ScreenSkills

Nineteen candidates have now graduated from the High-end TV Skills Fund's #LeadersofTomorrow programme with graduates and members of the #HETVSkillsFund marking the occasion with a celebratory event at London’s Kings Place. Launched in 2021 as an inclusion programme that responded to industry need for a viable pathway to improve the diversity among senior roles, the initiative provided comprehensive support for mid-level professionals to give them the tools, networks and opportunities to progress into a senior, decision-making role. Now, after three years of bespoke training, candidates from the programme’s first cohort are ready to graduate. Hannah Green, Senior HETV Professional Skills Manager, ScreenSkills, said: “It’s great to see the first of our Leaders of Tomorrow candidates complete their training and take their next steps in their TV careers. It’s been incredibly heartening to see the cohort, from all backgrounds and based across the UK, take on new responsibilities and be able to grow and develop. This would not have been possible without the support of the programme’s partners, Netflix, BBC and Sky who enabled us to expand the programme to more people, and who we thank hugely.” Helen Mattioli, Senior Business Partner, BBC Comedy & Drama Commissioning said: “We are incredibly proud to work with the HETV Skills Fund in delivering the Leaders of Tomorrow programme. It’s a really unique initiative that helps address some of the direct needs of our industry and the achievements of those who’ve taken part is an indicator of its success. It helps equip those from all backgrounds with the necessary tools needed at senior level with the graduating candidates able to put those skills into practice.” The programme offers support to candidates so they gain the confidence to make their next step. Each graduating member was nominated to take part in the programme by senior TV professionals who identified candidates who would benefit from the programme and the tools it provides in order for them to progress in their career. Payam Hosseinian is one of those graduating from the programme. Having joined as a sound effects editor, he used Leaders of Tomorrow to progress to a supervising sound editor. He said: "Leaders of Tomorrow transformed my career. The knowledge and the confidence I've achieved throughout the three years is invaluable. By placing me at the right place at the right time, ScreenSkills helped me connect with mentors who were ready to give me their time and share their career experience generously. I am so grateful for the opportunity and will endeavour to thrive as a leader in sound post-production for HETV." The HETV Skills Fund will be announcing a new Leaders of Tomorrow cohort who will start their three-year career progression journey in 2025. For more information, please visit: www.screenskills.com/hetv Images: Erroll Jones, WeShootLondon

On #WorldMentalHealthDay, we are sharing a range of ScreenSkills-funded online training and short courses available for all those who work in the screen industries across the UK. These resources have been designed to help screen professionals and managers/employers to take better care of their #mentalhealth and understand how to support those around them and in their teams. - Our Introduction to #mentalhealthawareness e-learning is perfect for anyone in the screen industries who wants to develop their awareness of mental health. Learn how to support your mental wellbeing at work and discover resources and services to help you. Apply now: https://bit.ly/3EmqjHN - Take charge of your mental health and build #resilience with this free training that supports HETV freelancers in managing uncertainty and anxiety. This #HETVSkillsFunded session aims to equip #freelancers with essential skills to boost personal well-being and enhance your professional life. Apply here: https://ow.ly/hcJ350SPX44 - Calling all managers in film, unscripted TV, high-end TV and animation. Expand your awareness and understanding around mental health with this free ScreenSkills-funded workshop with psychotherapist and creator of Solas Mind Sarah McCaffrey. Book now: https://bit.ly/4bfQiSC - Designed and delivered by experienced psychotherapists with expertise in mental health and the film and TV industry, the Welfare and Duty of Care Essentials short course covers essential support for contributors and duty of care throughout the unscripted TV production process, from development to post-broadcast. Funded by the ScreenSkills #UnscriptedTVSkillsFund, as part of the Your Life At Work series. Apply now: https://lnkd.in/ebjG7RNi Find these resources and more in the ScreenSkills training, events and opportunities directory: https://lnkd.in/dd42rBUW

The Film and TV Charity is seeking a skilled Project Lead to oversee the Action for Freelancers initiative. Action for Freelancers (AfF) is a pan industry collaboration to support freelancers within the UK television industry. Its aim is to take a more holistic approach to helping safeguard the wellbeing of our skilled and valuable freelance workforce. This role is ideal for those with strong project management experience and a commitment to supporting freelancers in the industry. Apply here: https://lnkd.in/eNHbCCCx

Recruitment for ScreenSkills’ #TraineeFinder 2025-26 opens on Wednesday, 16 October. This year, the ScreenSkills Children’s TV, Film and High-end TV Skills Funds are teaming up to deliver a single ScreenSkills Trainee Finder programme, so that trainees can build experience across multiple genres, and develop broader skills and placement opportunities across the UK. Learn more about the Trainee Finder programme and how it works in a launch webinar at 18:00-19:00 on Wednesday, 16 October. There will be a Q&A session with previous trainees and experienced industry professionals who will share their experiences on the programme. Visit ScreenSkills.com/webinar to book your free place

Lisa Opie confirmed as Chair of ScreenSkills After a rigorous appointment process Lisa Opie has been confirmed as the Chair of ScreenSkills having served as Interim Chair since April 2024. "Never has it been more important to support sustainable careers across the screen industries, ensuring an inclusive workforce fit for the future,” commented Lisa Opie. “I am excited by the opportunity to work with industry, our partners across the UK, the Board, and the ScreenSkills team to enable our collective endeavours to build on the UK's creative success, globally.” In her role as Chair, Lisa and the Board of Trustees will work closely with Laura Mansfield, Chief Executive in setting the strategic direction of ScreenSkills. This will include overseeing the development and implementation of ScreenSkills’ strategy, monitoring progress toward achieving key objectives, and encouraging innovation to adapt to the evolving industry landscape. In terms of financial oversight, Lisa will ensure the charity's financial stability by overseeing budget approvals, financial planning, and risk management practices, to safeguard the organisation’s long-term sustainability. Additionally, Lisa will lead the recruitment, induction, and development of Trustees, ensuring that the Board is equipped with the necessary skills, expertise and diversity of perspectives. She will also be responsible for promoting a culture of transparency, accountability, and collaboration across the organisation to facilitate effective communication and collaboration. As an ambassador for ScreenSkills, Lisa will represent the organisation, build strong relationships with partners, educational institutions, Government bodies, and funders, and advocate for its mission to support the screen industries. "Lisa's confirmation as Chair is a testament to her dedication, expertise, and passion for the screen industries," said Laura Mansfield, CEO of ScreenSkills. "Her leadership will be instrumental as ScreenSkills works with colleagues across the sector to support the workforce and meet the demands of a rapidly changing landscape.”

ScreenSkills launches new industry podcast Today marks the launch of a new screen industry podcast from ScreenSkills in partnership with The Adobe Foundation. Kicking off on #InternationalPodcastDay 2024, The ScreenSkills Podcast goes behind the camera to explore the UK screen industry with the help of those within it. We’ll be hearing from those working in film, TV and animation as we unpick the stories that matter to them. In each episode, we’ll be touching on different themes and hearing how they impact the workforce. How accessible are productions? How inclusive is the industry? Is the screen industry a sustainable one? We’ll be asking these questions and more to get the behind-the-scenes breakdown on all things production to hear from those making the content you love. Premiering later in October, The ScreenSkills Podcast will be available on Spotify, Apple, Amazon and other major platforms. Follow and subscribe now to ensure you don't miss an episode. Listen to the trailer: https://lnkd.in/efXBdY9N #filmnews #tvnews #animationnews #screenindustry #ukscreen #podcast #creativepodcast #industrynews #behindthescenes #behindthecamera #creativeindustries #creativeskills #screen #TheScreenSkillsPodcast

The #HETVSkillsFund’s first #LeadersofTomorrow cohort will graduate tonight after three years on the mid-level career progression programme. In the build up to their graduation event, we’ve been reintroducing the 19 talented high-end TV professionals who have been recognised as future leaders through industry recommendations. Over the past three years, the cohort has received extensive support through the HETV Skills Fund's comprehensive programme, which includes mentoring, masterclasses, bespoke training, and paid on-the-job experience. Scotland-based editor, Rachel, began her career in high-end TV as an assistant editor on Waterloo Road (BBC) after completing an apprenticeship as a trainee assistant editor at Warner Brothers. After three years on the Leaders of Tomorrow programme, Rachel has progressed to the role of editor. Charlotte Van Der Haer Richardson, based in North West England, started as a costume design assistant and now works as an assistant costume designer in high-end TV. Northern Ireland-based Ola Kaminska-Omozik started as a payroll accountant. Now, Ola is a production accountant working across feature film and high-end TV. Monika Chowdhary-Kuczynski is based in London. Monika started as a senior VFX coordinator and is now a VFX production manager with expertise in virtual production. To learn more about the programme and the 2021-2024 cohort, visit the Leaders of Tomorrow hub at ScreenSkills.com/LOT Image: left-to-right is Rachel Erskine, Charlotte Van Der Haer Richardson, Ola Kaminska-Omozik and Monika Chowdhary-Kuczynski. #highendtv #hetv #virtualproduction #editing #costume #vfx #productionaccounts #LOT

To celebrate the graduation of the ScreenSkills #HETVSkillsFund's first #LeadersofTomorrow cohort, we’re reintroducing the 19 mid-level high-end TV professionals who have been recognised as future leaders through industry recommendations. Over the past three years, they’ve received extensive support through the HETV Skills Fund's comprehensive programme, which includes mentoring, masterclasses, bespoke training, and paid on-the-job experience. As we build up to their graduation at the end of the month, let's take a look at some of the first ScreenSkills HETV Leaders of Tomorrow (LOT) and the journey that they’ve been on. Annie Little, based in London, started as hair and makeup stylist and has now worked as crowd supervisor and designer. She now also teaches HETV Skills Funded workshops on working with textured hair and makeup for medium to deep skin tones. Find a link to the training here: https://lnkd.in/erDbAxZW Hannah Lewis, based in London, started as 2nd assistant director and has recently completed several 1st assistant director shadowing and work opportunities through the programme. Sanjay Sharma, based in London, started as production manager/supervisor for additional shoots and 2nd units and is now a production supervisor for feature films and HETV. Victoria Nugent, based in Wales, started as makeup artist/supervisor and is now working as a hair and makeup supervisor. To learn more about the programme and the 2021-2024 cohort, visit the Leaders of Tomorrow hub at ScreenSkills.com/LOT Image: left-to-right is Annie Little, Hannah Lewis, Sanjay Sharma and Victoria Nugent

There were wins at this year’s Emmy Awards for productions that contributed to the High-end TV Sills Fund. Four productions that contributed to the Fund received awards across six categories at the LA held ceremony on Sunday 15 September. One of the night’s big winners was contributor Baby Reindeer (Netflix), the autobiographical story of comedian Richard Gadd and the stalker who disrupted his life over an extended period. Gadd, who wrote and starred in the show picked up the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series and Outstanding Writing in a Limited Series prizes while co-star Jessica Gunning, won the award for Outstanding Actress in a Limited Series. The production also collected the prize for Outstanding Limited Series. Spy-centred series Slow Horses (Apple TV+) scooped the prize in the outstanding writing category while fellow contributor The Crown (Netflix) collected its 24th Emmy when Elizabeth Debicki was awarded Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her portrayal of Diana, Princess of Wales. Guy Ritchie’s comic gangster story, The Gentlemen (Netflix) was another winner, collecting the award for Outstanding Stunt Coordinator for Comedy Programming. The contributions from productions such as these are invested in training opportunities to support the workforce develop their careers in HETV. We thank each production for their contribution and congratulate them on their wins. Learn more about the #HETVSkillsFund at screenskills.com/hetv #Emmys2024 #HETV #highendtv

Between February 2022 and January 2024, ScreenSkills ran a flexi-job apprenticeship agency (FJAA) pilot programme with lead supporter Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios, Sky with APX Content Ventures, Banijay UK, Lime Pictures and Fremantle UK. The pilot, co-funded by the Department for Education in its first year, tested whether a limited agency-based #apprenticeship model could be effective in the project-based film and TV production sector. Overall, this pilot was a success and demonstrates that apprenticeships could be a credible career pathway, especially for candidates from diverse backgrounds. During their training, the pilot enabled apprentices to gain significant experience across multiple companies and productions, and to identify and secure further employment. At the end of the pilot, 85% of the apprentices passed their End Point Assessments (EPA) and by the end of the programme 76% of the apprentices had already secured further employment. Apprentices’ feedback on their personal development during the programme was also very positive. Three quarters said they would recommend an apprenticeship in the screen industries; 90 per cent said the programme improved their communication skills and 85 per cent that it had made them better prepared for employment. Additionally, the majority said that the training helped to build their confidence and their ability to work as part of a team. Laura Mansfield, CEO, ScreenSkills said: “The UK screen industries is one of the most creative sectors in the world and talent, ability and creativity should not be defined by educational or social background. Apprenticeships provide a real opportunity to improve the diversity of the workforce and bring different and existing new voices and perspectives into the industry. ScreenSkills also welcomes the Government’s plan for a Growth and Skills levy. Not only would it unlock greater potential to invest in skills and training across the industry but could also improve the take up and affordability of apprenticeships for future candidates and employers alike.” Find out more about the Flexi-Job Apprenticeship Agency Pilot in our news story here: https://lnkd.in/ecCagm5R #filmtv #apprenticeships #ukapprenticeships #creativeindustries #screenindustries #film #tv