His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh officially opens new film and television production facility at University of Hertfordshire

His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh has officially opened the University of Hertfordshire’s new Propeller Stage, a professional-standard film and television production facility designed to prepare students for careers in the creative industries.

The Duke visited the University today [Thursday 12 November], where he toured the School of Creative Arts, met students and staff, and officially opened the new facility.

Propeller Stage gives students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience on real productions, working alongside industry professionals and developing the practical skills and experience needed for careers across film and television.

During the visit, His Royal Highness saw first-hand how the University’s facilities and industry partnerships are helping students develop the creative and technical skills needed to succeed in the sector.

The Duke also met students and colleagues from the School of Creative Arts and heard about their work, experiences and ambitions for careers in the creative industries.

Propeller Stage is already being used for professional productions, including the filming of CBeebies programmes, giving students valuable exposure to professional film and television production while they study.

The facility also supports Propeller Music, an initiative that brings together students from different courses and disciplines to work on live production sessions for emerging artists. Students take on a range of roles, developing technical expertise alongside problem-solving, communication and teamwork skills, while artists receive professional-quality live recordings, music performance videos and photography. 

Professor Anthony Woodman, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Hertfordshire, said:

“We were delighted to welcome His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh to the University of Hertfordshire and for him to officially open Propeller Stage.

“Propeller reflects something much bigger about what we want a Herts education to offer. We are committed to investing in career-focused education that gives our students opportunities to gain meaningful professional experience alongside their studies, so they graduate with more than a degree.

“Our ambition is for Herts graduates to enter the workplace already a few rungs up the ladder, with practical experience, professional connections and an understanding of their industry that helps them stand out from day one. To have The Duke visit Herts, meet our students and colleagues, and officially open Propeller Stage was a tremendous honour and a wonderful way to recognise and celebrate that ambition in action."

Dr Stephen Partridge, Dean of the School of Creative Arts at the University of Hertfordshire, said:

“It was a real privilege to welcome His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh to the School of Creative Arts and to have him officially open Propeller Stage. We were incredibly proud to introduce him to our students and colleagues and show him the creativity, talent and ambition that sit behind Propeller.

“Propeller is about giving students the opportunity to learn by doing. Whether they are working on a professional television production or collaborating through Propeller Music, they are experiencing the expectations, teamwork and pace of a real production environment while they are still studying.

“That experience helps them build not only their technical and creative abilities, but the confidence, communication and problem-solving skills that will help them succeed in their careers. At the same time, bringing education and professional production closer together helps us develop the skilled, work-ready talent the creative industries need.”

The Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire Robert Voss, His Majesty's representative for the county anda longstanding advocate for Propeller, said:

“I have been a proud supporter of Propeller since its inception, so it was a very special moment to see His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh officially open Propeller Stage and recognise what has been achieved.

“From the beginning, as Founder and Chair of Screen Herts, I have believed strongly in Propeller’s ambition to bring education and industry closer together and give talented young people the opportunities, experience and connections they need to build successful careers.

“It is fantastic to see that ambition becoming a reality here in Hertfordshire, creating opportunities for students while strengthening the skills and creative talent that our county and the wider industry need. I am delighted to have championed the initiative from the outset and look forward to seeing where it goes next.”

The University’s School of Creative Arts was recently named the UK’s best creative arts school for the third consecutive year in the 2026 Rookies Global School Rankings, which recognise the world’s leading creative media, design and entertainment schools based on student work assessed by industry professionals.  

Find out more about hiring Propeller Stage for your next production or studying film and television courses at the University of Hertfordshire.