More than 100 students from across Merseyside are set to take their first steps toward a career in film and television with the chance to learn from some of the leading figures in the industry.
On Thursday, 7 May, 120 young people aged 16 to 24 from 15 schools, colleges, and support programmes across the region will gather at BOXPARK for the Skills Summit.
The Skills Summit is a key component of the Creative Cities Convention (CCC), the UK’s leading conference for producers and distributors in the fields of film, television, and digital media outside of London.
This year, the convention is being held in Liverpool on 6 and 7 May at Camp and Furnace.
The new entrants day is specifically designed to provide a career roadmap for students who are considering the screen industries but are unsure how to enter such a competitive field.
Industry Leaders Providing Career Roadmaps
The event features an opening address from Kit Morey, VP Commissioning Editor at Channel 5 and Paramount+.
Following this, students will attend masterclasses led by prominent figures, including Donna Taberer, Training and Development Consultant for Prime Video Pathway, and Colin McKeown MBE, founder of LA Productions.
Other organisations providing insight include the BBC Academy, Liverpool Football Club, and Amazon MGM Studios.
In addition to these masterclasses, students will engage in hands-on practical training in areas such as Vertical Drama, AI for Creatives, and Development and Pitching.
These workshops focus on specific skills that are currently in high demand across the sector.
Sarah Wood, Head of Skills Summit, commented:
“The screen industries need the talent that’s going to be sitting in those seats, now. Not in five years.
“The Skills Summit exists to make sure talent knows it is wanted, knows where the opportunities are, and leaves the day with something practical and specific to do next.
“The best investment this industry can make is in the people who are just about to arrive.”
Celebrating British Creative Talent
The wider Creative Cities Convention features a roster of high-profile speakers, including the recently confirmed Craig Cash.
Known for his work on The Royle Family, The Mrs Merton Show, and Early Doors, Cash has helped shape British comedy for more than two decades.
His collective work has earned 26 major awards, including BAFTAs and RTS Awards.
He joins other prolific names such as Sir Phil Redmond, legendary writer Jimmy McGovern, and Nicola Shindler, Chief Executive of Quay Street Productions.
Other speakers include Tony Schumacher, writer of The Responder, and Jimmy Mulville of Hat Trick Productions.
The Skills Summit targets freelancers, emerging creatives, and those looking to start a career in the screen industries.
By offering a programme of practical sessions led by established names, the event ensures that the next generation of Merseyside talent has the tools and connections needed to succeed in the media landscape.
The CCC is backed by major broadcasters including the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and Paramount.
