The Unscripted TV Skills Fund invests in a wide suite of training programmes to address industry skill shortages that have been identified as a priority by the Unscripted TV Skills Council and industry working groups.
Discover the training programmes and placements opportunities, and find out what your production can offer and how it works.
Check out the profiles of alumni who have completed training programmes below. On their profiles, you’ll be able to find out more about them including their CVs, contact details, location and other training they have completed.
Placements
The Unscripted TV Skills Fund runs a series of training programmes every year that match delegates with production placements. Check out the current opportunities below and contact USF@screenskills.com.
- Placement dates: from July 24 onwards
- Placement length: six months (could be shorter with the financial incentive pro-rata – a minimum commitment of two months)
- Subsidy available to the host post facility per placement: £2,500
- Six placements sought for freelancers: support offered throughout the placement from the training provider with a detailed training plan for each delegate and regular mentoring
Alumni
Compiled here, for your convenience when on the lookout for the best new talent, are the profiles for alumni of completed training programmes to date.
This programme was designed to equip the next generation of casting researchers in the unscripted TV industry with the practical, creative, and technical skills required, as well as an understanding of the responsibilities in terms of compliance and contributor welfare.
- Delivered by The Pipeline in 2023/24 to 56 delegates.
This programme was designed to build creative, diverse and fully inclusive development teams who are better able to deliver successful pitches, create a slate of ideas and win new business.
- Delivered in 2023/24 by Mission Accomplished to 29 delegates
This programme trained a new group of development researcher talent across the breadth of the UK with the aim of ensuring a pipeline of diverse, skilled and formally trained individuals in the role in unscripted TV.
- Delivered in 2021/22 by Mission Accomplished to 59 delegates.
- Delivered in 2023/24 by Mission Accomplished to 64 delegates.
This programme was designed to build the technical, creative, professional and personal skills needed for the roles of edit assistant and technical operator, among a group of existing postproduction runners, new entrants and transferers to unscripted TV across the UK.
- Delivered in 2021/22 by The Pipeline to 37 delegates.
- Delivered in 2023/24 by The Pipeline to 40 delegates.
This programme was designed to equip existing edit assistants across the UK with the technical, creative and professional skills needed to take the step up to junior editor with 6 months of work-based training.
- Delivered in 2022/23 by The Pipeline to 20 delegates.
This programme gave those working at AP and PD level the personal and professional skills and knowledge to take on more challenging projects with confidence.
- Delivered in 2021/22 by Gritty Talent to 75 delegates.
This programme was designed to equip participants with the skills, knowledge and understanding to begin their dynamic careers in production management.
- Delivered in 2023/24 by Media Career Advice to 39 delegates.
This programme covered key areas of the role, from setting up shoots and creating call sheets to copyright clearances and managing teams, preparing a group of new entrants and transferers for a career in production management. Individuals on the programme benefitted from multiple production placements over 12 months in a variety of genres in unscripted TV.
- Delivered in 2021/22 by Media Career Advice to 84 delegates.
This UK-wide programme was designed to equip participants with the practical skills needed to be a successful production manager, as well as personal skills when managing a team and working harmoniously with executive/series producers, and broadcasters.
- Delivered in 2022/23 DV Talent to 30 delegates.
This flagship programme was designed to give new and aspiring series producers the knowledge, skills and network to make the move from producer to series producer with confidence, and to develop the next generation of showrunners who will become the cornerstones of UK television.
- Delivered in 2022/23 by TRC Media to 22 delegates all working outside of London & the South East.
This programme was designed to equip existing researchers across the UK with the technical, editorial and people skills needed to take the step up to shooting AP.
- Delivered in 2021/22 by Directors UK and DV Talent to 60 delegates.
- Delivered in 2023/24 by DV Talent to 59 delegates.
This programme was designed to empower newcomers to self-shooting to film and direct with confidence, while also building confidence and addressing skills gaps within the existing self-shooting community.
- Delivered in 2021/22 by DV Talent to 54 delegates.
- Delivered in 2023/24 by DV Talent to 54 delegates.