Creative industries experts ran intensive training sessions for students as part of a programme focused on the arts and media sectors.
Pupils from Shipley College took part in a week-long series of workshops led by active professionals through Screen Yorkshire’s Connected Campus project.
The curriculum offered practical experience and specialist guidance across film, television, and media production, combining hands-on activities with direct engagement with experienced practitioners.
Debbie Howard, career support manager for Screen Yorkshire’s Connected Campus, explained that the programme had allowed the organisation to develop a strong partnership with Shipley College.
Having working professionals come in to inspire students while sharing crucial knowledge and real-world industry expertise had proved particularly gratifying. Observing young people discover the range of positions available in the screen industries and gain a clearer understanding of the many career options facing content creators across Yorkshire had been fulfilling.
The sessions provided fresh insights into their future career ambitions alongside practical know-how about developing an initial idea into a complete short film.
Howard, an acclaimed filmmaker and founder of Big Buddha Films, spent twenty years performing in front of cameras across cinema and television before moving into directing.
Her short film Safe, produced with backing from BFI Network, earned Best Director and Best Screenplay accolades at the 2023 Aesthetica Short Film Festival, together with further recognition overseas.
She also led masterclasses at the college exploring ways to enter the industry and walked students through the entire production process, using Safe as a working example.
Karen Roch, a British production designer and art director with more than thirty years in the profession, also presented a session dedicated to art direction and production design.
Her production credits include Better, Brassic, The ABC Murders, and Victoria.
Tee Hogan, a filmmaker and photographer from West Yorkshire, ran a content creation and storytelling masterclass focused on building compelling narratives for today’s media platforms.
Hogan noted that delivering the masterclass at Shipley College had been genuinely enjoyable.
The students were open to learning, curious, and fully engaged, which made for an exceptionally effective session.
Creating opportunities for genuine conversation about story structure, creative expression, and carving out one’s own career path is something she deeply cares about, so being asked to share knowledge with the next generation of professionals was especially meaningful.
The college’s Enterprise Hub hosted the programme, which reflects Shipley College’s commitment to industry-connected teaching and career-focused education.
This partnership equips students for further study, job opportunities, and future industry placements through direct contact with working professionals.
Shipley College will welcome its first cohort of T Level Media, Broadcast and Production students this autumn.