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By The National Wales
May 17, 2025
The Welsh television sector is experiencing a significant boost as the globally acclaimed HBO and BBC drama Industry films its fourth season in Cardiff. The series, which follows the high-stakes lives of young bankers at Pierpoint & Co in London, is produced by Cardiff-based Bad Wolf, with financial backing from the Welsh Government through Creative Wales under a four-year agreement aimed at expanding the nation’s TV industry. This deal commits Bad Wolf to a minimum Welsh spend over the four-year period, driving economic growth in Wales’ thriving TV sector.
As part of the agreement, Bad Wolf collaborates with Screen Alliance Wales to provide at least 42 paid entry-level trainee and upskilling placements for Wales-based crew on high-end productions, fostering career development and industry access.
Cardiff’s versatility as a filming location shines, standing in for London’s financial district in Industry, as it previously transformed into an unnamed US city for Netflix’s Havoc and Oxford for HBO, BBC, and Bad Wolf’s His Dark Materials. This showcases Cardiff’s ability to support major productions with its skilled, Wales-based production crew.
The cast of Industry Season 4 features BAFTA TV Awards’ Best Actress winner Marisa Abela for her Season 3 performance, alongside Myha’la and Game of Thrones star Kit Harington. New cast members include Stranger Things actor Charlie Heaton and Max Minghella, known for The Social Network and The Handmaid’s Tale.
Skills and Culture Minister Jack Sargeant visited the set during Learning at Work Week, meeting cast, crew, and four trainees: Charlie, Jacob, Rosie, and Robyn. He highlighted the training opportunities, stating, “As Learning in Work Week comes to a close, it’s been a pleasure to hear what valuable training opportunities Charlie, Jacob, Rosie and Robyn have experienced working on Industry 4.
We are immensely proud of our Welsh film and TV sector and opportunities like these further develop our homegrown talent and cements Wales’ reputation as a first-class filming location with skilled crew able to service high-end productions.”
We are immensely proud of our Welsh film and TV sector and opportunities like these further develop our homegrown talent and cements Wales’ reputation as a first-class filming location with skilled crew able to service high-end productions.”
Jacob Cook, a Graphics Trainee on Industry Season 4, shared his journey, saying, “I studied graphic design in university, but I had no idea how to break into the Film and TV industry. In fact, I was working in a supermarket at the time. I went to a careers fair one day where I met someone from Screen Alliance Wales, and two weeks later this opportunity came up and I was lucky enough to get the job!”
He described his role, noting, “The role covers absolutely anything and everything that’s related to graphics or design, like lots of set-dressing and doing things behind the scenes. It’s such a fast-paced environment that’s allowed me to really develop my skill set.”
Cook emphasized the accessibility of the industry, stating, “The screen industry in Wales is putting Wales on the map. You don’t have to go to Hollywood to have a successful career when you can just come to Splott!”
Rosie Berry, a Crowd Costume Trainee, shared her experience, stating, “Ten years ago, I did my degree in costume and construction and I have a masters in costume design. Now that my children are older, I decided that I wanted to pursue a career in Film and TV.”
She detailed her role, saying, “Working on Industry is incredible. I’m based in the studio and assist the fitters who dress the supporting actors, and we can work with anywhere up to 40 fittings each day – sometimes they need one look, other days it could be three or four.”
Berry underscored the value of the trainee scheme, noting, “It’s so important that these trainee placements are available – I was able to get my foot in the door via this scheme. Now I feel ready to step up and apply for a junior position, as I know that – to make it to the top – it’s important to start from the beginning and learn as much as possible.”
The Welsh Government’s partnership with Creative Wales and Bad Wolf is strengthening the domestic TV industry, creating long-term career pathways for Welsh workers and solidifying Wales’ reputation as a hub for high-end television production.