Budding TV producers in the West Midlands have participated in a specialized training bootcamp tied to the upcoming Peaky Blinders series. The program, involving 60 students, offers practical routes for beginners, mid-level crew, and those with transferable skills. Participants visited filming locations and engaged with industry experts.
A collaborative effort between Kudos Knight—the creative partnership of writer-director Steven Knight and production company Kudos—Solihull College and University Centre, Create Central, and the West Midlands Combined Authority has delivered free bespoke training courses to local aspiring TV professionals. This initiative aligns with the production of a new Peaky Blinders series, set to begin filming later this year at Digbeth Loc studios in Birmingham.
Sixty students joined one of three tailored routes: an entry-level program for industry newcomers, an accelerator for mid-level crew, and a pathway for individuals with skills like carpentry, art department work, hair, and makeup that can transfer to high-end TV production. The bootcamp included practical training sessions and panel discussions led by experts from BBC Studios, Kudos, and Create Central. Participants also received a behind-the-scenes tour of the Digbeth Loc studios, where the series will be shot.
The program aims to build a sustainable local talent pipeline, potentially placing some bootcampers on the show's end credits. Sophie Jolly, bootcamp manager at Solihull College and University Centre, emphasized its value: “It’s so important that we build strong creative communities and a sustainable local talent pipeline, so when production companies come here, there are people equipped with the skills and confidence to step into new productions. We can already see the impact this has in creating real opportunities for local employment. This has been an incredible experience for people who may never have worked in TV before, as well as those with existing skills they want to develop.”
Funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority, the courses support the region's growing creative sector. West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker highlighted the opportunities: “Many of the people on these bootcamps are already taking their first steps towards exciting careers in our rapidly growing creative sector, and there’s no better way to learn the craft than from the very best in the business. Huge opportunities are opening up thanks to the investment we’ve secured from some of the biggest names in global TV and film, putting the West Midlands firmly on the creative map.”
This training underscores efforts to retain local talent, allowing young people to pursue TV careers without leaving the region.