Production Futures enjoys action-packed year
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Having run a series of successful live events from its inception in 2016 to 2019, the organisation produced several equally popular online events during the pandemic, before returning in 2022 to forge new partnerships and deliver its nationwide On Tour programme.
Working with 47 brand partners and bringing to the table the wisdom of a number of acknowledged industry experts, Production Futures this year opened many more doors of opportunity for young people at its events. With a mission to inspire, teach and make real connections, the On Tour programme saw more than 1,800 young people visit venues across five UK cities and towns to gain first-hand experience of the exciting employment and training possibilities within the production sector.
Production Futures CEO Hannah Eakins is in no doubt about the value of the On Tour events: “As well as allowing young people to engage with and speak directly to potential employers, Production Futures is introducing a wealth of latent talent to our partners that will be be the backbone of this growing industry for years to come. The companies who work with us are unanimous in their view that the mutual benefits of this initiative cannot be overstated.”
In addition to facilitating face-to-face engagement between young people and production partners, the On Tour events saw industry associations join with brand representatives to present panels and workshops on a wide range of subjects, designed to give deeper insights into available career paths. Away from the ‘shop floor’ of the events, the organisation also hosted a seminar at PLASA 2022 to discuss solutions to the skills shortage in the live sector. Creating an Inclusive Workforce - How Can the Industry Attract Young Talent featured a panel of industry experts and attracted a large and very interested audience.
An important part of Production Futures mission, according to Eakins, is to reach out to other organisations whose work can positively impact the experience of young people entering the industry:
“This year we’ve become Federation Members of Creative UK, an independent network that unites the creative industries and generates opportunities within the sector by investing in creative individuals and businesses. Another area that is central to our aims is to challenge harassment and discrimination within the industry.
“We want to help create an environment where young people are protected and are supported if they face difficult issues at work. With this in mind we collaborated with the Association For Electronic Music (AFEM) to support its campaign against sexual harassment and gender discrimination, and adopted its code of conduct for our own events. We look forward to forging similar links next year.”
Production Futures is looking forward to an extensive programme of events in 2023. Its Breakthrough Awards, which recognise the contributions of up-and-coming talent across the sector, received a record number of nominations in 2022, a clear indication that its work is having a positive impact in fostering mutually assured success across the production industry.
