ScreenSkills Trainee Finder 2025/26

This year, the Children’s TV Skills Fund, Film Skills Fund and High-end TV Skills Fund have come together to deliver a single ScreenSkills Trainee Finder programme, creating access to a range of training opportunities across the UK.

While maintaining its scale, this means the programme can be even more agile and responsive to production needs, offering opportunities for those at an early stage in their careers to develop their skills and build experience across more than one genre, reflecting how the workforce is evolving.

What is ScreenSkills Trainee Finder?

ScreenSkills Trainee Finder is an entry-level placement programme that places trainees on children’s, film and high-end TV productions across the UK (including Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland) to ensure a continued supply of talent, capable of making world-class creative content. Participants become part of an industry-recognised group of trainees and receive exclusive access to training placements across the UK.

In previous years trainees have been placed on productions including Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, Blitz, The Outrun, Venom: the Last Dance, Fool Me Once, The Diplomat, Baby Reindeer, Gangs of London, The Famous Five, Horrible Histories, Silverpoint and Phoenix Rising.

ScreenSkills Trainee Finder is looking for trainees who are keen to pursue a career in the following departments:

• Art department
• Assistant director/ floor runner
• Camera
• Costume
• Edit
• Hair and Make-up
• Locations
• Production Office
• Sound
• Video Assist and DIT

To find out more about these trainee roles and others, please explore the ScreenSkills job profiles and our Skills Checklists. If you are unsure about which department to apply to we recommend that you complete this e-learning module, How to identify the right role for you in the screen industries. 

We recommend that you watch the ScreenSkills Trainee Finder Launch webinar and read the programme's FAQs before applying.

We also strongly recommend you explore our range of free online modules, including Getting into the screen industries, ScreenSkills Training Passport and our Work Well series to help you prepare for the application process.

We welcome applications from individuals who have taken part in a ScreenSkills’ First Break programme and from those who have graduated from ScreenSkills-endorsed courses or from partner programmes.

ScreenSkills is committed to diversity and equality of opportunity in all aspects of its work. We particularly welcome applications from under-represented groups, because we are committed to creating a more inclusive and diverse workforce.

If you are deaf or disabled and require an alternative format of the application form, require access adjustments at the interview stage, or have any questions about Trainee Finder, please contact recruitment.traineefinder@screenskills.com.

Who it's for

Eligibility Criteria

We are looking for talented individuals from across the UK who have less than 12 months of paid production experience in their chosen department. You do not need to have any on-set experience to apply, we ask that applicants show enthusiasm for the department they wish to work in and demonstrate skills that align with the trainee role they are applying to.

You must be able to clearly demonstrate a passion and commitment for working in the industry as well as for your job role of choice, by providing evidence of one or more of the following:

• looking for / finding paid or unpaid work experience
• working to obtain department-specific skills
• suitable transferable skills for your selected department - for example, from other creative sectors such as theatre, music, photography, and commercial production, or from roles in other sectors such as business administration, event management, or hair and make-up applicants with salon experience.

Please refer again to the job profiles and the skills checklists to gain a better understanding of the relevant skills needed for your chosen department.

Applicants must:

• Be over 18 years old – there is no upper age limit
• Live in the UK
• Have evidence of the right to work full-time in the UK for at least the duration of the programme (1 April 2025 - 31 March 2026)
• Have completed full-time education by 31 March 2025– there are no education requirements to be on Trainee Finder. However, if you are enrolled in full-time education you are not eligible for this programme as you will not be available to complete placements.
• Have less than 12 months, of relevant, paid production experience in their chosen department. Industry experience is not a requirement for Trainee Finder.
• Be open and flexible to considering opportunities across the UK
• Demonstrate an interest in and commitment to their chosen department
• Be committed to attending training sessions and industry events organised by ScreenSkills throughout the 12 months

Please note:

• Acceptance onto the programme will be subject to applicants providing evidence of their right to work and to remain in the UK & 1 written reference
• This Trainee Finder programme will start on the 1st April 2025 and run until the 31st March 2026
• During the year we endeavour to find and secure placements for trainees of between 4 – 20 weeks. Trainee Finder is a training programme and not an employment agency. Placements are not guaranteed and the demand for trainees comes from the productions. Our trainees are expected to continually pursue ongoing independent employment outside of the programme.
• Trainees are responsible for their attendance and participation at all Trainee Finder sessions and events.
• All successful applicants must attend a mandatory online induction event, currently scheduled for 15th, 16th, 22nd and 23rd March 2025. Unfortunately, we cannot grant any exceptions for those unable to attend.

How to apply

You will need a ScreenSkills profile to apply to ScreenSkills Trainee Finder. If you do not already have an profile, you can register here.

To apply for ScreenSkills Trainee Finder, click the pink 'Apply now' button on the right side of this page.

If you require an alternative format for the application please contact us as soon as possible at recruitment.traineefinder@screenskills.com.

Applications close at 14:00 on Wednesday 6 November 2024. Any application submitted after this deadline will not be processed.  

At ScreenSkills, while we are looking for your own approach and style, we do understand that tools like ChatGPT, if used in the correct way, can be useful to applicants writing personal statements/applications. You could use these tools to help inspire, clarify and articulate your own ideas, but it's also important to remember that while these tools can generate text, it's not a substitute for your own thoughts and experiences. We want to hear from you, not an AI bot!

Application Stages 

The Trainee Finder team will shortlist applicants based on their application and CV. Applications are first read and scored by at least 2 industry professionals in your chosen department. Successful applicants will then be invited to take part in an online interview with relevant industry professionals. 

Candidates can expect to next hear from us with an update regarding their application no later than the 3rd of January 2025. 

If unsuccessful in getting to the interview stage, please note that due to the volume of applications we receive, we will be unable to provide individual feedback. 

All successful applicants must attend a mandatory online induction days, currently scheduled for 15th, 16th, 22nd and 23rd March 2025 in preparation for the programme. 

Written Reference

If you are invited to interview, you must supply 1 written reference. Along with your written reference, you must include the current contact details of your referes should we need to contact them. 

References can come from current and past employers, colleagues and/or a tutor or mentor and must be supplied on headed paper and saved as a PDF.

They should be no longer than one page of A4 and should include the following: 

• A paragraph or sentence that explains how they know you e.g., are they a colleague, employer or former employer?
• Details of how long the referee has known you
• Having looked at the trainee role that you are applying for, what are the qualities, characteristics, and capabilities they feel are important to highlight to us?
• Any other supporting examples of your skills, accomplishments and/or work that demonstrate that you are a good candidate for the programme.
• Current contact details (email and telephone) for the referee so that we can contact them 

Contact information

Name: Trainee Finder Team
Email: recruitment.traineefinder@screenskills.com