ANYONE interested in a career in film and television has one week left to apply for courses designed to meet growing demand for local skilled crews.

The five part-time training courses are in crafts identified as ‘in demand’ - lighting, hair and make-up, costume, grip and production assistant. Run by the National Film and Television School (NFTS) Leeds, they will be taught by tutors alongside film and TV professionals through practical training in person, online tutorials, online masterclasses and mentoring support. A work experience module is planned if Covid restrictions permit. No previous experience is required and bursaries to cover training fees are available to those who qualify for support.

Demand for local crews is high, as Covid-secure film and TV production continues in the region. Productions that have filmed or are currently filming here include Gentleman Jack, which shot scenes in Bingley in December, Kay Mellor's The Syndicate which filmed in locations including Burley-in-Wharfedale and Apperley Bridge, Anne Boleyn, a Channel 5 thriller about the final months of the queen's life, shot at East Riddlesden Hall and Oakwell Hall in Birstall, and school drama Ackley Bridge. Meet The Richardsons, a documentary about comic Jon Richardson, is shot in and around Hebden Bridge.

The courses, to be delivered from March to July supported by Screen Yorkshire in partnership with education providers including Keighley College, are part of Centre of Screen Excellence: Yorkshire, a ScreenSkills initiative supported by the BFI. Meabh O’Donovan, Head of NFTS Leeds, said filling the courses is "key to ensuring the local screen industry has a consistent pipeline of job-ready trainees for years to come”.

The programme was launched shortly before the first lockdown in 2020, with film and TV talent from around the world delivering online masterclasses. Bethan Tanner, production assistant trainee, said: “My course has been life-changing. I had no experience whatsoever and I've been working fulltime in TV since July - in a pandemic!"

Yorkshire’s film and TV production industries are booming; between 2014 and 2019 spending on high-end TV shows in the UK almost tripled from £640m to just under £1.7bn, creating thousands of skilled jobs. Glyn Middleton, Head of Skills at Screen Yorkshire, said: “These courses are vital for the future wellbeing of the TV and film industry. All the signs suggest that this region will again be a booming production when the pandemic has receded and it’s important to have a well-trained workforce to cover all jobs and roles”.

* Visit screenyorkshire.co.uk