Pinewood launches studio management diploma

Pinewood Studios is launching a new studios management diploma, to help train current and potential studio managers in the UK across Pinewood’s international network.

The Diploma will be delivered by longtime Pinewood partner Amersham and Wycombe College. The diploma has received partial funding from Creative Skillset.

Areas of study include managing facilities, contractors, budgets and assets amongst others. The course will be rolled out to the wider industry in the future.

A steering group, chaired by Andrew Noakes of EON Productions, and including Sarah Buckenham of Princess Productions has been established. The course will be lead by Kas Lee.

HRH The Duke of York [pictured] visited Pinewood to meet the young apprentices this week.

Andrew M. Smith, Director of Strategy and Communications for the Pinewood Studios Group said: “We are so pleased that The Duke of York was able to launch the new Pinewood Studios Management Diploma. This is a really important initiative for the Company to ensure that we are training our staff to successfully and efficiently operate a world-class facility for our clients – no matter what part of the creative industries they are from. It is especially important, as our new studios around the world come online, to make sure that productions experience the same high level of quality they have come to expect from Pinewood in the UK.

“I am also thrilled that Andrew Noakes and Sarah Buckenham have agreed to sit on our steering committee to lend their experience and to make sure that we are responding directly to the specific needs and requirements of major productions.”

Gill Clipson, Principal & Chief Executive of Amersham and Wycombe College added: “Amersham and Wycombe College has worked with Pinewood Studios for many years, training its apprentices. When the opportunity came up to strengthen our relationship by helping them to develop this new Management Diploma, we were thrilled; it’s fantastic for the College to be involved in this project and brilliant to see a major UK company investing in the training of its staff in this way. Our teachers also deliver this course and we are very proud that we are contributing to the success of Pinewood’s highly skilled and world-renowned workforce.”