The guiding principles of departmental budgeting in high-end TV

Do you work in a craft or tech department in HETV?
Do you want to improve your knowledge about budgeting and/or spreadsheets?
Do find budgeting and tracking costs a challenge?
Are you about to take on a role where you need to develop budgeting skills?

The guiding principles of departmental budgeting course is designed to provide high-end TV (HETV) professionals the skills and confidence to prepare departmental budgets.

The aim of the course is to upskill practising industry professionals who work in HETV so that productions have access to a highly skilled workforce.

This programme is funded by the ScreenSkills High-end Television Fund made up of contributions from high-end TV productions made in the UK.

This programme is being delivered by Mission Accomplished and television industry professionals and sector experts Addie Orfila and Caroline Ball.

Who it's for

This course is open to HETV professionals who:

• have three years’+ experience in HETV
• work in art, costume, hair & make-up or locations departments
• are a craft/technical co-ordinator or an HOD
• lack experience and/or confidence in budgeting
• would like to develop their skills and learn how to put together a departmental budget; that can be backed up with credible and consistent assumptions

We also welcome applications from those looking to return to work following a career break who have equivalent experience.

We always welcome applications from under-represented groups, including, but not limited to: those from minority ethnic backgrounds; people with a disability; people from the LGBTQ+ community and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

We offer inclusive training. If you have any needs which we can accommodate during the recruitment process and beyond, or would like support completing the booking form and/or would like us to send it to you in an alternative format, please email training@mission.guru.

This is a nationwide scheme so we welcome applications from across the UK. 

What it covers

The training course will be delivered as a mixture of on-demand and live content sessions. The on-demand modules will be made available to participants as soon as they have been accepted onto the course.

On demand modules:

• Module 0: using simple spreadsheets (optional) - 60 mins
• Module 1: The basics of department budgeting -  divided into 4 lessons.
  • • Lesson 1 – How do you create a departmental budget
    • Lesson 2 – Estimating labour and material costs
    • Lesson 3 – Tracking and forecasting budgets and actual costs
    • Lesson 4 – Contingencies, cost management and relationships

Live Zoom classes follow the completion of on demand Module 1 and are department specific as follows: 

• Module 2 – Everything you ever wanted to know about budgeting  for your department. Participants will be given the opportunity to learn first-hand from an experienced Head of Department, relevant to their department, about the specifics of budgeting for their department.  This module will be hosted by the trainer, Addie Orfila, and includes a structured conversation with a HOD, using real life examples from productions.

By the end of the course, participants will have the knowledge and confidence to prepare and present their own departmental budgets and will have learned:

• how to use existing information to create and estimate budgets
• how to use a spreadsheet to keep track of your budget and forecast actual costs
• how to estimate materials costs
• how to estimate labour costs
• how to update your estimates as the production moves forward
• how to communicate your budget and associated assumptions to line managers
• the benefits of a peer support network
  
  

How to apply

The on-demand modules will be available to do at a time to suit each individual accepted on the training course.

Once Module 1 has been completed, participants will be able to view the details for the department specific live class they have selected which will run in 2 blocks in January and March 2024.

 'Apply now' 

Contact information

Name: Viktorija Safonova
Email: viktorija@mission.guru