ScreenSkills USF Editing Mentoring Programme

About the programme

The ScreenSkills Editing Mentoring Programme seeks to support mentees from underrepresented groups, as well as tackling skills gaps as identified by ScreenSkills research. We particularly welcome applications from people based outside London and the South East, and people returning to the industry after a break. This could include returning after parental or sick leave, time away for caring responsibilities, after working in a non-screen industry job, or due to the impact of Covid.

Mentoring is a personal and professional development partnership in which a mentor shares their experience and knowledge with a mentee who wants to grow and progress: it’s a two-way confidential partnership of development, dialogue, learning, and challenge. 

Mentoring guidelines

• Mentoring partnerships take place for six hours over six months
• Once you are matched you will be offered guidance and support to ensure you are able to give and get the best from mentoring
• We may not be able to fulfill all your mentoring preferences, as all our mentors are volunteers
• Please note that, due to the high number of applicants, we are not able to find suitable mentors for everyone
• Mentoring interactions may need to take the form of remote meetings depending on what the mentee and mentor are comfortable with
• The mentoring programme is only open to those currently residing in the UK and who expect to be residents in the UK for the duration of the partnership

Matched mentees will be asked to do the following:

1. Complete mentoring agreement by the deadline set

2. Contact their mentor within five working days of being introduced to their mentor by email

3. Drive meetings and inform the mentoring team of any issues and or reasons as to why the mentoring cannot take place 

4. Be responsive and proactive towards both the mentor and ScreenSkills

Training will be offered to matched mentees and mentors.

Who it's for

This programme is for those working in any of the following roles in post-production in unscripted TV:

• MCR assistant / technical operator
• Edit assistant
• Assistant editor
• Junior editor
• Editor

This programme is also for those who are seeking support to develop their career and can demonstrate how having a mentor would benefit them.

We particularly welcome applications from underrepresented groups, including those from a lower socio-economic background, because we are committed to creating a more inclusive and diverse workforce. If you are disabled and require an alternative format of the application form or have questions about ScreenSkills mentoring, please contact us at mentoring@screenskills.com. If you are matched with a mentor, you can also let us know of any reasonable adjustments required.

How to apply

As a mentee, you can apply until the closing date of 23rd October. To register to be a mentee, there are two simple steps:

1. Create a ScreenSkills profile. Please follow this link to do so if you do not already have one.  

2. Return to this mentoring page and click the ‘apply now’ button to complete a short form.

The application helps us find the right match for you, so the more information you can give us, the better.

Matching will be done on what you tell us when you register, and what the mentor can offer.  Mentoring meetings are for a total of 6 hours over 6 months and are therefore likely to take place December 2022 - May 2023.  If you have any questions, please contact: mentoring@screenskills.com.

The ScreenSkills Editing Mentoring Programme 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.