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LONDON – Warner Bros. said Thursday it is planning a “major” new program of investment in skills and training for the U.K.’s creative industries.
Launching in September 2013, Warner Bros. Creative Talent aims to offer scholarships attached to work placements and mentoring, apprenticeships and training courses.
The plan is being set up to give young people from all backgrounds industry experience and insight across Warner Bros.’ U.K. film, TV, games and theater operations.
Billed as a “multi-layered, nationwide investment,” the investment include plans for 12 scholarships at selected U.K. colleges, six apprenticeships with roles ranging from set-lighting to post-production and two trainee positions on every Warner Bros. film production in the U.K.
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No financial details were available at time of going to press.
In addition, following the British Film Institute’s recent plans to upgrade film education programs in the U.K., Warner Bros. and Film Nation U.K. will collaborate to educate thousands of school-aged children around the country about the film industry.
Warner Bros. Creative Talent builds upon Warner Bros.’ recent investments in education and training, which has seen the company become the single largest contributor to Creative Skillset’s Skills Investment Fund (SIF), investing more than $1.56 million (£1 million) over the last nine years.
For the last five years, the company has also been the principal partner of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) enabling the Academy to develop a film, TV and radio division.
Warner Bros. CEO Kevin Tsujihara said: “The U.K. is known for world class creativity and innovation, and some of Warner Bros.’ greatest successes have been produced with British talent. Warner Bros. Creative Talent reinforces our global commitment to supporting the industries and communities in which we operate and our continuing investment in talent.”
Josh Berger, president and managing director, Warner Bros. U.K., Ireland and Spain, said: “As we continue to make more films, TV shows, video games and stage plays here, as well as investing in state-of-the-art studios, we will be calling upon the very best talent the country has to offer. To that end, it is crucially important to us to invest in the next generation, so that we not only have a diverse pool of exceptional talent to work with, but that we also play our part in maintaining the U.K.’s position as a global creative industries leader.”
The Warner Bros. training boost comes on the eve of the Royal inauguration by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Kate Middleton, of Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, the studio facility site on the outskirts of London.
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