A notice from ScreenSkills regarding the apprenticeship recruitment process due to Covid-19: 

The recruitment of apprentices for the ScreenSkills Apprenticeship Programme has been paused today, in the light of current government advice on Covid-19 and disruption to current film and television production.

We have every expectation that the programme will go ahead when the Covid-19 crisis is over and productions are up and running again.

However, ScreenSkills and our partners in the programme, Warner Bros. and Netflix, feel it would be unfair to put people through assessment days and interviews when the industry is facing so much uncertainty.

We will post information on our website and in newsletters when we are able to resume the recruitment process.

We take protecting people’s personal data seriously, so for those who have already made their application, we will hold onto their data under the rules designed to protect it (General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR) and will let them know when we restart the recruitment process. They will not have to make another written application. If, however, they let us know they wish to withdraw their application and have their data deleted, we will do so.

We are disappointed that we have to pause and apologise for the inconvenience, but trust you will appreciate the need for caution.

The ScreenSkills Apprenticeship Programme

Get your start in film and TV as an apprentice with a chance of working on upcoming productions such as The Crown, Pennyworth, The Batman, Fantastic Beasts 3 and The Witcher with the ScreenSkills Apprenticeship Programme.

ScreenSkills will hire 20 people as apprentices on fixed-term contracts of between 14 and 17 months. During that time the apprentices will do a mix of work placements with Netflix and the WarnerMedia group alongside training with specialised training providers. This is part of a new scheme supported by the Government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport that aims to help more people get into the film and TV industries without having been to film school or getting a degree.

All apprentices will receive a wage of £19,565 (the London living wage) for a 35-hour week (plus any paid overtime). The Royal Television Society is a proud supporter of the initiative and is offering free membership for all successful candidates and some bursaries.

ScreenSkills believes in the importance of diversity in film and TV and wants to increase equality and challenge discrimination. We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. This includes women, LGBTQ+ people, people from minority ethnic backgrounds, people with a disability, impairment, learning difference or long-term condition, people from disadvantaged backgrounds and people who are returning to work after a break for parenting or caring.

It won't be possible to confirm which productions apprentices will work on until recruitment has finished. These placements may take place in different parts of the country so apprentices might need to commute or be based away from home at points during the apprenticeship. If you're worried about money being a barrier to this travel, we encourage you to apply anyway. ScreenSkills will work with the right candidates to explore ways to support you and make this opportunity possible.

Apprentices can train to become either an assistant production accountant or a broadcast production assistant. You can read more detail about what each of these apprenticeships involves below:

Assistant production accountant apprenticeship

• 17 months
• Provisional start date: TBC
• 10 places available

An assistant production accountant is part of a team of accountants that work to get a film made. They support the production accountants in managing the financial control of one or more productions and work with the production accountant and production accounting manager to make sure accurate financial information is delivered on time.

You can read a more detailed description for this role here. The training (separate from the work placement) for this apprenticeship will be based in central London.

Broadcast production assistant apprenticeship

• 14 months
• Provisional start date:TBC
• 10 places available

Broadcast production assistants help the director or producer make sure a film or TV production runs smoothly. This role is technical, creative and administrative and can include supervising set-up and operation of production equipment, helping plan programme format and research scripts, maintaining production records and hiring equipment

Unlike many other roles in the industry, production assistants are more generalist than specialist. They are given responsibility for a wide variety of tasks across all aspects of the production.

You can read a more detailed description for this role here. The training (separate from the work placement) for this apprenticeship will be based in Buckinghamshire.

You don’t need any film or TV experience to apply for either of these apprenticeships - just a GSCE in English and maths and a love for the industry.

How to apply

Applications are taken through the ScreenSkills website by clicking the ‘Apply now’ button on this page. You must be logged into a ScreenSkills profile to apply. If you don’t already have a ScreenSkills account, you can create one here and come back to this page to apply.

Applications will close on midnight Sunday 22 March 2020. If you are struggling to complete your application, or require access support, please email support@screenskills.com.

Eligibility criteria:
The only qualifications you need to become a ScreenSkills apprentice are a GCSE (A*-C/9-4) in maths and English, but you should also meet these criteria:

• You must love and regularly watch film and TV shows
• You must want to pursue a career specifically in film and television production (not as an actor)
• You must be willing to travel nationwide responding to different production locations and shooting scedules, as well as to the training provider's base
• You must live in England and have lived in England for the past two years (as apprenticeships work differently in the different nations and this one has been funded for England only)
• You must have the right to work in the UK. If you are shortlisted you will need to provide proof of your right to work in the UK and proof that you have been resident in England for two years to be eligible for funding
• You must be 18 or over by 30 June 2020. You won't be able to create a profile to apply if you're under 18, but if you're 17 now and will turn 18 before 30 June, please email support@screenskills.com and we will find an alternative way for you to apply
• You must not be in full-time education by 30 June 2020
• If you are applying for the assistant accountant apprenticeship you must not already have an accountancy qualification at level 3  or above (equivalent to A-level). This is due to rules about apprenticeship funding and recognition of prior learning, which you can read about here. If shortlisted, you may be asked to provide evidence (e.g. transcripts) of past qualifications to emake sure you are eligible
• If you are applying for the broadcast production assistant apprenticeship and you have a film or TV-related degree or a BTEC Level 3 (Digital) Creative Media Production you will not be eligible, but if you have a BTEC Level 3 in Media Studies your eligibility will depend on the awarding body and units studied
• You must have passed maths and English GCSEs (or the international equivalent) at grade A*-C/9-4
• This apprenticeship is aimed at school leavers who have not completed a degree course but if your degree is in an unrelated subject you may be eligible to apply

Judging

After applications close on 22 March there will be a multi-stage application process. These apprenticeships have an anonymous application process, which means that the people assessing the applications won’t be able to see your name, contact information, ScreenSkills profile or any other identifiable information about you until the end of Stage Two. This is aimed at making the process as fair as possible.

Stage one: 
ScreenSkills will review all applications to make sure they meet the eligibility criteria above. If an application doesn’t meet these eligibility criteria, it won’t progress past this point.

Stage two:
ScreenSkills and the training providers will then read all eligible applications, mark them out of five and decide on a shortlist.

We will be looking for applications which show commitment, passion and skills from past work, interests or other activities you have done that would be an asset in the film and TV industry. This could be things like communication or ‘people skills’, creative thinking or the ability to learn and adapt quickly.

Before being approved for attendance at the assessment days, applicants will be asked to provide evidence of their right to work in the UK and may be required to provide evidence (eg transcripts) of past qualifications.

Assessment day:
Forty applicants for each apprenticeship job role will be selected to attend an assessment day hosted by ScreenSkills and the training providers. You will be notified in due course if you have progressed to this stage.

The assessment days will involve learning about the film and TV industry, group exercises and a short writing and maths test. 

Interviews:
Twenty applicants for each apprenticeship will be selected from the assessment days attendees to be interviewed. Interviews will take place at the ScreenSkills offices in London and will include questions about your past experiences and achievements and how these connect to the job you are applying for. We will confirm interview dates once the recruitment process resumes after the Covid-19 crisis. 

Frequently asked questions:

• When is the closing date for applications? Midnight on Sunday 22 March 2020
• What happens if I apply after the deadline has closed? Your application will not be considered
• Can I apply for both apprenticeships? No
• What if I’m still in full-time education in July 2020? You will not be eligible for this programme
• When will I hear back about my application? Successful candidates who will progress to the next stage will be notifiedin due course.
• When will the interviews take place? The two-stage selection progress consists of an assessment day and an interview.
• Where will the assessment day and interviews take place? They will be within Greater London
• Can I get financial help to travel to the assessment day and interview? We are looking at that and will let applicants know
• What will happen at the assessment day? It will probably involve a range of group exercises designed to find the applicants most likely to benefit from the apprenticeship, plus short writing and maths tests
• What sort of questions are likely to be asked at the interview stage? Questions about your experiences so we can understand your potential. We will be looking to make connections between the job you are applying for and your achievements, interests, school or college projects and other activities to help you to demonstrate skills and experience that are relevant to the job
• What happens if I am successful in my application, but I don’t live near where the industry placements are taking place or the training course? It is possible you may need to commute or even move away from home temporarily to work at placements or attend the training course. We don’t have funding for that, but we will do our best to provide other support, such as advice on how to find somewhere to live
• What hours will I do? Your contract will be for a 35-hours paid week. However, when you are on an industry placement, you may be required to do considerably more hours of paid overtime in line with the normal rules within Netflix and WarnerMedia group
• If I’m busy or working on an assessment day or interview date, can I still take part in this programme? We may be able to offer an alternative interview date, but the assessment days are not flexible and are a compulsory part of the process
• I’m under 18, but I really want to start working, can I apply? All applicants must be 18 or over on or before 30 June 2020
• I’m 17 but will be 18 by the time the placements starts, can I still apply? As long as you will be 18 by 30 June 2020, you can apply
• I live outside England, can I still apply? This programme is not open to people who live in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland or elsewhere outside England. You must have been living in England for two years to be eligible to apply
• My referees/previous employers were outside the UK/don’t speak English, can I still use them? Unfortunately, we are not able to translate references that are not in English
• How long will the apprenticeship last?  The broadcast production assistant apprenticeship is 14 months and the assistant production accountant is 17 months. You will be on a full-time contract for the duration of the apprenticeship, so you will need to be available to work and study for the whole period
• What's the pay? The annual salary will be £19,565 (London living wage) for apprentices on either apprenticeship, plus paid overtime as required
• If I am successful, when will I start? The start date is to be confirmed.
• Will I be eligible for holiday leave? As an employee of ScreenSkills, you will receive 25 days of paid leave per year. When you can take it will need to be negotiated and agreed with ScreenSkills and the host employer
• Can I apply if I have a degree? The ScreenSkills Apprenticeship Programme is aimed at school leavers who have not completed a degree course, but if your degree is in an unrelated subject you may be eligible to apply
• If I have a level 3 qualification (equivalent to A-level) in accountancy, can I apply for the assistant production accountant apprenticeship? No, because the apprenticeship is a level 3 qualification and government rules mean you will not be eligible. However, accountants are in demand in the screen industries, so you may be able to use your qualification anyway. You can read more about being a production accountant here. You would still be eligible to apply for the broadcast production assistant apprenticeship.
• If I have a level 3 qualification (equivalent to A-level) in media, can I apply for the broadcast production assistant? It will depend on the nature of your media qualification – if you have a BTEC Level 3 (Digital) Creative Media Production you will not be eligible, but if you have a BTEC Level 3 in Media Studies your eligibility will depend on the awarding body and units studied. We will ask for evidence to establish your eligibility. If you are unsure, please email support@screenskills.com. You would be eligible for the assistant production accountant apprenticeship.
• If I have international qualifications, will I be eligible to apply? Overseas qualifications will be acceptable where there is clear evidence, from NARIC (via a certificate/statement of comparability) that the qualification is an equivalent level to the minimum requirements for English and maths and there is additional comparison information that confirm the qualification is an equivalent of GCSE English and/or maths (A* to C). Overseas qualifications are acceptable as long as current and prior equivalent qualifications are recognised and listed within the NARIC International Comparisons database – please check this before submitting an application and we will need to see evidence in order to progress to the next stage. If it is necessary for a qualification to be transferred to a UK classification (statement of comparability), we will not be able to accept it until that process is complete.
• If I am successful in my application, who will be my manager during the apprenticeship? You will be an employee of ScreenSkills so your formal line manager will be from there. But you will also have a day-to-day line manager from Netflix or WarnerMedia group when you are on a work placement
• Will I gain a recognised qualification? At the end of the apprenticeship, you take a practical test (called the end-point assessment). As long as you pass, you will receive a recognised apprenticeship certificate. Those who have done the assistant production accountant apprenticeship may also attain a recognised accountancy qualification
• If I fail my end-point assessment, can I retake it? Yes, although we and the training provider will do our best to support you so that isn’t necessary
• What happens at the end of the apprenticeship? The contract runs only until the end of the apprenticeship. However, we will do our best to support you to move into further employment when the apprenticeship finishes, whether as a freelancer or as a contracted employee. And, of course, you will have gained skills and experience that are very much in demand in the industry. As long as you pass at the end, you will also have the apprenticeship qualification