High-end television Regional Business and Finance Training Programme

• Do you work in High-end TV and have 3+ years’ experience?
• Are you based in the English regions?
• Do you want to be more intentional about your freelancing? 
• Do you want to gain confidence in managing your finances?
• Do you need strategies for planning your work and building a sustainable career?

If you answered yes, this programme offers a practical and supportive way to develop the business and financial skills essential for a successful freelance career in HETV.

Delivered by Alison Grade, CEO of Mission Accomplished and author of The Freelance Bible, this training will equip you with the business, financial, and strategic skills needed to thrive as a freelance professional in the screen industries.

This training is supported by the ScreenSkills High-end TV Skills Fund with contributions from UK high-end TV productions.

Who it's for

This programme is for freelance HETV professionals based in the English regions with 3 years + experience in the industry and will cover:

• How to plan your income and manage your finances across the year
• How to understand your personal cash flow and income needs
• How much you need to work to support yourself
• Key financial considerations including tax and working as a freelancer
• Taking a business mindset and being intentional with your freelancing
• How mindset and planning can support a healthier work/life balance
• How to build a CV that clearly presents your skills and experience

Please note that this programme is only open to participants who are  based in the English regions (outside London/M25).

We always welcome applications from under-represented groups, including, but not limited to: those from minority ethnic backgrounds; people with a disability; people from the LGBTQ+ community and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

We offer inclusive training. If you have any needs which we can accommodate during the recruitment process and beyond, please let us know and we will be happy to work with you to meet them.

If you have any access needs or require any additional support to complete your application, please contact: training@mission.guru

What it covers

This programme will be delivered in two parts. 

Part 1. An Introduction to business and finance skills insight session, delivered as a zoom webinar and open to all eligible freelance HETV crew working in the regions. This insight session will be delivered twice and will be recorded for those unable to attend live and will cover the following:

• What do I need to live on across the year
• How much do I need to work to achieve this?
• Making Tax Digital
• Planning and building my work-life balance
• Creating a CV that sells

Following the webinar Mission Accomplished will share e-learning materials with the participants who attended. They will then be invited to apply for the in-depth programme which delves deeper into the content that was covered in the insight sessions.

Please note that attendance to a live or recorded insight session is required before applying for the in-depth programme.

Part 2. In-depth business, financial and strategic skills programme for 50 freelance HETV professionals will be delivered for 3 cohorts of approximately 15-18 people. 

• Cohort 1 – South West – in person session in Bristol
• Cohort 2 – North – in person session in Leeds
• Cohort 3 – Online only

Training to cover:

• Session 1 online - Thinking like a business
  • What does it mean to think like a business?
  • Planning strategically for a long-term and sustainable career
  • Planning for myself as well as my career – Guest Speaker, Sarah McCaffrey, Solas Mind
• Session 2 online -Tax and NI for freelance crew (Guest Speaker John Prince, Accountant specializing in Film and TV)
  • Contractual status
  • Tax returns, payments on account and expenses
  • Making Tax Digital
  • VAT registration
  • IR35 when and where does it apply?
• Session 3 in person for cohort 1 in Bristol and cohort 2 in Leeds and online for cohort 3
  • Freelancer Finances
  • Building and leveraging your networks
  • Refining my CV for my audience and role
  • Role of portfolios
  • Pitching
  • Being CEO of my freelance career
• Session 4 online – Financial Planning (Guest Speaker, Emily Man, St. James’s Wealth Management, Financial Advisor specialising in Film and TV)
  • Savings strategies
  • Pensions – planning for and managing multiple pensions
  • Personal financial planning
• Session 5 – online 1-2-1 CV / portfolio reviews with Mission Accomplished
• Optional Session 6 – 1-2-1 with John Prince Accountancy
• Optional Session 7 – 1-2-1 with Emily Man, St. James’s Wealth Management

DATES:

INSIGHT SESSSION DATES:

• Wednesday 13 May 2026 – 18.30 – 20.30 Zoom Webinar
• Saturday 11 July 2026 – 10.00 – 12.00 Zoom Webinar

All webinars will be recorded for those unable to attend live. 

INDEPTH TRAINING DATES:

• Cohort 1 South West (Bristol) – hybrid delivery
  • Online sessions begin week commencing 15 June 2026
  • In-person training day in Bristol: Saturday 27 June 2026
  • Final session: on or before 10 July 2026
• Cohort 2 North (Leeds) – hybrid delivery
  • Online sessions begin week commencing 22 June 2026
  • In-person training day in Leeds: Saturday 6 July 2026
  • Final session: on or before 17 July 2026
• Cohort 3 Online – online delivery
  • Online sessions begin week commencing 7 September 2026
  • 2 x ½ days training, online: Saturday 19 & 26 September 2026 (0930 – 1300)
  • Final session: on or before 30 September 2026

Course dates may change at any time; all participants will be notified accordingly, with final course dates confirmed at the insight sessions.

How to apply

Thank you for your interest in the High-end TV Regional Business and Finance Training Programme.

Click the 'Apply Now' button to apply for a place on the programme.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and assessed on a first come, first served basis, so early application is encouraged.

Contact information

Email: training@mission.guru