of Tomorrow programme, which provides three years of bespoke support to individuals hand-picked by the industry to move into leadership roles in the future across a host of grades. It is fantastic to be able to support a second amazing group of talented individuals based all across the UK to become the leaders of tomorrow in HETV.”
The Leaders of Tomorrow were announced at a launch event in November, where the group met each other for the first time and discussed their hopes for the next three years as part of the programme.
“I hope to become an inspiration for other Black women who are keen to pursue a career in post-production”
Jasmin John, Leaders of Tomorrow participant
Jasmin John, a first-assembly editor using the programme to step up to an editor role, spoke of how, as a Black, mixed-heritage woman based outside the capital trying to break into the male-dominated industry, she feels empowered by being picked as a Leader of Tomorrow.
“If you don’t see people that look like you in the positions that you strive for, it’s easy to feel as though you don’t belong there,” she says. “I hope to become an inspiration for other young Black women who are keen to pursue a career in post-production but perhaps feel discouraged due to the lack of representation. Those at senior level are the decision-makers and change-makers, and being recognised as a Leader of Tomorrow is a warm invitation to take a seat at the table.”
For Jennifer Atcheson, it’s the promise of working closely with experienced mentors that she’s relishing the most. The Belfast-based camera operator started working in HETV in 2013 and is aiming to become a director of photography through the programme.
She says: “I hope to expand my network and make new contacts, and get a great mentor, or three, over three years. My main thing is wanting to shadow directors of photography on set. It has happened at the right time in my career to open up opportunities to get more experience. I’m looking to work on larger-scale projects, or shadow larger-scale jobs, to learn about bigger lighting set-ups and virtual stages. Anything and everything.”
Following the introductions, the group now start their three-year journey.
