A KEIGHLEY animation studio is giving a helping hand to those keen to pursue a career in the industry.

Distant Future Animation Studio is offering people who are struggling to break into the sector a voluntary placement to boost their skills – and employment opportunities.

The company – based at Parkway House, in Worth Way – has already seen more than ten people come through the scheme.

And many have gone on to join visual effects teams on blockbuster movies, launch their own design studios or work on global animation projects.

Bill Beaumont, director at Distant Future Animation Studio, said: "Creative jobs can be incredibly difficult to get. I came into this industry with little on-the-job experience, so it has always been important to me to open up doors for new generations of creatives.

"I’ll often speak to young animators and designers who are stuck in a cycle of applying for entry-level jobs which require industry experience. If we as business leaders don’t start taking a different approach when it comes to offering alternative avenues into the industry, we run the risk of losing local talent to the likes of Manchester and London."

As well as taking on work experience students from Craven College in Skipton and Leeds Art University, Distant Future regularly offers skill-swap learning placements based on Creative Skillset guidelines created by the charity Screen Skills.

Scarlett Shearwood has recently completed a 160-hour placement with Distant Future, and said she was grateful for the experience.

She added: "I have a degree in English with Journalism, so whilst I’ve been building up a design portfolio in the background over the years, companies have been hesitant to hire me without any industry experience.

"Spending time at the studio has allowed me to familiarise myself with software and tools that I wouldn’t have had a chance of accessing otherwise. Whilst I haven’t worked on client projects, as that goes against the Screen Skills guidelines, I’ve been able to observe the team as it approaches creative projects and gain some invaluable feedback on my own work.

"It’s fantastic that this initiative exists in the north. I’m really keen to stay local and I’m hopeful I can find a graphic design job in Leeds or nearby."

Distant Future Animation Studio specialises in creating animation videos for the public sector and businesses including manufacturers, educational establishments and digital agencies.

For more details, visit distantfuture.co.uk.