Seventeen professionals working across production departments have been identified as future senior leaders and formed the latest cohort of the High-end TV Skills Fund’s inclusion-focused Leaders of Tomorrow programme, supported by BBC, Sky and Amazon MGM Studios Ascend Global Crew Training Program.
The new candidates have each been identified by experienced professionals as future senior leaders within their department and nominated by industry peers to take part in the programme.
Launched in 2021 with the aim of developing effective career pathways and improving the diversity of those in senior positions, the three-year career progression programme provides the tools, training and opportunities to mid-level professionals to help them progress to senior decision-making positions.
The programme’s fifth cohort will now undertake three years of guided training designed to shape their development into leadership roles and provide the industry with skilled leaders ready for management.
The group represents a milestone achievement among the programme, including the 100th member to take part in the initiative. In addition, across the 100 participants 74 have been women, 65 have been from outside of London and 37 are from ethnic minority backgrounds, underlining the Fund’s inclusionary intentions for the programme.
Aleysha Minns McGrath, HETV professional skills manager, ScreenSkills, said: “We're delighted to welcome the new cohort to the Leaders of Tomorrow programme, bringing the total to 100 HETV freelancers now supported since the programme started in 2021. The 17 participants are hugely skilled and have been recognised by their peers as ready to make that vital next step in their career, each bringing fresh perspectives and thinking that will help to shape the future of this industry. Since 2021, the programme has helped develop the skills and leadership abilities of participants from a wide range of backgrounds, roles and departments across the UK, in scripted and unscripted. Progression is an incredibly important part of our industry and ensuring that they are supported during this process is vital. The tailored training and experience participants receive as part of the three-year programme provides essential development opportunities to those working within it. In that time, it has underlined the HETV Skills Fund's commitment to ensuring these pathways are accessible to everyone and ensuring our industry is an open and inclusive one.”
At an event held at London’s Ham Yard Hotel to welcome the new cohort, Barry Ryan, Chair of the High-end TV Skills Council, said: “The Leaders of Tomorrow programme was launched five years ago to address a clear industry need - a structured and inclusive pathway to leadership roles in high-end television, with a focus on increasing diversity. This new cohort is made up of individuals who were nominated and selected for their talent, ambition, and potential to drive change in our industry. Over the last five years, this programme has provided training, mentoring, and subsidised placements, equipping participants with the skills and experience they need to step into decision-making roles in high-end television.”
We welcome the new cohort and wish them luck foe their time on the programme.
The candidates are:
- Agnieszka Szeliga- Camera (London)
- Charlotte Ramplin- AD (North West)
- Elizabeth Andrews- Hair and Makeup (London)
- Emma Chilton- Location Sound (West Midlands)
- Esther Vardy- Camera (North West)
- Gemma Aboagye- Costume (London)
- Joanna Barrett- Hair and Makeup (Yorkshire and The Humber)
- Keith Morrison- Location Sound (East Midlands)
- Luke Thomas- Production (Wales)
- Rachel Leahy- Production (West Midlands)
- Rachel Stollery- Accounts (Scotland)
- Rickardo Beckles-Burrowes- Post-Production (London)
- Sally King- Art (London)
- Sandra Coulson- Camera (North West)
- Sheena Kelly- AD (Northern Ireland)
- Steven Murphy- Art (Northern Ireland)
- Tushar Manek- Post-Production Sound (South East)