Barking & Dagenham College electrical students took part in a one-day workshop on Wednesday 27th April, which provided an overview of the role of a “Production Electrician”. They learnt about the relationship to other trades and departments on set and the variety of working environments. The highly topical workshop was organised by Film Barking and Dagenham and presented by Toby Dare of MBS Equipment Co. and Television Lighting Designer Bernie Davis, the event was the first in Film Barking and Dagenham’s Make it Here programme.
Bernie Davis, TV Lighting Designer who is from Ilford, comments: “I was excited to hear that major new studio complexes were opening close to home knowing that they would create a big demand for skilled technical staff, and the initiative being taken by the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, Barking & Dagenham College, and MBS Equipment Co. has introduced a fantastic opportunity for local residents to start careers in the film industry. We keep hearing that the UK is a world leader in filmmaking, and it is wonderful to see that today’s students will get a great chance to be part of that success.”
Anna Wilson, Sector Lead for Film Barking and Dagenham, concludes: “We’re delighted to have launched our new ‘Make It Here’ programme with such an engaging industry focused workshop. This scheme is about matching aspiration with real opportunities and giving the wealth of talent in the borough a chance to shine and develop. This is only the beginning of a comprehensive engagement programme for the residents and learners of Barking and Dagenham and we can’t wait to share what’s coming next”.
The feedback from the students was excellent and more workshops are planned for the coming year. A huge thank MBS Equipment Co and partners for sharing their industry knowledge with the college students of Barking & Dagenham, as part of the launch event for Film Barking and Dagenham’s ‘Make it Here’ programme.
