Inaugural BSLBT Academy Hosted at NFTS in Partnership with BSLBT

The first-ever BSLBT Academy recently took place at the National Film and Television School (NFTS), bringing together deaf professionals working in Unscripted television for two immersive days of workshops and panels. This ground-breaking initiative, in collaboration with the British Sign Language Broadcasting Trust (BSLBT) is designed to empower participants as they progress towards senior roles in the film and TV industry.

In addition to BSLBT, the NFTS partnered with Drummer TV, Flashing Lights Media and Zebra Uno to ensure the inaugural 11 BSLBT Academy cohort had the unique opportunity to learn directly from changemakers working in deaf and hearing programming.  

Covering everything from Camera and Sound to Editing and Pitching, participants gained invaluable insights from industry leaders including Ted Evans, Rachel Drummond-Hay and Sebastian Cunliffe. Additionally, leading industry figures Phil Edgar-Jones (Executive Director of Original Unscripted at Sky) and Sara Putt (Managing Director of Sara Putt Associates and Chair of BAFTA) shared their own unique insights. 

The latest Creative Diversity Network’s Diamond Report, The Seventh Cut, revealed that less than 1% of off-screen contributions in the TV industry came from deaf or hard of hearing individuals. Additionally, the latest iteration of the UNMUTED report found that nearly a third of respondents found industry training inaccessible.

In response to this stark underrepresentation, Hamish Thompson, the National Film and Television School’s Disability Lead, emphasises the importance of initiatives such as the BSLBT Academy: 

“As the deaf population increases, we’re seeing decreased deaf contributions in the screen industry. There has, rightly, been a focus on training in the latest UNMUTED report, and the NFTS recognises we have a role to play in improving opportunities for deaf people in the creative industries. We’re thrilled the first BSLBT Academy went so well and can’t wait to continue working with BSLBT to create more training opportunities for deaf people at all levels, responding to the urgent need for deaf creatives in our screen industries.”

Following the success of the programme, Camilla Arnold, CEO of the British Sign Language Broadcasting Trust, said: “We are extremely proud of the launch of BSLBT Academy. Far too often, deaf off-screen talent is overlooked due to accessibility barriers, but this initiative aims to change that. The Academy provides a safe and inclusive space for deaf professionals to accelerate their careers. This is just the beginning, and we’re excited to see the impact it will have on the industry. More to come!”

The BSLBT Academy is a critical step toward addressing the gaps identified across the industry, fostering greater inclusivity and career progression for deaf professionals in both on and off screen roles.

The BSLBT Academy was developed by BSLBT, Drummer TV, Flashing Lights TV, Zebra Uno and NFTS, with funding and support from ScreenSkills and Channel 4.

Further updates on upcoming BSLBT Academy workshops will be posted on NFTS social channels.