County of opportunity illuminated at creative summit
Industry experts discuss how to use, collaborate with and break into Hertfordshire’s creative sector
Home to globally renowned studios and facilities including Warner Bros. and BBC Studioworks, Hertfordshire is considered the epicentre of national film and TV production, with local specialists being recognised for their contributions to Oscar-winning productions.
State-of-the-art Sky Studios Elstree was therefore the perfect creative setting for around 70 curious businesspeople to soak up expert insights.
The Chamber Creative Services Summit was the fourth event in an ongoing series focused on key industries within Hertfordshire and providing a platform for sharing information, ideas and latest thinking, supporting the Chamber’s Local Skills Improvement Plan with valuable member contributions.
CEO Donna Schultz said: “Hertfordshire’s creative sector is thriving, and our Creative Services Summit illuminated the possibilities for those wanting to break into the industry or collaborate with production teams to bring projects to life.
“We would like to thank headline sponsors Sky Studios Elstree and Esprit Digital for their support, and we are grateful to our speakers and panellists for all their inspiring advice.”
Guest speaker Sophie Owen Street, Vice President of Strategy and Business at Sky Studios Elstree, shared insights into the world of production and described collaboration from a studio’s perspective, highlighting that they are always looking for opportunities to work with local businesses and welcome them in for collaborative projects.
Fellow speaker and headline sponsor Peter Livesey of Esprit Digital gave a dynamic presentation taking us through the abundance of digital screens in public environments, detailing their uses and advantages from wayfinding and general information to promotion and advertising. Whether you call them totems, kiosks or mupis, Peter made it clear that digital screens have a wealth of creative potential.
Expert panellists shared their top tips for those wanting to break into the industry, with Simon Larter-Evans, Principal of Tring Park School for the Performing Arts, encouraging people to immerse themselves in networking and position themselves in creative circles if they want to get involved behind the scenes of what they see on TV and in cinemas, stating “it’s about relationships”.
Despite the industry landscape evolving, it is known that that outdated views on creative qualifications still linger. Lucie Scholey, Founder and Creative Director at Launch Studio, remembers tackling questions early on in her career for her choice to study graphic design, and encourages businesses to enlighten young people that the sector thrives on emerging creative talent.
Adam Morley, Sector Lead of Creative Industries and Culture at Hertfordshire Futures, added that large, established studios like Sky Studios Elstree mean that the county of opportunity offers vast employment prospects.
The evening involved lots of networking opportunities and feedback was unanimous that it was a fantastic, insightful event. Members can look forward to more inspiring summits in the series that will shine a spotlight on other key industries in the region.