This year, the Children’s TV Skills Fund, Film Skills Fund and High-end TV Skills Fund have come together to offer 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. There will also be opportunities for productions to recruit locally, helping to build a stronger UK-wide crew base.
The Animation Skills Fund runs its own Trainee Finder programme for animation trainees which recruits at a different time of year.
What is Trainee Finder?
Trainee Finder matches talented individuals starting their careers in TV and film with productions that contribute to the Children's TV, Film and High-end TV Skills Funds.
This includes productions that shoot across the UK and abroad. In previous years, trainees have been placed on productions such as Barbie, The Crown, Saltburn, Heartstopper, Sex Education, The Dumping Ground, Dodger and Poor Things.
Throughout the year, trainees can apply for placements and also receive 'set-ready' training. This training ranges from production essentials, finance for freelancers, departmental training, promoting yourself as a freelancer, mental health and well-being and much more.
If you are a production and would like more information about supporting a trainee, please visit the guidance for productions page.
"I didn’t actually know anyone in the industry. ScreenSkills gave me that step up."
How does Trainee Finder work?
Successful applicants become part of an industry-recognised cohort of talented new entrants that are put forward for production placements which are part funded by the Trainee Finder programme.
Productions that contribute to the Skills Funds notify the Trainee Finder team when they are looking for trainees and are sent the CVs of available trainees from the cohort. The production will then select the trainees they wish to interview and if successful, a trainee will be hired as part of their crew.
On a placement trainees are teamed up with a supervisor on the production and have a dedicated member of the Trainee Finder team who is their point of contact and support for questions or queries.
Please note that once accepted onto the Trainee Finder programme, placements are not guaranteed. We strive to help trainees and put them forward for any placements they express interest in, but it is the production that decides who to take on.
Trainees must ensure their CV and ScreenSkills profile are kept up-to-date and keep the team informed about their availability. It is recommended that trainees remain proactive and continue to find their own work and do not rely solely on the programme.
"I don't think I would have come this far and learnt so much of it weren't for ScreenSkills. For a lad from the West Midlands to be doing what I'm doing is just great."
How do I apply?
The eligibility criteria is as follows:
- 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 – there are no education requirements to be on Trainee Finder, however, if you are enrolled in full-time education or on a year-out placement year you are not eligible
- Have less than 12 months of relevant paid experience in your chosen department within film or TV productions
- Be available for placements offered within the duration of the programme
- Demonstrate an interest in and commitment to your chosen department
- Be committed to attending training sessions organised by ScreenSkills throughout the 12 months
Most importantly, we are looking for talented, enthusiastic individuals who have the passion to forge a career in the screen industries.
ScreenSkills is dedicated to supporting inclusion in the screen industries and encourages applications from new entrants from diverse backgrounds, who live outside London and from the deaf and disabled community.
We also welcome applicants who may have transferable skills from other creative sectors such as theatre, music, photography and online content creators from roles in other sectors such as business administration, event management, or make-up and hair applicants with salon experience.