Working in the Media Industry

 Employment Within the Industry

Ideally, after finishing my education I would like to work in the film and tv industry. I will be conducting research into this industry, such as what jobs are available, what type of pay these jobs would receive, and what skills are required to pursue these jobs.

Using the college's Student Life website and the 'Careerometer' on the site, I have found that most roles in film and tv are projected to grow by 0.9% by 2027 and that around 55-57% of the current workforce is set to retire, which will then create more opportunities.

Using helpful sites such as Careerpilot, I was able to research what job roles I could go into with creative media. A few of these roles include animator, audio visual technician, editorial assistant, and TV or film director.

One of these roles that I am particularly interested in is TV or film director, and upon researching more into this role I have found out that to get into this type of job you would need to go to university and most likely start out by making your own films.

After researching more into these roles, I figured out that to even start pursuing these types of jobs, you need a deep understanding of media production, the ability to use initiative, leadership skills, and good attention to detail.

There are quite a few film companies in the UK, though many may not be well known. Some of these include BFI (British Film Institute), All3media, and Ealing Studios. As for TV companies, there are companies such as ITV, BBC, and Channel 4, which are all well known as they are the UK's leading TV companies.

Because of the amount of film and TV companies in the UK, there may also be a lot of job opportunities to work at these places, which would be a good place to start getting into the industry, as you could gain a lot of experience in these companies, and you could gain and develop more essential skills to start a career in the industry.

There has also been news of new production companies opening around the North East, which is said to create thousands of new jobs for people living in the North. Seeing as there are not many production companies in the North as of now, the openings of new studios for film and TV will greatly impact the entire industry.

Employment Search

For the majority of jobs, people use sites such as Indeed and LinkedIn, and whilst these are good sites, they may not have a variety or abundance of media-related jobs. If you were to search 'media' on indeed, you would get results such as social media content creator, or executive social media specialist. Whilst these relate to media in some way, they are not exactly film and TV or journalism media.

The best way to get a job in any media would be to directly contact production companies and ask if they are hiring or if you can gain some experience. Some places like the BBC, they have a designated careers site, which you can go onto and navigate around to find out how to get a career at the company or even get an apprenticeship.

When you click on 'We're Hiring' it takes you to a job search page, and when you search TV in the UK, there are a lot of jobs relating to it.

On sites like the BBC Career website, it is easy to find jobs in the film and TV sector, as well as journalism, but as said before, the best way to get into a career in the industry is most likely to contact companies directly, ask if there are any job openings and then to send them your portfolio, so that way they can see what work you have done, and if you would be a good fit for the job.

For most jobs in this industry, the skills and experience vary. If you were to apply for a job as a video editor, you would need a vast knowledge of editing techniques, and perhaps an understanding of different editing software, as not every media, film, or TV company would use the same software (Premier Pro, DaVinci, etc.)

Most media industry jobs are located in the south of the UK, but recently there have been more job openings around the Northern area, such as Fulwell 73 in Sunderland and BBC in Newcastle.

Apprenticeship Search

With apprenticeships, it is an opportunity to earn and learn valuable skills within the industry. You are given the chance to study a nationally recognized qualification and usually takes between one and five years to complete and cover a wide range of industries and occupations.

There are four different types of apprenticeships:

Intermediate apprenticeships are typically considered to be the same level as five GCSE passes. These are a great way to get started with your career in an entry-level role within an organization.

Advanced apprenticeships are considered to be the same level as two or three A-level passes. Many individuals who have completed their A levels or other level 3 qualifications will undertake an advanced apprenticeship as it will enable them to gain experience in the workplace and undertake a variety of different tasks. 

Higher apprenticeships include qualifications at level 4 and above. They can be suitable for those looking to progress from level 3 qualifications, including advanced apprenticeships. 

Degree apprenticeships are offered by universities and other higher education providers. They contain either a full degree or degree-level qualification and go up to the master's level (which is post-graduate). 

I started to research possible apprenticeships in the film and TV production sector and using the site UK Screen Alliance, I found a list of apprenticeship standards directly relevant to film and TV. Some apprenticeships are listed as available, while others are listed as approved and awaiting providers.

You can start an apprenticeship at any level, though some may require previous qualifications such as an English or maths GCSE, and some may give extra training in English or maths skills so you are at the right level. You must be aged 16+ to start an apprenticeship.

There are a few companies in the UK offering apprenticeships, such as the BBC and Fulwell 73, to name a couple, and as for the skills required, I believe it would vary on what area the apprenticeship was in and what type it was (level 3 apprenticeship in animation for example.)