AVE Film article
In the last couple of years, well over 700 people from groups under-represented in the UK's creative media industries have had their lives changed. Thanks to the support of the Audio Visual Entrepreneurship Development Partnership (AVEDP), their talent, rather than who they know, has helped them get ahead in their careers.
And now they've made a short film to showcase how the AVEDP has made a difference on many levels - not just in spotlighting the talent of a large group of people, but in breaking down a range of preconceptions held by the industry.
Watch their stories here:
The AVEDP was created by Skillset in partnership with the UK Film Council in 2005. It is funded by Equal, the European Social Fund initiative which tests and promotes new means of combating discrimination and inequalities in the labour market. The success of the initiative has been underpinned throughout by support from broadcasters, trade unions, Regional Screen Agencies, employers and training providers.
22 projects have been run, aimed at developing entrepreneurship and increasing diversity. At the heart of these projects has been innovation, exploring new approaches to supporting individuals from under-represented groups in developing the skills, knowledge and experience they need - whether to develop successful creative media businesses, get their careers started or to re-enter the industry after time out.
Each of the successful projects has confirmed what Marc Boothe, from the Compass Point project at B3 Media says in the film, "If you provide the opportunity for talent, they'll rise to the challenge."