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A Welsh language skills and talent initiative upskilling the next generation of people working in the TV industry via on-set training at BBC Studios Drama Productions has been commended by the Minister for Creative Industries, Jack Sargeant.

The Pobol y Cwm Academy, launched at the National Eisteddfod earlier in the year, is an initiative from Stop Un Stop / One Stop Shop, who provide a clear, coherent and transparent way for creatives to enter or progress within the film and TV industry in Wales.

A collaborative partnership of Welsh training providers, further and higher educators and industry organisations, Siop Un Stop / One Stop Shop is the BFI’s Skills Cluster for Wales, led by Sgil Cymru and with the support of BBC Studios and the Welsh Government, via Creative Wales. 

The Minister for Creative Industries, Jack Sargeant, recently visited the latest cohort of trainees during a busy day of working on the set of Welsh language soap opera, Pobol y Cwm, which recently celebrated 50 years on air.

During his visit, the Minister said:

It’s fantastic to visit BBC Studios and the Pobol y Cwm Academy to see this truly innovative way of teaching new skills to people entering the industry for the first time, and up-skilling others in a live environment, and in a creative sector that is growing in Wales.

Creative Wales is committed to working in partnership with the screen sector, and this training scheme is an excellent example of that.

The Welsh Government is pleased to provide £300,000 of funding over two years towards the BFI Skills Cluster for Wales, ensuring a coordinated approach to training for those looking to enter the sector as well as those already working in it.

The Pobol y Cwm Academy - a BBC Studios-led initiative - took place over 12 days, offering a combination of classroom training and hands-on experience including the trainees delivering a five-day shoot. An earlier group received training on BBC Studios’ Welsh language drama production Anfamol in October.

Each trainee was fully supported by an experienced Head of Department, as well as receiving full pastoral support from the BBC Studios Training Executive.

Aled Owen, one of the Pobol y Cwm Academy trainees, spoke about his experiences of the scheme:

The Pobol y Cwm Academy offers the opportunity to learn from long-term television that shoots year-round. It’s both a safety net for people working within the industry, and it’s very exciting. 

It’s important to have things like Pobol y Cwm, and new things, which happens to be based in Wales, so that Wales’ character is on the screen for people all over the world to see.

The mile-a-minute nature of Pobol y Cwm has impressed me to no end. I am just honoured to have been a fly on the wall during this academy, getting to witness the amazing work that’s going on here.

Kris Green, BBC Studios Training Executive, said:

It’s been a real privilege to see the trainees develop their skills through the Pobol y Cwm Academy. These young creatives will finish their training with skills and experiences that put them in an excellent position to further develop their careers and continue to make inspiring content. BBC Studios is committed to developing the next generation of editorial and production talent and the Pobol y Cwm Academy is a shining example of that in action.

Zoe Rushton, Talent Executive, Producer and Siop Un Stop / One Stop Shop Mentor, said:

It’s a pleasure to support such a positive initiative. The trainees have had the rare opportunity to learn in a real-life environment and develop key skills which they can then put to use in the wider screen industry in Wales.

Sara Whybrew, Director of Skills and Workforce Development at the BFI, said: 

We created Skills Clusters across the UK to establish a localised approach to skills and workforce development. We want to ensure our funding supports local partners who have the expertise and connections with their local industry to best train and prepare those seeking to enter and progress careers in the screen sector on their doorstep.

I am proud to see the success of programmes such as the Pobol y Cwm Academy in Wales, brought about as a result of the vision and leadership of the many partners who came together to make it happen.