Sixty delegates and guest speakers gathered at the West Midland Safari Park, Worcestershire, in early July to discuss diversity, digital skills and production opportunities.
At the RTS Midlands Centre conference, Joe Godwin, director of the BBC Academy and BBC Birmingham, discussed training and apprenticeship schemes, as well as the success of BBC Drama.
The diversity workshop was chaired by former BBC community affairs correspondent Barnie Choudhury, and featured actor and broadcaster Phina Oruche, BBC head of business development Tommy Nagra and Godwin.
Choudhury asked whether diversity had been “highjacked by those who want to stop creativity”, prompting an impassioned debate.
Ian MacKenzie, Channel 4 nations and regions manager, encouraged producers to contact him so he could make introductions and increase production across the region.
Colette Foster, the founder of Birmingham-based factual entertainment indie Full Fat TV, was enthusiastic about the future of television production in the Midlands. The former Joint Managing Director of Remarkable TV has been responsible for some of the most successful popular factual programmes on television, including Channel 4’s Supersize vs Superskinny.
Des Tong, a producer and presenter from Walsall-based local-TV channel Big Centre TV, talked about the region’s newest broadcaster.
Naz Mantoo, audience development manager at the Edinburgh International Television Festival, discussed the development schemes open to young people and those new to the industry at the festival.
BBC trainer Marc Settle offered tips, and showcased apps and gadgets for journalists and producers wanting to get the most out of their smartphones.
