This 16 year old wants a job as a stuntman. That 17 year old wants to be a costume designer. I have a young student who is passionate about computer games. What careers guidance can I give them? As a careers adviser, where do I get good advice? RTS Yorkshire, partnered with Skillset and Screen Yorkshire, hosted two half-day seminars, in Leeds and York, for careers professionals. Both events were over-subscribed with more than ninety delegates travelling from as far afield as Scunthorpe, Pickering, Hull and even Manchester to take part in lively information exchange and debate. The focus of their interest was the introduction and piloting of the new 14-19 Diplomas, specifically the Diploma in Creative and Media. Ruth Palmer from Skillset gave an overview of how advisers can benefit from Skillset’s extensive online resources. Other industry speakers advised on career pathways in television, in acting and presenting, and computer games, and their talks were laced with ‘inside information’ and delivered with passion and wit. Dee Marshall, M.D. of her own production company, urged advisers not to encourage students who are anything less than passionate, who have perseverance and even perhaps ‘a bit gobby’.

Advisers clearly found it difficult to connect with the fast-changing digital industries, and especially the new, or perhaps not so new, ‘new media’. Thus the aim of these seminars was to build a bridge between education and industry, or at least dispel some myths each had of the other.

‘Speed dating’ allowed groups of advisers to chat to a range of industry professionals from film, independent production and web design, and two young entrants to film and television spoke about life as a runner. We hope that advisers left the events armed with accurate and current information, signposts to a range of industry resources and, most importantly, an answer to those young people’s ambitions above. Feedback comments “Most useful event I have attended for ages” and “a Fantastic event -so much valuable information in a relatively short time from people in the industry...would love more events" suggest that we have achieved our aim!

David Browne