ScreenSkills and Prime Video Pathway Unscripted TV Job-share 101 - for Freelancers

This info session introduces the ScreenSkills and Prime Video Pathway Unscripted TV Job-share Programme 2026 and explains how freelance job-sharers can access ‘handover’ funding to support their job-share.  

While job-sharing is traditionally seen as something to help retain female talent, we know that it is also an essential tool when it comes to retaining talent for a number of other reasons. This might include anyone with caring commitments, people from lower socio-economic backgrounds, disabled workers and those with mental or physical health challenges or just people who want more balance in their lives. We believe job-sharing and flexible working is key to supporting the diversity and health of our workforce which has taken quite a blow over the last few years.

At this time of commissioning downturn, job-sharing is a practical tool for keeping our freelancers in work by opening roles up to two people, thereby allowing both freelancers to stay in the industry and keeping valuable experience in our teams.

This session is supported by the ScreenSkills Unscripted TV Skills Fund which invests in training for the unscripted workforce thanks to contributions from broadcasters, SVoDs and production companies.

Who it's for

This session is for freelancers from ALL roles and departments in Unscripted Television (Reality, Documentaries, Gameshows, Talk shows, Lifestyle, Arts, News) who are interested in job-sharing.

This programme supports freelancers looking for better work / life balance, including those with caring commitments, people from lower socio-economic backgrounds, deaf and disabled people, those with mental or physical health challenges, or people wanting more balance in their lives.

Job-sharing can work successfully in Unscripted roles including, Casting, Edit Producers, Editors, Series Producers, Production Managers and Coordinators.  We are keen to further explore how job-sharing can support people in different roles and departments.

What it covers

This ‘open to all’ info session will explore why job-sharing is important and how it practically works.  

We will look at how to develop an effective and successful job-share partnership, how to minimise common problems and how to devise a job-share arrangement that benefits both the job-sharers and the productions they will work on.  

By sharing case studies and best practice, we help job-sharers with their business case, relationship and give them the confidence to make it work for them and their production.

We will also explain how freelance job-sharers can access ‘handover’ funding to support their job-share. 

• Based on research and extensive experience of job-sharers, we share best practice on flexible working and job-sharing
• We look at how to find a job-share partner and how to pitch yourselves to a production
•  We discuss the benefits job-sharing can bring to a production.
• We suggest tech solutions to ensure a seamless handover
• We look at how flexible working can retain diverse talent and sustain your career.
• We share resources and highlight funding opportunities.

Trainer

Michelle Reynolds is co-director at ReelTime Media. She worked for 17 years in Unscripted Television, and since 2018 has worked as ScreenSkills' HETV Manager, then at Share My Telly Job and now at ReelTime. Michelle’s expertise lies in her knowledge of job-sharing; she has devised and delivered multiple job-sharing programmes for ScreenSkills, and is currently leading a job-sharing initiative with Crew HQ at WBSL. Michelle has guided organisations as wide-ranging as Netflix, STV, Bectu, Screen Alliance North and Talent Academies Ireland towards more inclusive working practices. She was a founding officer of the Unscripted TV Union (part of Bectu) where she served as Women’s officer for three years.

How to apply

This session will take place online via Zoom. Click ‘get ticket’ at the top of the page and follow the instructions to book your place; you must login or register before you are able to book your place.

Our courses are popular and often book up quickly. If you are no longer able to attend, we ask you to please use the “decline ticket” function on the right-hand side of the page so that we can release your place to someone on the waiting list.