Senior Leadership
Laura oversees Bristol City Council’s film strategy to promote the city as an outstanding filming location, creating work for local crews, supply chains and partner businesses, thereby stimulating the local and regional economy. She is responsible for The Bottle Yard Studios and Bristol Film Office, overseeing all financial, administrative and operational areas of the business and has developed strong, collaborative relationships with industry bodies such as the British Film Commission and the Production Guild of Great Britain. Laura joined the team in 2020 bringing 30 years’ industry experience gained throughout past roles including Head of Production at BBC Earth Productions (BBC Worldwide).
Kat oversees the day to day operations of The Bottle Yard and plays a central role in business development and strategic planning for the Studios. She is the first point of contact for client enquiries and leads on all business affairs and procurement-related matters. Kat is also the Studios’ Sustainability Lead and Carbon Literacy representative. Kat joined the Bottle Yard in 2011 as Site Coordinator after gaining eight years’ locations experience working in HETV. She became Business & Finance Coordinator in 2014, Business Manager in 2018 and Business Operations Manager in 2020.
Dan is responsible for keeping the Studios’ buildings and grounds maintained to the highest standard, ensuring employees, tenants and contractors are working in a safe and compliant manner and all maintenance is completed efficiently with minimal impact to site users. Dan joined the team in 2020 with 15 years’ past experience in Facilities Management across the private and public sector, working with the likes of Pirate Studios and Aardman Animations.
Emma oversees the day-to-day management of both The Bottle Yard Studios main site and TBY2 facility, assisting productions and tenants from initial induction to final wind up, handling all filming requirements and playing a crucial role in ensuring clients have a positive experience on-site. She joined the team as Site Coordinator in 2012 bringing 20 years of experience in film, television, theatre, live music and radio.
Studio Management
Working closely with Studios Management, Rebecca coordinates everyday operations, liaising with productions and tenants and carrying out wide-ranging administration and project-based duties. Following work experience in 2014, Rebecca worked as a Studios Runner on a casual basis whilst studying at Bath Spa University. After graduating in 2015, she entered the industry as a freelance Production Assistant before joining the team as Studio Management Assistant in 2016, becoming Studio Coordinator in 2021.
Working closely with Studios Management, Kelly coordinates everyday operations across the TBY2 site, liaising with productions and tenants and carrying out wide-ranging administration and project-based duties. Kelly joined the team in 2017 on a two-year Office Runner apprenticeship which became a permanent placement in 2019. She became Studio Management Assistant in 2021 and Studio Coordinator in 2022. Kelly recently completed a Level 4 Associate Project Management apprenticeship.
Lucy plays an integral role in supporting the team with office duties, tenant and visitor liaison, site management across the two sites and business/finance tasks. She joined the team as a Runner in 2024. She has a Film degree from University of Kent at Canterbury and this is her first film/TV industry role. She previously worked in financial services for 10 years, then retrained as a florist.
Business & Facilities Management
Mika supports all aspects of business and finance affairs at the Studios, working to the Business Operations Manager and covering everything from contracting to invoicing. They joined the team in 2023 having worked in a variety of finance, business support and social care roles for Bristol City Council over the past seven years. This is Mika’s first film/TV-related role.
John joined the team in 2021. He takes care of the Studios’ electrical infrastructure, ensuring safety and compliance whilst carrying out project works to support daily operations and advising clients undertaking complex temporary electrical installations. John has almost 20 years’ electrical experience, which has included stage electrics for a range of performance spaces.
Reception
Mary is our Full Time Receptionist and your first point of contact at the Studios, greeting visitors and contractors, receiving deliveries and responding to email/phone enquiries. She brings experience from previous reception and administrative roles, and a keen interest in sustainability and wellbeing which she tries to integrate into her daily work. Mary has a degree in French studies and has previously lived in Québec. She joined the team in 2024.
Jo is our part-time Receptionist, job sharing with Louise Scott. She is your first point of contact at the Studios, greeting visitors and contractors, receiving deliveries and responding to email/phone enquiries. Jo is also a makeup artist and previously worked as a lecturer in further education teaching Media Makeup. Jo joined the team in early 2023.
Louise is our part-time Receptionist, job sharing with Jo Peters. She is your first point of contact at the Studios, greeting visitors and contractors, receiving deliveries and responding to email/phone enquiries. Louise joined the team in 2022 after a background in Marketing for the Financial Services and Manufacturing Industries.
Skills & Outreach
Jane heads up the West of England Film/HETV Workforce Development Programme funded by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority’s Mayoral Priority Skills Fund, delivered at the Studios in partnership with Bristol UNESCO City of Film and Bristol Film Office. As well as running tours and careers talks, she looks at ways to link up productions working at the Studios with educational and community organisations, to ensure the industry continues to identify and train new and diverse local talent from the region. Jane joined the team in 2022 from a film and education background, having spent over a decade working at BFI-funded organisation Into Film.
Jenny is Project Officer for the West of England Film/HETV Workforce Development Programme, funded by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority’s Mayoral Priority Skills Fund, delivered at the Studios in partnership with Bristol UNESCO City of Film and Bristol Film Office. Passionate about telling stories and creating opportunities for others to tell theirs, Jenny’s past experience has spanned artistic and academic work as part of theatre company MASSIVE OWL, screenwriting with YES MATE, arts/charity fundraising and community development. She joined the team in 2024.
Communications
Tara raises the profile of the Studios, Bristol Film Office and Bristol’s UNESCO City of Film status in the West of England and further afield. She manages all press, marketing and digital comms, sharing production, partnerships and sector news with media and industry. Tara has worked with the Studios since it opened in 2010 and has more than 15 years experience in film/TV comms having worked with the likes of the UK Film Council, South West Screen, Creative England and The Production Guild of Great Britain.