BFBS Academy is launching a new Production Manager Course for veterans and service leavers.
Specifically designed to address the post-pandemic shortage of production managers in the media, TV and film industries*, this course is fully-funded by BFBS and offers an intensive six-month vocational training programme, developed in collaboration with these industries. Run by media industry experts, it will equip service leavers with all the skills and relevant experience they need to find rewarding new careers as production coordinators and production managers in these industries.
In addition to the course funding, there is also a £1,500 per month living bursary available for successful applicants.
The course will cover:
- Production workflow from idea conception through to final delivery
- Effective crewing and resource management
- Legal and regulatory frameworks, as well as production risk assessment
- Budget management and financial planning
- Soft skills, including conflict resolution and communicating complex plans to a variety of clients and crews.
June MacMahon, Head of BFBS Academy, said:
“Many of the skills serving men and women will have gained, including planning and communications, the ability to work under pressure and attention to details are all transferable to the production manager role.”
“Our aim with this course is to give service leavers the opportunity to further develop these existing skills, while also acquiring crucial new vocational skills and experience to enable them to find rewarding new careers in an exciting new industry that we know is crying out for the expertise this course will provide.”
The Production Managers Course builds on the success of a previous course run by BFBS Academy for service leavers, which led to an HNC qualification in Creative Media Production. 86% of those who completed the course now have successful careers in media production.
A number of industry partners, including Sky, ITV and All3Media, are endorsing and supporting the new course and all students will have the chance to participate in a work placement with an industry partner during the course.
Jacqui Doyle, Head of Production and Talent at ITV, commented:
“Production management is a great career for anyone with first rate planning, logistical and communication skills that wants to work with creative teams to produce great programmes. At a time of acute industry shortages in this skillset it’s very timely that BFBS are proactively helping us widen the groups we recruit from.”
Joe Healey, BFBS Academy alumni, now Account Manager, BFBS Creative:
“The course that BFBS offered me really was life changing. It offered a supportive training environment with other veterans and reservists in a state-of-the-art classroom. The training wasn’t just limited to the academic stuff, we were also trained in how best to find and secure employment once the course had finished.”
The first Production Manager Course will run from 26th Sept 2022 to 17th March 2023 at the BFBS Academy Headquarters in Chalfont Grove, Buckinghamshire SL9 8TN.
For further information, visit the BFBS Academy website.
* 70 % of broadcasters and production companies have recently reported that they have found it ‘very difficult’ to hire quality production managers and coordinators.
