When productions pay into Children’s TV Skills Fund (formerly known as the levy), they are supporting and investing in the activity which will develop the skills of freelancers and talent working at all levels in children’s TV as well as bring new entrants into the industry.
The fund therefore supports both training for new entrants and career development for those already working in children’s TV. Contributing productions automatically get access to programmes such as Trainee Finder and Make a Move.
The Children’s TV Skills Fund (formerly known as the levy) was created in 2015 following the introduction of UK tax relief for children’s live-action TV.
In return the industry agreed that those utilising the tax credit would contribute to a skills fund, managed by ScreenSkills. The intention being to create a sustainable skills funding legacy with funds raised supporting the current and next generation of talent working in children’s TV.
All activity supported through the fund aims to increase and upskill the children’s TV workforce in the UK.
ScreenSkills set up a Children’s TV Council to help manage the fund and Sarah Joyce, head of unscripted and children’s tv works closely with the council to ensure all investment is industry-led. The council identifies key training needs, set priorities and develops relevant training programmes.
How are contributions to the fund calculated?
Eligible productions contribute 0.5% of their UK core expenditure (in sterling), up to a current maximum contribution of £44,500 (the cap increases each year in line with inflation).
Children’s TV productions pay their contribution in full on the first day of principal photography. The earlier you commit to contributing to the skills fund, the more opportunities your production could benefit from. Paying into the fund does not have to coincide with your application for tax credit.
If you are paying into the Skills Fund for the first time and have any questions. please email: sarah.joyce@screenskills.com
Since 2015, the Children's TV Skills Fund has collected more than £1 million.
More than 100 productions have contributed so far, including Hank Zipster, Officially Amazing, Ice Stars, The Worst Witch, Joe All Alone, Horrible Histories, Art Ninja, Teacup Travels, Apple Tree House, Do You Know?, Hetty Feather, Gory Games, Operation Ouch!, Millie Inbetween, Treasure Champs, Deadly Dinosaurs, Gym Stars, The Secret Life of Boys, Top Class, Malory Towers, Our Team, Something Special, The Baby Club, Get Even and several from the My Life strand.
What is the fund used for?
The funds are invested across the UK in skills development for crew and talent with a focus on skills shortages as well as new entrants. All investment decisions are entirely industry led via the Children’s TV Council.
To find out more about the work of the fund, take a look at our current programmes for new entrants or programmes for crew and talent, or take a look at some of our case studies from professionals who have benefited from ScreenSkills-supported training. Click the following link to download ScreenSkills' Children’s TV Fund booklet (pdf).
For more information about the Children's TV Skills Fund please email sarah.joyce@screenskills.com.