New TV Training Schemes
Skillset has announced a £500K commitment to training courses for freelancers working in the television industry, alongside a £150K scheme for new TV Researcher talent.
The TV Freelance Fund, which Skillset manages on behalf of the whole TV industry, is supporting a range of training providers offering continuous professional development to freelancers at every stage of their career and across the spectrum of production and craft skills.
This year the Fund is giving high priority to future-proofing TV skills, enabling TV professionals to create content for multi-platform delivery, as TV and interactive technologies converge. Among the courses supported this year are ones on storytelling for different platforms, eg mobile phones, and a series of awareness raising workshops to be delivered by BBC Academy.
In response to the growth of High Definition Television (HDTV), there are also Skillset-supported courses for camera operators, make-up artists and broadcast technologists. Amongst other courses supported are ones to address particular skills shortages, such as for live gallery skills, for Studio Directors, Vision Mixers and PAs.
There are also opportunities for freelance producers trained in factual genres to develop skills in drama and in current affairs programme making.
John McVay, Chair of the TV Skills Strategy Committee and CEO of Pact, said:
"British television is respected worldwide for its high quality and innovation and this continuing professional development funding to enable freelancers to constantly update and enhance their skills as well as the investment in new talent illustrates the commitment of the industry to maintaining its position as a leader on the global screen by continually addressing changes in broadcasting, production and new media."
Skillset's Director of TV, Fiona Chesterton said:
"There are huge challenges for people working in the industry as the digital revolution speeds up. Freelancers - who are generally not able to access affordable training as readily as employees - are particularly vulnerable to being left behind unless their skills are updated. The TV Freelance Fund provides them with the opportunity they need to remain employable and for the TV industry to remain world-beating."
The full list of courses includes:
- Broadcast technology
- Camera operation HD and DVD
- Hair, make-up and wardrobe
- Sound and lighting
- Live gallery skills including studio directing and vision mixing
- Management and leadership
- Moving genres - for those who wish to move from one area of TV to another
- Multi-skilling
- Post production
- Transition to multi-platform
- Scriptwriting and editing
The TV Freelance Fund ensures that opportunities are open to freelancers throughout the UK and gives high priority to tailor-made training for the Nations and Regions - funding distributed to agencies in Scotland, Wales and the English Regions to be allocated to freelancers who need training to address particular local needs.
New Entrants Schemes for new TV talent
A £150K grant has been pledged to Top TV Academy, a leading provider of training for the television industry, to fund eight trainee researchers. The trainees will be offered year-long paid placements with independent production companies and will include short placements at the BBC and ITN. There will also be opportunities to learn interactive skills.
Liz Mills, Top TV MD said, "We are thrilled to be running this scheme for Skillset. It will give carefully structured training to new talent drawn from a wide range of backgrounds".
In addition, Skillset's TV and Film Funds are also supporting New Entrants schemes for trainee camera operators, sound recordists and other production and technical grades. These schemes are run by training provider FT2.
The TV Freelance Fund is also supporting New Entrants schemes across the UK in the North and South West of England, in Scotland and in Wales. The scheme in Wales is especially targeted at bringing more diverse talent into the workforce in the Welsh TV industry - which is flourishing partly because of the success of Dr Who.
The total Television Freelance Fund expenditure is £1.5m per year on training and these initiatives represent the first of two rounds of grants in 2007/2008.
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For further information contact: press@skillset.org. Tel: 020 7713 9812
Notes to Editors:
The Skillset TV Freelance Fund was established in order to address shared concerns about the growing needs of industry freelancers to get the right training and development opportunities. The Fund is now made up of contributions from the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Five, Pact and cable and satellite companies who contribute to a pot of £1.5 million per year. It awards grants to individuals and organisations to subsidise the costs of training for freelancers working in the UK TV industry
Skillset is the Sector Skills Council for the Audio Visual Industries covering Broadcast, Film, Video, Interactive Media and Photo Imaging. Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) are licensed by the Secretary of State for Education and Skills and by Ministers in the devolved administrations to tackle the skills and productivity challenge by sector. SSCs are independent, UK wide organisations developed by groups of influential employers in industry or business sectors of economic or strategic significance. SSCs are employer-led and actively involve trade unions, professional bodies and other stakeholders in the sector.