Sky Up Academy Studios in Elstree is a first-of-its-kind learning facility within a working film studio. It aims to inspire around 10,000 students to explore careers in the film and TV industry every year. The academy offers immersive learning experiences for young people aged 11 to 18, helping them discover the range of roles available, raising their aspirations, and equipping them with essential skills for the future.
The day began with a tour of the studio, where the young people attending the Services for Young People (SfYP) holiday activity programme learnt about the creative industry and the different jobs they could have. After the tour, they took part in a project focused on producing storyboards and exploring how a studio operates. SfYP Youth Workers guided the young people through the process of creating storyboards for films. They were assigned different roles and worked together to create a short film, gaining a hands-on experience of filmmaking. This was followed by a carousel of activities including a careers challenge, and sessions on production and post-production.
Young people preparing for the green screen so they could start filming their scene.
Everyone who took part, both staff and young people, thoroughly enjoyed the day. SfYP staff described it as “brilliant” and “fantastic experience.” One young person said, “I had a great time. We were all given roles… and as the ‘editor’, I got to help edit our film. We got to watch the film at the end.”
The trip had a significant impact on the young people who took part, influencing their future career choices and inspiring them to explore new paths with confidence. One parent told us how it had inspired their son:
“On GCSE results day, my son enrolled at college and immediately chose media because of the Sky Studios trip, which he really enjoyed and showed an interest in pursuing. We’re super proud of his decision and wanted to let you know about his success and his confidence in making such a big change to his education. Thank you for all the support you have shown.”
SfYP is in discussions with Sky Up Academy about the potential for further partnership working, aiming to provide more young people with these invaluable experiences.
Our youth work projects enable young people to develop important life skills and make a successful transition to adulthood. Get full details of SfYP projects in your area. If you know or work with a young person who benefit from our support, please use the SfYP referral form or contact your local SfYP Team.
Young people who are not at school or college can come to the 11-5 Projects at our young people's centres for help with progressing into education, training or finding a job or apprenticeship. Our qualified Advisers support with identifying and developing skills needed for work and help with CV writing, searching for jobs and preparing for interviews.
