Sunset+Vine demonstrates ongoing commitment to next generation of industry talent with the Host Broadcast Training Initiative for Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games

The global sports production company and Host Broadcast partner for the 2022 Games will continue its commitment to Games Legacy with an ambitious and comprehensive training initiative, with diversity at its core. 

Building on its extensive background in training and development, Sunset+Vine has partnered with Birmingham City University, Create Central, WMCA and Solihull College to deliver the Host Broadcast Training Initiative. The HBTI will offer 200 work experience placements on its outside broadcasts and studio productions.

In addition to this real world experience, trainees will benefit from industry-level skills training across a variety of disciplines including live TV, broadcasting and production. These placements will culminate in the opportunity to work within the Host Broadcast team in a professional (paid) capacity at the Commonwealth Games. 

Games Time roles will include Content Creators, Production Co-ordinators, Media Managers, Camera Operators, Edit Assistants, Loggers, Live Gallery PAs, Assistant Floor Managers and Technical roles with S+Vs Outside Broadcast suppliers.

In keeping with the producer’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, the HBTI aims to train up participants in current industry skills gaps specifically targeting underrepresented groups. Its mission is to leave a legacy of a skilled, diverse and inspired workforce to fuel the next generation of TV industry professionals in the Midlands.

David Tippett, Sunset+Vine Managing Director commented: “The lack of diversity in sports broadcasting is an ongoing issue and this scheme is one way we are looking to play our part in addressing that. We are committed to offering real-world industry experience and practical-based training opportunities to under-represented groups in the Midlands. This really is a once in a lifetime opportunity to learn the skills needed to kick-start an exhilarating career in sports broadcasting – and what a way to start…on one of the biggest sporting events to be hosted at the heart of Birmingham.”

Nicola Turner MBE, Head of Legacy added “The Bootcamps are a genius idea. The opportunity to learn about cutting edge broadcasting from global experts and a chance to work on a Commonwealth Games – these are 150 once in a lifetime possibilities. And it’s brilliant that Sunset and Vine are making this uniquely available to people with a West Midlands address, it means we can point to definite local benefit from hosting the Games. Across the whole Games, more than 35,000 people will be part of the event workforce or volunteers and we’ll be recruiting right up to July, so there will be thousands of individual legacies blossoming beyond the summer as each of those people go on to use their experiences and new skills into the future.  

Sunset+Vine will also continue to mentor trainees post Games, building on the invaluable experience they will have gained as a part of the HBTI which they will be able to take forward and help to launch their careers in the industry. 

The global sports producer has a wealth of experience producing award-winning coverage of high-profile sporting events. These have included live coverage of rugby, football, cricket, triathlon, sailing, rowing, mountain biking, and badminton as well as numerous events for the ICC, World Equestrian Games, the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast in 2018 and Glasgow in 2014, the London 2012 and Rio Paralympics, and the 2017 World Athletics Championships in London.