The ‘Make it Here’ programme aims to build and support a diverse and skilled crew pipeline to service London’s largest new film studios, addressing barriers faced by residents, such as limited access to networks and training, while promoting the borough as a filming destination.
Background
The ‘Make it Here’ programme, launched in 2022 by Barking and Dagenham Council and MBS Hackman, aims to build and support a diverse and skilled crew pipeline to service London’s largest new film studios. It addresses barriers faced by residents, such as limited access to networks and training, while promoting the borough as a filming destination. Through four priority areas - education and careers; employment and training; supply chain; and community engagement; the programme connects under-represented groups with industry opportunities. It also supports productions and fosters community benefit through events, vocational pathways and infrastructure development, working closely with the borough’s established film locations service.
The challenge
To fully leverage the arrival of the new film studios and emerging creative industries in East London, it is essential to build a trained, agile workforce and a responsive local facility and supply chain. However, several structural and practical challenges must be addressed to ensure inclusive access and long-term sustainability.
These challenges include:
- Residents face significant barriers to entering the film sector, which remains unfamiliar and inaccessible. Creating pathways into an entirely new industry requires targeted outreach, awareness, and tailored support.
- Many trainees lack the hands-on experience and industry-readiness expected by productions, resulting in a disconnect between local talent and employment opportunities.
- Existing schools, colleges and universities in the area often lack specialised, film-focussed programmes.
- Work experience placements, shadowing schemes, and entry-level roles are limited. Without these stepping stones, aspiring crew members struggle to build the practical skills and networks needed to progress.
Another key challenge is to ensure all residents feel included and empowered. By creating accessible entry points into the creative industries, the programme seeks to bring everyone along on the journey. Through community events, screenings, festivals, and digital campaigns it builds local networks and celebrates the borough's identity.
The solution
The Make it Here programme offers a comprehensive, community-focussed and inclusive approach to film industry access. By demystifying the sector and addressing local barriers, it ensures meaningful engagement through accessible resources, tailored support, and clear signposting. Strategic partnerships with ScreenSkills, Film London, BFI, and the British Film Commission align the programme with industry skills gaps and emerging technologies.
The Schools Film Enterprise Programme, now in its second year, provides hands-on filmmaking experiences for students, including a Dragon’s Den-style pitch judged by professionals and collaborative filming days with early-career crews.
A new Collaborative Education Framework connects sixth forms, colleges, and universities, offering set ready training on professional sound stages in addition to industry-led workshops, the creation of peer-to-peer networks, whilst addressing soft skills development, and professional portfolio creation.
To address early-stage opportunity gaps, the programme brokers placements and shadowing with visiting productions to give training - work experience vital for landing paid production roles. A growing crew database supports local talent sourcing, and a forthcoming production directory will connect productions with local goods and services.
Together, these efforts ensure residents, regardless of background or starting points, can access meaningful pathways into the film industry and share in the opportunities it brings.
The impact
A wide range of pilot initiatives across education, training, employment, and community engagement have had tremendous reach and impact:
- Over 4,700 students and parents have engaged in immersive careers events, live broadcasts, and filmmaking competitions.
- Five schools now integrate film into literacy and numeracy, with a 71 per cent increase in KS3 Film and Media delivery and one school introducing Media as a GCSE subject.
- The East London Crew Database has 166 members, with 60 per cent early entrants.
- Over 100 paid Marshall bookings and five studio hires have been secured for residents.
- The Collaborative Education Framework spans five institutions and supports 100 students through Set Ready training, workshops, and peer networking.
- Recent Trailblazers funding (£30,000) supports three new training initiatives for residents, including smartphone filmmaking, SIA-accredited stewarding, and bootcamps for unemployed participants.
- A Mayor’s Fund for London-supported training day with Into Film gave eight students hands-on experience and a guided studio tour.
How is the new approach being sustained?
A key strength of the programme lies in its continued collaborative working with a broad network of partners and institutions. This joined-up approach ensures that our activities remain relevant, inclusive, and aligned with industry standards.
Strong stakeholder management has been central to our success. We maintain close relationships with the new studios, incoming productions, and screen industry-based businesses operating in the borough. These partnerships allow us to broker opportunities, respond quickly to production needs, and ensure local talent is visible and accessible to employers.
To support the sustainability of our training efforts, we also invite visiting productions to contribute to our ‘Pay It Forward’ Training Pot, a dedicated fund that enables us to deliver additional Location Marshall training beyond our core budget. This model not only strengthens community investment but also deepens industry engagement with local workforce development.
To ensure long-term sustainability, we continue to secure in-kind support, sponsorships, and external funding to bolster the original endowment.
Lessons learned
In the early years of the programme, a wide range of pilot initiatives helped identify what works and improvements were needed. These insights led to a more focussed and efficient approach, ensuring deeper engagement and long-term sustainability.
School activity has been streamlined into a single, six-month programme delivered annually, improving consistency, student progression, and cost-effectiveness. Collaboration with education partners has strengthened delivery, allowing for co-created learning experiences and aligned messaging around careers in the screen industries.
Cross-sector partnerships with cultural organisations, training providers, and industry bodies have unlocked new funding and creative opportunities, helping to scale the programme and embed film into wider local development strategies. Promoting inclusion and diversity remains central, with programmes designed to be accessible and reflective of East London’s communities.
Ongoing community engagement has built trust and pride, involving residents in creative projects and training that boost employability and social cohesion. These lessons continue to shape the evolution of the Make It Here programme into a model for inclusive, place-based industry development.
Contact
Contact: [email protected]