Tayyib Mahmood, who graduated with a Bsc in Film Production Technology from Birmingham City University earlier this year whilst working as a porter for supermarket chain Asda, spent four months working as part of the Pinewood-based Studio Unit team on the new Daniel Craig film – set for release in April next year.

Participation in the British Film Institute Future Skills initiative led the 23-year-old graduate to become a mentor then course mentor for three consecutive years, sharing the knowledge and skills acquired during his time at university with new participants.

Tayyib, who hails from Sparkhill – immortalised in BBC Three smash hit comedy Man Like Mobeen – puts his success in landing the 007 placement down to “staying focused, working hard and building confidence” – and says that young or emerging screen professionals can achieve success by “chasing industry experience and contacts”.

“Studies were very challenging when I began my degree, although I soon realised it was a natural thing to experience when starting a course. I overcame my apprehension by just getting my head down and cracking on. The skills I learnt on my course – recorded on my CV – were critical to me landing the job on Bond 25.

“I have accomplished what a lot of people would kill for – working on a Hollywood blockbuster film straight out of university – but I know that others can earn similar accomplishments through hard work and commitment.”

Tayyib, who also worked on dailies on Steven Spielberg sci-fi adventure Ready Play One – famously filmed on location in parts of Birmingham – credits his lecturers at Birmingham City University with equipping him with the skills and knowledge to work to a high standard on a major motion picture set, and believes the city’s screen industry community has huge potential.

“Birmingham’s film industry has some of the most hard-working individuals I have had the pleasure of working with, including Sheikh Shahnawaz, a Birmingham filmmaker and ‘one-man army’ who is shooting his first feature called Bluff; Mohammed Ali, an inspiring photographer who I use to shoot my BTS photography when I am making short films, and Nisaro Karim and Gurjant Singh who have a company called Five Pence Productions making a series of short films in the city. B

“Birmingham is well on the way to becoming a central hub of filmmakers and screen talent – collaboration is definitely on the rise.”

Further information on Film Production Technology courses at Birmingham City University is available here