The audience at this year’s RTS Midlands Student Television Awards left knowing much more about the current state of the TV industry, how to get started – and, especially, the importance of networking.

The top piece of advice from the awards host, young actor and director Theo Johnson, was to “network your socks off”.

He added: “You’re always one step away from the person who can change your life, trust me. It’s been the most important thing for me. But be polite, don’t be scary or stalkery.”

Doctors actor Elisabeth Dermot Walsh, an awards judge who had suggested the feedback session for the students, addressed “the elephant in the room” – that the Birmingham-made daytime soap has been cancelled after 24 years.

“It’s like a factory has closed,” she said. “There are dark times here in Birmingham, but judging the Student Awards I was reassured, uplifted and filled with positivity about the future of the industry.

“Be very proud that you are here. You have something that you should be flaunting and sending to people. The RTS is so respected in the industry, so you shouldn’t be waiting.”

During the “Learning the landscape” panel session, one of a number of masterclasses, the advice of Martin Simms, from Create Central, was to “attend industry events, utilise social media to connect, sign up to newsletters to know about opportunities and, above all, be proactive”.

Sam Rifkin, from Filming in England, talked about the opportunities in the industry across many departments: “If you’re not sure what you want to do, ask yourself three key questions: what are you good at, what do you enjoy and how can your qualifications and experience help you at this point?”

She added that, because of national skills shortages, trainees were urgently needed in accounts and art departments, on location and as grips, as well as script supervisors, edit assistants, production secretaries and first assistant directors.