New diversity event in Manchester

Sixty-five executives from television and film will attend the second Move On Up diversity event in Manchester next February.

Called "Move On Up North", the event is organised by BECTU in partnership with the BBC, ITV Granada and CDN North, the diversity network formed by northwest media industry companies last year.

The partners have brought together the broadcasters, independent production, postproduction, facilities and crewhire companies along with all three north of England screen agencies.

This mammoth event aims to facilitate new contacts between black and minority ethnic professionals and industry executives by organising one-to-one meetings at 3sixtymedia Studios on 9 February.

Ten workshops will run alongside, offering information on a range of topics from commissioning through writing, finance and new technology. The deadline for applications to take part is 25 November.

Janice Turner, Move On Up North organiser at BECTU, commented: "We've been hugely encouraged by the support and enthusiasm from the executives when we invited them to take part. Just about everyone we asked immediately agreed to take part. It's going to be an amazing day."

Caroline Roberts, Executive Producer of A Question of Sport and Mastermind at BBC Manchester and chair of CDN North, added: "The BBC, the union and CDN North have built a broad partnership of all the key organisations in the northwest to put on this unmissable event for BME professionals. We're urging every BME media worker to take full advantage and see what the north of England has to offer."

This is the second Move On Up event. After the first event, at the TUC in November 2003, a subsequent survey revealed that the contacts made there helped 10% of the participants to obtain work.

Many other participants valued the advice and information they gained there. The organisers hope Move On Up North will result in even better longterm progress.

Move On Up North is the first of three new diversity events to be organised by BECTU over the next 18 months. The second event will be for the radio industry, and the third will be a London-based film and broadcasting event at the TUC.

These initiatives are being funded by the Equal Fund as part of the AudioVisual Entrepreneurship Development Partnership. This is a broad partnership of film and broadcasting organisations led by Skillset and the UK Film Council.

Also funding or supporting Move On Up North are 3sixtymedia, ITV Granada, the North West Regional Development Agency, NorthWest Vision, Screen Yorkshire, Northern Film and Media, Wider Ethnic Vision, Media Training North West, the TUC and the Department for Culture Media and Sport.

Further information:
Janice Turner at BECTU 020 7346 0900
Caroline Roberts at BBC Manchester 07710 361 249 .