Bristol City Council’s Film Services has secured £245,425 from the BFI National Lottery Places Fund to launch All Set West, a new initiative designed to help underrepresented creatives in the West of England build careers in the growing film and TV industry.
Launching in April 2025, All Set West will provide inclusive training, work placements, and networking opportunities aimed at supporting local talent, particularly from backgrounds currently underrepresented in the workforce. Delivered by The Bottle Yard Studios, Bristol UNESCO City of Film, and Bristol Film Office, the programme will feature training schemes, an online hub with industry resources, and community outreach initiatives.
Additional industry consultation delivered in partnership with the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority will analyse regional industry skills gaps and set a future strategy for addressing workforce development and retention challenges.
The BFI Places Fund aims to create emerging production centres across the UK, with Bristol identified as a key growth area for scripted film and TV production.
Alex Roxton, Senior Skills Programme Manager at the BFI, said: "This partnership between Bristol City Council Film Services and West of England Combined Authority brings a wealth of industry knowledge and expertise, as well as insight into skills gaps and the local growth potential. We believe that together, they can develop a sector skills strategy and training pathways that realise a skilled and representative local workforce."
Dan Norris, the Mayor of the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, says: “All Set West is all set to support the next generation of creative people from across the West of England. Our region produces content that’s watched by over 800 million people around the world each month. We’re rightly renowned for TV and film, and I’m proud to see the National Lottery and BFI are investing in nurturing our talent too. The West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, which I lead, is committed to harnessing our region’s strengths. We invested £12 million to develop three new sound stages at The Bottle Yard Studios. My Mayoral Priority Skills funding has paved the way for All Set West, already helping dozens of young people from under-represented backgrounds secure paid work experience and full-time jobs in TV and film as a result.”
The initiative follows the success of the 2024 West of England Film & TV Workforce Development Programme, which saw 32 of 47 trainees move into paid industry roles.
All Set West will be available to residents of Bristol, Bath, North East Somerset, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire. Participants will receive support in areas such as confidence-building, set etiquette, and job readiness, with a focus on groups including disabled individuals, women, and those from working-class backgrounds.
