Amazon Prime Video pledges £10m for UK film and TV training, partners with NFTS

Amazon’s streaming service Prime Video is investing £10m across three years in a new training initiative, titled Prime Video Pathway, to open up jobs in the UK film and TV industry.

The multifaceted initiative includes a collaboration with the National Film and Television School (NFTS) to create a new academy programme, which aims to offer places to 75 people per year, who will then be given the chance to apply for craft and technical roles on Prime Video commissioned projects in the UK. At least 50% of participants selected will come from outside London.

Prime Video has also committed to fund and co-programme two NFTS courses supporting the entry of new diverse voices into TV and film production. The Prime Video Directors Workshop is a 12-month course for six students, commencing in May 2022, to increase the number of people from underrepresented groups working in screen directing.

Prime Video becomes co-sponsor of the NFTS’ Post Production Supervision Certificate, a course designed to give a grounding in post-production management. Prime Video will fund an additional intake of students to start in September 2022, doubling the number of people on the course.

The £10m will also fund a stepping-up scheme into all future Amazon Original UK productions, as well as Prime Video’s ongoing apprenticeship programmes, with more than 30 apprenticeship roles now open.

Prime Video’s investment in UK production has intensified of late – the company is a partner on ScreenSkills’ apprenticeship programme, funding half the places, and has recently taken out its first long-term studio space deal in the UK, at Shepperton Studios.

The 2022/23 Prime Video UK slate includes The Devil’s Hour, Mammals, Jungle, The Rig and The Lord Of The Rings: Rings Of Power.