For this weeks #traineetuesday, we would love to introduce you to Taymar!

Before working in the industry, Taymar studied Film and TV Set Design at USW in Cardiff. She graduated from there in summer 2019 and started as Trainee Prop Store on HDM2 the same summer. Taymar’s degree course was very focussed on practical skills so pushed her to do as much work experience as possible, with Cardiff being so busy for film and TV work over the past few years, there were lots of opportunities to gain real work experience alongside studying at university.

The contacts she made on work experience were vital in getting her first few jobs, firstly on Sex Education 2, which she did part time while finishing her degree, and mostly importantly on His Dark Materials season 2 which gave her employment straight after graduating. Taymar now works in set dec and is currently working as an assistant buyer having done several jobs as a petty cash buyer, both within and outside of Wales.

SAW most helped Taymar by providing her with work experience in the area she was most interested in at the time. “This helped start building much more beneficial contacts and meant I had a much more specific understanding of the departments I most wanted to progress in to. From this I learnt much more about areas of art and props that I had not previously had any experience with and were not covered by my degree, specifically set dec which is now where I work and aim to move up through”.

To those wanting to start out in this line of work, Taymar advises to take any opportunity that comes their way, every department is connected in one way or another and provides a unique angle on the making of a show. “I am far better off working in set dec having had my experience in props. Just get your foot in the door and start meeting people. And be nice to everyone, you never know who might help you get on to a job!”

A huge thank you to Taymar for telling us about her experiences, tune in next week for another #traineetuesday!