Creative Skillset’s Trainee Finder
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With the UK production industry busier than ever, there is a constant demand for fully trained, experienced UK crew.
Creative Skillset’s Trainee Finder TV programme provides the first stage in the process, nurturing talent by matching trainees with companies across high end TV and children’s TV. Applicants register on the Creative Skillset trainee finder database.
The main criterion is that they must have had at least one position within a TV company – even if short-term – with a written recommendation from the employer.
Production companies can access the database to find the most suitable candidates and later claim back a percentage of the training allowance. The employers are expected to provide proper training including teaching new skills, rather than offering ‘odd job’ work.
Trainees have found work at some very well-known companies, working on high-profile productions including Line of Duty 4 (World Productions), Poldark 3 and Fearless (Mammoth Screen), Guerrilla (Fifty Fathoms) and Decline & Fall (Tiger Aspect).
Two successful applicants at work
Aude Konan worked on Netflix’s The Crown as part of the Trainee Finder scheme in 2015. She said of the placement: "Working on The Crown was a positive experience and I learned a lot about the role of the costume department in a big budget period drama, and how the slightest changes in the script impact every department, on and off set.
“I'd advise those wanting to enter the industry to be pro-active and target the productions they like and ask for a coffee with the talent managers."
Lottie Jepson also worked on The Crown for three months.
“My Trainee Finder placement was invaluable. I learnt many new skills: primarily costume making but also working on set and how a costume department runs.
“I met fantastic people who I am still working with now. Skillset is a great way to begin in the industry. I'd definitely recommend it to those starting out or wanting to move into TV.
I was struggling to break into the industry before I got work through Skillset just because there's so many people at the same stage as me, so I genuinely wouldn't be where I am now without it.”
For more on the Trainee Finders scheme from Creative Skillset, click here.
Photos via Netflix and Creative Skillset.
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