£800k for "Stepping Up" Scottish Film and TV Industry

Good news for the New Year in Scotland with the launch in January of a new career development

A New Skills and Training Scheme, Stepping Up, creating 28 training placements in Scotland's Film and TV Industry, was launched in January.

The new Creative Skillset Drama Training Programme will create 20 Stepping Up drama placements in key craft and technical disciplines, nurturing Scotland’s existing creative talent and helping them to ‘step-up’ to more senior roles. It will build upon a scheme running since 2010, training producers and script editors, and enable this valuable workforce development work to be extended.

The aim of the programme is to build the number and quality of film and TV crews in Scotland to support production and address skills gaps. As well as the 20 Stepping Up drama placements, the new funding will create eight Stepping Up factual placements delivered through the BBC and new traineeships for Script Editors and Producers.

Alasdair Smith, Scotland Director, Creative Skillset, said: “It is vital to support the development of producers, executives and executive producers now in order to meet the expected growth in Scottish comedy and drama production. We have already seen major growth in this industry, which has created an urgent need for skilled TV drama production staff. This programme will create an environment where the next generation of Scotland’s creative leaders can flourish, attracting top class production talent and giving them real and valuable on-the-job training to address their skills gaps”.

Funded by a partnership of Creative Skillset, BBC Scotland, Creative Scotland, BECTU, Skills Development Scotland and the European Social Fund, via Scotland’s Trade Union Centre (STUC), the programme offers new training opportunities for freelancers in TV & film in Scotland. Financial support has also been received from a number of Scottish-based independent production companies.

Attendees at the launch, held at Glasgow-based BBC Scotland, heard from Lizzie Gray who successfully completed the trainee producer scheme in 2010 and has since gone on to become producer for the hugely successful drama, Waterloo Road.

Lizzie said: “The Producer Training and the Producer Internship have been invaluable in my career progression. Through both I have filled knowledge and skills gaps, gained practical experience and made key industry contacts”.

Applications are now open:

Applications will be invited for up to two Script Editor trainees and four Trainee Producers later in 2013.

Caroline Parkinson, Director, Creative Scotland, said: “We are delighted to have been involved in developing this programme in conjunction with the TV Working Group and with our partners. This will support professional freelancers to enhance their range of skills, to enable them to progress in their careers and to bring their valuable talent to the independent production industry and broadcasters”.

Gordon McGuiness, Head of Industry and Enterprise at Skills Development Scotland, added: “This exciting programme will help provide opportunities and enhance skills to support Scotland’s vibrant, competitive and sustainable screen industry. It will foster Scottish talent and we are pleased to offer our support”.

Alison Goring, Drama Talent Manager , BECTU, said "Stepping Up is a really exciting and innovative model of training for craft, technical and production crew who are already established and experienced in the film & TV industry. We hope that through this opportunity people will be able to have some time and space to gain the skills and experience they need to move up to the next level, supported by industry mentors. Scotland already has a very strong talent base and we want to ensure a vibrant future for that talent and the creative screen industries in Scotland”.

Further information including the application guidelines and application form will be available from the BECTU website READ MORE