Building Aspirations with a Screen Industry Careers Masterclass

In September 2025, we delivered an interactive masterclass to students at Barking & Dagenham College in London where we were joined by James Everett, a prop and set designer and art department specialist for film, TV, and theatre. The session aimed to demystify careers in the screen industries, raise awareness of ‘hidden' job roles and provide valuable insights and information about relevant skills and pathways.

Everett shared his personal journey, emphasizing how his initial degree in engineering proved valuable in his creative career. He discussed the importance of being proactive, seizing opportunities, and continually learning new skills to be ready for emerging roles. The masterclass included myth-busting about working in the screen industries and a Q&A session where students could explore his unique career route.

We were delighted to find that participants who completed a post event evaluation found the masterclass to be hugely insightful, with 100% of respondents agreeing or strongly agreeing that the session had increased their awareness of careers and job roles in the screen industries, and of the relevant skills required for prop and set design.

One respondent commented: "It gave me more awareness of more routes into the industry."

Katie Morgan, Curriculum Manager for Digital Arts at Barking & Dagenham College, said: "The masterclass that James Everett delivered was really inspirational for the students. He provided valuable information about career paths, creative opportunities and how he found work within the film and tv industry, along with showcasing the work that he does. He gave insight into how you can get opportunities within the creative industries by being proactive and grabbing any opportunity to gain experience and to continually learn skills in order to be ready to jump into any opportunity that may arise."

We're delighted that the masterclass successfully inspired students and broadened their understanding of career possibilities in the screen industries. The session's interactive format and real-world insights equipped attendees with practical knowledge and the confidence to explore opportunities in the screen sector.