Chaired by award-winning journalist Nadine Dereza, the panel consisted of Joe Godwin, Director of the BBC Academy and BBC Birmingham; Jude Winstanley, a production manager and the founder of online jobs board The Unit List; Arit Eminue, Director of training organisation DiVA; and Sara Putt of film and TV crew agency Sara Putt Associates.

Faced with an audience from a variety of positions within TV, Putt was upbeat about prospects for new starters, a sentiment echoed by Godwin, who highlighted how BBC recruitment has become less London-centric.

Godwin said that more opportunities than ever exist for newcomers to showcase their talent on social media. “All companies are looking for talent, passion and hunger to succeed – so demonstrate that. Keep making stuff, and put it on YouTube or Vimeo,” he advised.

Eminue agreed, adding that while people write that they are passionate about television on their CV, the key is being able to show, not tell.

Several speakers pointed out that apprenticeships in the industry are now a good alternative to degree courses.

Winstanley advised that freelancing wasn’t to be feared, as it helps build experience and contacts. But she added that new starters should never work for free. Putt agreed, stating an agent may be a luxury, but many freelancers struggle to run the business side of their careers.

The panel offered tips on how to format CVs, submit scripts and move between TV genres.

An audience member asked how to become a presenter, and Godwin advised that it is difficult and dependent on a showreel and “talent, talent, talent and luck”. He added that the best way to learn is to watch lots of television.

For a full account of the event, see the Twitter feed @RTS_London.