Sky x LSA: Partnership Highlight

At LSA, we are incredibly lucky to be supported by a number of organisations and individuals from the screen industries.  This month, we would like to shine a spotlight on our partnership with Sky, one of our Founding Industry Partners, who joined us before we officially opened our doors, and who have provided us with invaluable funding and support throughout our journey so far.  Sky’s commitment to young people, the creative industries and diversity is inspirational and very closely aligned with the mission of the LSA.  

Our partnership began with the Sky News Documentary project. This project launched in November 2019 with the students presenting a 30 second clip about issues that affect them and their communities to their tutors. Students were then grouped according to the common community issues they identified and were tasked with making a documentary about these issues. While the project was disrupted by the pandemic, we are thrilled that it has now restarted and is back on track.  When the documentaries have been completed, a panel of Sky and industry experts will judge the work and the winning creators will be invited to complete a week’s work experience at Sky. All shortlisted groups will be offered a Sky Academy Session.

Sky has been instrumental in helping us develop diversity and inclusion initiatives within the school, providing both funding and advice on our community outreach programming to help ensure we reach as diverse an audience as possible through our recruitment activities. The UK screen industries face an on-going skills shortage and a stark lack of diversity.  The mission of LSA - to transform the UK screen industries by enabling access to all, regardless of background, and to develop the most well-rounded and highly skilled workforce possible – seeks to address these shortcomings.  Sky has long been a supporter of diversity initiatives in the industry, recognising the need for those behind the camera to reflect the cultural makeup of the audiences that we are trying to reach.  Through our partnership, we will take steps towards diversifying the industry workforce in the UK, and creating employment opportunities for young people.