Screen Alliance North is a BFI Skills Cluster, created by Liverpool Film Office, North East Screen, Screen Manchester and Screen Yorkshire with support of the BFI, awarding National Lottery funding.
Screen Alliance North is the collective skills body for the North of England’s screen sector, bringing together the region’s four screen agencies to develop talent, strengthen the workforce, and shape the future of the industry.
We work across the North to improve access to training and career opportunities, address skills gaps, and support a more inclusive and representative screen workforce. Through collaboration with industry, education and communities, we are creating the conditions for people to enter, progress and build sustainable careers in film, television and digital production.
Together, we are helping to ensure that the North remains a globally recognised centre for screen production, powered by a skilled workforce that reflects the diversity, creativity and ambition of the region.
Our Vision
To develop a skilled, inclusive and sustainable screen workforce that reflects the North’s diverse communities and strengthens the region’s position as a world-leading centre for screen production.
Our Mission
To harness our collective expertise and industry influence to strengthen skills development across the North of England, ensuring high-quality, accessible and visible opportunities for all.
A thriving, inclusive Northern screen workforce
Progression and retention matter as much as entry
Our commitment to Good Work, Accessibility and Sustainability
Building the Northern Screen Workforce
Through BFI Skills Cluster investment, Screen Alliance North is strengthening the skills, talent and workforce needed to support the continued growth of the screen sector across the North of England.
The programme connects people with high-quality training, career development and industry opportunities, with a particular focus on widening access for underrepresented communities and ensuring that talent can thrive wherever it is based in the region.
YEAR THREE REVIEW
Together, we are helping to shape a stronger future for the North’s screen sector. This Year Three Review highlights the collective achievements, partnerships and progress that are building a more inclusive and connected workforce across the region.
Supporting Careers at Every Stage
Together, we deliver a range of connected programmes that support skills development, career progression and workforce growth across the screen sector.
Connected Access
We connect Northern communities with opportunities in the screen sector, reaching beyond traditional screen education pathways to engage a broader and more diverse talent pool. By prioritising underrepresented groups and strengthening relationships between industry, educators and communities, we help raise awareness of careers in screen and provide realistic insight into industry opportunities. We also promote and signpost local routes into training, employment and career development across the sector.
Connected Campus
Through our partnerships with higher and further education providers, we support curriculum development, strengthen industry relevance, and connect educators with regional employers.
We help screen students gain a clearer understanding of careers in the industry, providing realistic insight into the opportunities and challenges of working in the sector. At the same time, we promote and signpost local pathways into employment, training and career development, helping emerging talent take their next steps into the screen workforce.
Connected Pathways
We increase access to high-quality, industry-led training in production, craft and technical roles across key screen hubs in the North. By reducing barriers to entry and providing additional support for individuals from lower socio-economic backgrounds, we help emerging talent take their first steps into the industry with greater confidence and stability.
Through a pan-regional network of support, guidance and opportunities, we help people from all backgrounds build sustainable careers in the screen sector.
Connected Development
We support career progression across the screen workforce by helping professionals from underrepresented groups step up into new roles, return to the industry, or develop new skills and specialisms. We also invest in leadership and management development for Heads of Department and other industry leaders across the North.
Alongside this, we work with employers to drive positive cultural change, promoting more inclusive, accessible and environmentally sustainable workplaces. By improving workplace culture and supporting professional development, we aim to increase retention, progression and long-term career sustainability within the Northern screen industry.
Connected North
We work across the North’s key production hubs to improve and align workforce data, creating a clearer picture of local crew capacity, skills shortages, career progression and workforce diversity. By strengthening the evidence base for skills and workforce development, we help identify industry needs, inform future investment and support more effective decision-making across the sector.
Our Industry Advisory Group brings together key stakeholders from across the screen industry, including employers, educators, training providers and sector partners. Their expertise helps shape our priorities, ensuring our work remains responsive to industry needs and supports sustainable workforce growth across the North.
Together, this intelligence and collaboration help attract greater public and private investment into regional skills, workforce and workplace development
Help Shape the Future Workforce
Collaboration is at the heart of everything we do. We work with employers, educators, training providers, freelancers, community organisations and industry partners who share our ambition to build a skilled, inclusive and sustainable screen workforce across the North of England.
Together, we can help shape a sector that is recognised not only for the quality of its talent and production, but also for its commitment to good working practices, health and wellbeing, inclusion and environmental sustainability.
Whether you would like to support our programmes, participate in our activities, share insight and expertise, or explore opportunities to work together, we’d love to hear from you.
Penny Hall
Skills Cluster Partnership Lead
Penny leads on building and strengthening partnerships with screen industry employers across the North, helping to connect industry needs with workforce development activity. She also manages the Industry Advisory Group, bringing together key stakeholders to help shape and champion Screen Alliance North’s vision of a more sustainable, inclusive and supportive screen industry, underpinned by positive working practices and long-term workforce development.
Please contact Penny for enquiries about working in partnership with Screen Alliance North.
Victoria Glass
Marketing and Communications
Victoria manages Screen Alliance North’s marketing and communications activity and coordinates the communications leads in our partner agencies with regard to cluster programme activity.
Please contact Victoria for any communication and marketing enquiries.
Our Partners
Find out more about our four leading screen agencies, Liverpool Film Office, North East Screen, Screen Manchester, and Screen Yorkshire and the work we are doing with leading industry partners, and our advisory group.
