ScreenSkills and The Adobe Foundation partner for Skills for Change conference

ScreenSkills and The Adobe Foundation partnered for the Skills for Change conference in London this week to discuss issues of equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in the screen industries.

The free-to-attend event saw four sessions explore the role of skills in shaping the culture and inclusivity of the film and TV industry in the UK and highlight the ways in which innovation could drive success across the sector.

The event was hosted by Channel 4 news presenter and journalist, Ayshah Tull, who opened the day alongside Laura Mansfield (CEO, ScreenSkills). Laura was then joined by Miranda Wayland (CEO, Creative Diversity Network), Mel Rodrigues of Creative Access and Pete Johnson (CEO, British Screen Forum) for the first panel, Why is the D Word so Difficult? Framed by the challenges of embedding EDI practices in the workplace, the panel discussed how to remove barriers to entry and the role of skills, training and development programmes in changing behaviour and culture in the screen industries.

The second session was Lights, Camera, Action? The panel, formed by SJ Wright (Working Title), Kate Larking (Duck Soup); Vici King (Magic Light Pictures), David Sayer (Hello Sunshine Productions) and Tolu Stedford (Story Compound), invited conversation between production companies and specialists on implementing diversity and inclusion in production spaces. What are the challenges and barriers? How can career training and development create solutions and opportunities.

An afternoon In Conversation session welcomed screenwriter Tony Schumacher to discuss how his career journey and progression within TV, and how the sector has evolved in terms of creating opportunities.

Tony, who credits the High-end TV Skills Fund New Writers Mentorship programme with pairing him with Jimmy McGivern and helping develop The Responder, is one of the guests on the new ScreenSkills podcast, available to listen to, now.

They were followed by a Spotlight on training providers session where the topic turned to how to embed practices into skills training that are as inclusive and accessible to everyone. The panel was made up by Eli Beaton (TV Access Project); Michelle Felix (Triple C); Amy Gustin (BIFA); Edi Smockum (thinkBIGGER!) and Dominique Unsworth (Resource Productions), who shared their thoughts, experiences and ideas of best practice.

Eli Beaton spoke to The ScreenSkills podcast about the TV Access Project’s 5As initiative and how to adopt them within a workplace. Listen now via the link below or wherever you get your podcasts.

Before a closing message by Laura Mansfield, Dr Amit Patel (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Consultant, Motivational Speaker, Author and Broadcaster) gave the final talk of the day. He spoke about his experiences of losing his sight and the practicalities of navigating a career in the TV industry from a background in medicine.

Hear more from Dr Amit Patel on episode two of The ScreenSkills podcast, available from November 13, as he answers your questions.