It’s often easy to think of the Skills Agenda as being about the dynamics of the education sector needing to be primed and adjusted to supply relevant and up to date skills.
But in the absence of what they believe to be the level of receptiveness and speed of  established education structures, more businesses are taking the initiative to help themselves. Probably nowhere is this more acute than in the post-production industry with the incessant demand for good runners. This is still the preferred form of developing new entrants.

What is often missed by those outside the system is how post-production houses rely on ‘people skills’ as much as technology. It’s a client facing, client focused world, so runners are pivotal in its smooth operation. It’s the seeming lack of ‘academic’ skills that are needed that has led to traditional education’s lack of enthusiasm to tackle this particular skill shortage.

So, increasingly, post houses are finding inventive ways to make sure they get a supply of informed and courteous talent.
In early April I was invited to Envy Post on Rathbone Place, www.envypost.co.uk/ for a meeting of the Envy Academy. Envy won Best Post House of the year at The Broadcast Awards 2008
Envy Academy is the brainchild of Mat Appleton, head of client services. Increasingly frustrated at the hit and miss approach to finding the right talent, he uses Facebook to inform graduates about the pathway to becoming a Runner, and runs events for students to find out how to get into places such as Envy and what is expected. It would be hard but not impossible to replicate what Mat is doing in a Higher Education institute, but that’s not what Mat wants. He’d just like to have more meaningful and rewarding dialogue with educators. He’s weary of every student wanting to be an editor just out of ignorance of the career structures available in a post house such as Envy, and he’s weary of student films on showreels where he can’t work out what the individual student has done. Most of all, he is surprised at the lack of awareness of what being a runner actually means and what it offers to graduates. Knowing Final Cut Pro inside out is not enough to become a good editor. You need to understand the interaction with clients, and your role in the post house value chain. That’s what becoming a runner gives you.

Graduates are often dismayed to find the only entry into post houses is at this level, which they mistakenly consider the bottom rung.
However, with 130 employees and a complement of thirty runners Mat runs a tight ship. When I arrive the evening has begun in the well appointed bar within Envy. There is an audience of thirty people- a mix of current runners and graduates still at college/university, attracted by the Facebook communiques. Dave Cadle, Managing Director, Natascha Cadle Facility Director and Dave Bocarro, General Manager are holding forth explaining how Envy was started, and how the industry works. I wonder if the assembled students know how valuable this information is. The chance to chat with the three top managers at Envy! At a rough guess that’s 50 years of experience, and yes, head honcho Dave started as a runner.
Mat then explained how he filters hundreds of applications. He’s looking for evidence that you’ve done your research, you know his name, you know Envy. An MA student pipes up saying she has tried all the things he suggests, and has written three times. “Ah, but now I’ve met you!” says Mat, pointing out the importance of establishing relationships in this industry.
The Envy academy concept seems to work. Interested students are offered the opportunity to join Envy for a week of work experience at some point over the year. Towards the final stages of the course a selection of the most talented pupils are invited to ENVY for a series of Master classes with top operators. Finally at least one pupil will be offered a full time running position within Envy at the end of their course.
Envy have had 120 runners over three years, and at least 30 have moved up the ranks.
So how do you get in touch with Mat, and come to the Envy academy evenings? You should now be able to work that out! Try a Facebook search for a start….