Trainee Finder 2025/26 launch webinar

This webinar is now fully booked. A recording of the webinar will be uploaded to the Trainee Finder Hub in the days following the event so please check on this page to view the recording if you could not secure a ticket for the live event.

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.

Recruitment for ScreenSkills’ 2025/26 Trainee Finder programme opens on Wednesday, 16 October 2024 and we are hosting a live webinar at 18:00 on the day to explain what it is, how it works and whether it could be for you.  
 
Trainee Finder is ScreenSkills’ industry-respected, entry-level programme which places trainees with less than a year’s industry experience on paid placements across film, children’s and high-end TV (HETV) productions.  

This hour-long webinar will give you all the information that you need about how Trainee Finder supports trainees and what makes a great candidate.  
 
Access requirements: If there is anything we can do to accommodate your attendance please email Recruitment.TraineeFinder@screenskills.com as soon as possible.
 
This event will be interpreted into British Sign Language (BSL) and live Zoom captioning will be available.   
 
A recording of this event will be made available on our website following the live event. 

Who it's for

This webinar is for anybody who wants to know more about the ScreenSkills Trainee Finder programme. Perhaps you want to know how the programme works and what kind of placements will be on offer. Or maybe you are already considering applying and want to know what key things we look for in an application.  
 
To apply for Trainee Finder you must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Be over 18 years old – there is no upper age limit 
• Live in the UK and have evidence of the right to work full-time in the UK 
• 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 fewer than 12 months of relevant, paid production experience in your chosen department
• Be open and flexible to considering opportunities across the UK 
• Demonstrate an interest in and commitment to your chosen department 
• Be committed to attending training sessions organised by ScreenSkills throughout the 12 months 

This year, Trainee Finder is looking for trainees keen to pursue a career in film, children’s and high-end TV in the following departments and job roles:

ScreenSkills Trainee Finder 2025-26 departments:

• Art department
• Assistant director/floor runner
• Camera
• Costume
• Hair and make-up
• Locations
• Edit
• Sound
• Production office
• Video assist/DIT

To find out more about these job 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 also strongly recommend that 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.  
 
The next Trainee Finder programme will start on the 1 April 2025 and run until the 31 March 2026. During the year we endeavour to find and secure placements for trainees of between four to 20 weeks. 

Please note that during the year placements are not guaranteed and the demand for trainees comes from the productions. Our trainees are therefore 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. 

What it covers

Presenting will be Film Programmes and Placements Lead Celia Small, HETV Trainee Finder and Partners Outreach Manager Vicki Ball, as well as ScreenSkills Trainee Finder alumni trainees who will share their first-hand experiences and offer advice for people who want to apply as well as hints and tips for anyone just starting out.  
 
There will be plenty of time for Q&A, so come armed with all your questions!  
 
Webinar agenda :

• What is Trainee Finder 
• Who is the programme for 
• Eligibility criteria  
• Top tips for your application, CV writing and interview techniques
• Meet past alumni 
• Audience Q&A  

How to apply

The event will take place online via Zoom webinar.  
 
Click the ‘Get ticket’ button on the right-hand side of this page to reserve your place. You will need to log in or create an account on the ScreenSkills website before you can get a ticket for this event. A booking confirmation with a joining link to the session will be sent to you via email nearer the time.  

There are limited spaces for this online event and spaces will be allocated on a first-come-first-severed basis.
 
Go to our  Trainee Finder page to read more about the programme. Applications will go live after the webinar on 16 October and close at 14:00 on 6 November 2024.  
 
Before attending this event, please ensure that you have read the programme information on our website, including the FAQs. 

Contact information

Email: Recruitment.TraineeFinder@screenskills.com