Kudos Knight, the creative partnership between multi-award-winning writer, director and executive producer, Steven Knight, and leading scripted label Kudos (part of Banijay UK), is partnering with Solihull College & University Centre, Create Central, and West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) to deliver bespoke training courses for local talent aligned with the new series of Peaky Blinders which has just been announced.
Designed to create opportunities for 60 people from the West Midlands region, the scheme will offer three specific courses – one for those starting out in scripted production, one aimed at accelerating mid-level crew with two or more scripted production credits, and a third for those with skills which are transferable to high end TV production (such as carpenters, art dept, hair & makeup). The schemes will be of a combination of talks, practical training and masterclasses delivered by a range of senior production roles. The ambition is to provide crew ready to take up roles in high end TV made in the West Midlands including Peaky Blinders.
Martin Haines, Joint MD at Kudos, said: “Martin Haines, Joint MD at Kudos, said: “The West Midlands has huge potential to be a world-renowned centre of excellence for high end scripted television production. Kudos Knight’s pipeline of projects is coming to fruition, and I’m delighted that we are going to be making Peaky Blinders in the region. We must grow the number of skilled local talent to work on productions, so we are delighted to be partnering with Create Central, the WCMA and Solihull College & University Centre to deliver this important training for the region.”
Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “It’s boom time for our region’s entertainment industry, with our first major studios up and running and investment pouring in from some of the biggest names in the world of TV and film. That’s why we’re investing heavily in our young people, so they have the skills to land exciting careers in our fast-growing entertainment sector and help make the West Midlands the creative capital of the UK.”
Head of Creative Bootcamps at Solihull College & University Centre Sophie Jolly says, “This is a great opportunity for people to get into working on high end TV productions, made right here in the West Midlands. The 3 bootcamps we are offering will give local people the chance to step into a new industry or further their skills. Steven knight and Kudos Knight have shown their commitment to the talent across the West Midlands. We will work very closely with Kudos Knight on the bootcamps which will involve guest speakers and workshops. We want to see local people in these jobs, closing the skills gap in the industry.”
Ed Shedd, Chair of Create Central, said: “Our hugely successful industry-first model, pioneered through Create Central’s bootcamps, is all about connecting diverse local talent with real jobs. Partnering with Kudos Knight, WMCA and Solihull College on this exciting new scheme will help us continue to fill vital skills gaps while opening up genuine opportunities for people from all backgrounds to build long-term careers in high-end TV production.”
Kudos Knight was established in April 2022 with the ambition of creating a thriving scripted pipeline in the West Midlands and growing a skilled local work force. These newly announced training courses follow the scripted production scheme which ran in Digbeth last year. The full time four-week course was delivered by BAFTA winning MAMA Youth in partnership with BFA (Birmingham Film Academy).
