At this year's Edinburgh TV Festival, members from the across the industry came together to discuss the challenges and opportunities impacting television today.
During the festival, ScreenSkills and the High-end TV Skills Fund hosted a panel titled A Quiet Revolution? Changing the Face(s) of Leadership in the UK HETV Sector. Hosted by BAFTA-winning actress and writer Sophie Willan, the panel welcomed industry members Frith Tiplady, Laki Pattopala, Hannah Thomas and Shelley Rees to discuss how pathways to leadership roles can be as inclusive as other progression initiatives.
Afterwards panel member Laki Pattapola told us about the role ScreenSkills has in supporting the progression of freelancing talent.
At the award ceremony held at the end of the festival, panel host Sophie Willan picked up the Best Actor - Comedy award for her work on her autobiographical BBC comedy, Alma's Not Normal.
Congratulations too to fellow award-winners Warp Films. The Sheffield based company picked up the Production Company of the Year award as well as the Best Drama prize for its breakthrough hit, Adolescence.
The landmark Netflix release was a contributor to the High-end TV Skills Fund and became a clear example of how the Fund works with industry to support the screen workforce at every stage of their career. During production, the show offered vital placements to those on a range of programmes developed and supported by the Fund – from new entrants via the First Break and Trainee Finder programmes, to mid-career professionals taking their next step through the Make a Move initiative.
The production was recognised at the festival for its national and international success, with its writer, Jack Thorne, speaking to Chris Bryant MP at the festival about the wider state of TV within the UK.