Regional film office Screen Berkshire was officially launched today (3 October) during an event at Shinfield Studios in Reading. 

Screen Berkshire is one of six regional partnerships, established across the UK, which has benefited from BFI Skills Cluster funding to date.

The Skills Clusters are part of the BFI’s nationwide strategy to support screen-sector skills across the nations and regions, and generally comprise several different partners that come together to form the clusters. 
 

Shinfield Studios is a Screen Berkshire partner alongside the University of Reading and Bedlam Film Productions. The organisations were brought together and are led by Slough-based social enterprise Resource Productions CIC, which also established the Berkshire Film Office, with all six local councils. 
 

The partnership will boost the local talent pool by providing opportunities for work and training, as well as improving diversity in the industry and supporting productions that are filming in the region. 
 

As announced earlier in the year, Screen Berkshire (formerly known as the BFI Berkshire Skills for Screen cluster) has been awarded £600,000 BFI National Lottery funding to train and develop emerging and experienced film and TV production crew. 

The three-year programme aims to create opportunities for new entrants to the workforce, those from underrepresented backgrounds, individuals upskilling and over-50s jobseekers returning to work. Screen Berkshire will also support existing crew to upskill and re-skill. 

Screen Berkshire group shot
 

Dominique Unsworth MBE, CEO of Resource Productions CIC said: “Berkshire is at the heart of Britain’s booming film and TV industry, and is already home to world-class studios and crew.
 

“Screen Berkshire is focused on providing opportunities for Berkshire people of all backgrounds to train or update their skills, to help match the continued high demand for skilled crew. A more diverse production staff, and a broader pipeline of technical and creative talent, is crucial to the future of the industry. Through Screen Berkshire, we have the plan and the partners to achieve it.” 
 

Shinfield Studios hosted today’s event on one of its 13 completed sound stages. The site will be fully operational in early 2024 and includes 18 sound stages, a 9-acre filming backlot, workshop facilities, contemporary office space, sustainable facilities and production support facilities, such as post- production services.
 

Inside Shinfield Studios
 

Additional financial and organisational support for the three-year programme has already been provided by Shinfield Studios, University of Reading, all six Berkshire local authorities; Wokingham, Reading, West Berkshire, Windsor and Maidenhead, Bracknell Forest and Slough, as well as Bray Film Studios, Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership and Berkshire Local Skills Investment Plan.

Photos via Shinfield Studios and Katherine Munden.