Entertainment Partners and Netflix Pledge £500K ($608K) to New PGGB Talent Development Fund

LONDON, 25 January 2023: Entertainment Partners and Netflix have each pledged £250k ($308k) to form a new £500k ($608k) Production Guild of Great Britain (PGGB) Talent Development Fund, that will support the development and progression of film and high-end TV production talent across the UK.

Announced last night at the Guild’s inaugural Talent Showcase event in Central London, the new PGGB Talent Development Fund will invest in specialist training for below-the-line professionals working in roles represented by its members, including production accountants, production managers, line producers and assistant directors, all of which are in high demand in the UK’s thriving production climate.

Lyndsay Duthie, PGGB CEO says: “We are delighted to announce the new PGGB Talent Development Fund. With somewhere in the region of 20,000 extra crew needed by 2025, this investment comes at a pivotal time. This new Fund will help upskill future production talent – we thank Entertainment Partners and Netflix for pledging their incredible support. This will make a difference, add value and create a real legacy.”

“Entertainment Partners is pleased to partner with The Production Guild of Great Britain and Netflix to launch the Talent Development Fund,” says Mark Goldstein, President and CEO of Entertainment Partners. “The Fund will immediately help build a more inclusive industry while providing the qualified, trained crew that is critically needed to support the explosion of film and high end television production in the British market.  We look forward to welcoming the next generation of production talent in Great Britain.”

Alison Small, Netflix Grow Creative UK Manager, said: “We’re thrilled to support the new PGGB Talent Development Fund and are deeply committed to ensuring the UK’s film and TV industry continues to thrive. Nurturing future production talent, particularly in these sought-after roles, not only helps bridge the skills gap and improve diversity, but builds on our long-term ambition to be the studio that provides the most meaningful training opportunities in the UK."

More than 250 industry figureheads, newcomers, students, educators and skills bodies gathered at The Savoy Hotel last night for PGGB’s first Talent Showcase, presented in association with Disney Content Studios, supported by Entertainment Partners.

The Production Guild of Great Britain (PGGB)

Founded in 1999, PGGB is the UK’s leading membership organisation for those working in film and TV drama production. It represents experienced production professionals active in the fields of accounts, production, location management, assistant directing, VFX and post-production. 

With 1,050 members and more than 150 company affiliates, it provides members with industry advice, employment opportunities, training, networking and seminars. Its availability service provides members’ availability for work to UK and international film and TV productions and HoD’s, detailing their credits, skills and production history. Delivering informed and expert knowledge on key production issues to members, government and as part of industry consultations, The Production Guild of Great Britain is the leading voice of the UK production industry. www.productionguild.com 

Entertainment Partners

Entertainment Partners has been a trusted production partner to the entertainment industry for over 45 years, helping clients create and produce great shows, choose the best production location, forecast, manage and track expenses, and pay crew and talent.  As a global leader in entertainment payroll, and production finance and production management solutions, EP delivers integrated, cloud-based digital solutions to support every phase of production.  EP’s team of experts have decades of experience in the entertainment industry providing rich insights on global and domestic incentives, workers compensation, health care, labour issues, and regulatory compliance. And EP brings together background casting and digital production technology with the Casting Portal, the leading SaaS-based platform that has transformed the way background actors are found, hired, managed and paid, and the iconic and legendary Central Casting. www.ep.com

Netflix

Netflix is one of the world's leading streaming entertainment services with 231 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, documentaries, feature films and mobile games across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can play, pause and resume watching, as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, and can change their plans at any time. www.netflix.com