The programme provides a structured pathway for individuals returning to the industry or managing caring responsibilities, allowing them to sustain and progress their careers without compromising personal commitments. At the same time, the programme promotes healthier working patterns, offering crew members an opportunity to recalibrate their work–life balance and enhance overall wellbeing.
Productions contributing to the Film Skills Fund are eligible for funding to support individuals looking to partake in a job share role. Productions can access up to £8,000 to support a job share placement. While this grant is most commonly used to fund the sixth crossover or handover day, it may also be allocated towards essential costs such as equipment, accommodation, or travel, depending on the needs of the placement. An individual can not apply for a job share placement on their own, all requests must be submitted by the production.
What job share funding cannot be used for:
- Retrospective claims – applications must be submitted before the prospective job share participants begin work on the production. ScreenSkills requires a minimum of two weeks to process approval paperwork. If a candidate has already started, the ScreenSkills team will advise on the earliest eligible start date that can be supported and how this affects the grant amount available.
- Job share roles within Development – this includes positions such as film writers or directors, which are not eligible for job share funding.
- Candidates already receiving ScreenSkills job share funding – individuals who are currently benefiting from job share support, either via high-end TV or film, cannot receive additional funding under this programme.
For more information, please contact Celia Small – celia.small@screenskills.com
Q: What is the ScreenSkills Film Job Share Programme?
This job-share programme, supported by the Film Skills Funds in partnership with ReelTime Media, aims to introduce greater flexibility into film production workflows. By enabling two professionals to jointly undertake a single role, the programme facilitates the retention of highly experienced practitioners and helps address skills shortages across the sector.
It provides a structured pathway for individuals returning to the industry or managing caring responsibilities, allowing them to sustain and progress their careers without compromising personal commitments. At the same time, the programme promotes healthier working patterns, offering crew members an opportunity to recalibrate their work–life balance and enhance overall wellbeing.
Q: Who are the right candidates for a job share placement?
Productions can put forward job-share pairs, provided they have not previously received ScreenSkills funding through earlier job share placements. Crew members are encouraged and supported to identify a partner with whom they can effectively share their role. Productions that contribute to the Film Skills Fund can nominate a job share pair.
ReelTime Media provides comprehensive support to each job-share partnership, their department, and the wider production team, ensuring the placement is well-integrated and positioned for long-term success.
Q: How does a film production access a job share placement?
Productions contributing to the Film Skills Fund are eligible for funding to support the job share pair. The level of funds that a production can access is allocated from the production’s Film Skills Fund contribution.
Q: How much can a production access?
Productions can access up to £8,000 to support a job share placement. While this grant is most commonly used to fund the sixth crossover or handover day, it may also be allocated towards essential costs such as equipment, accommodation, or travel, depending on the needs of the placement.
Q: Is there a limit to the financial contribution ScreenSkills can make?
Yes, this will depend on several factors, including the overall budget of the film and its contribution to the Film Skills Fund.
Q: How does a production benefit from a job share placement?
- Enhanced retention of skilled crew – job sharing enables productions to draw from a broader and more diverse talent pool, helping to retain experienced professionals who might otherwise be lost to the industry.
- Reduced absenteeism and burnout – greater flexibility supports improved wellbeing, sustaining motivation and enabling crew to perform at their highest level.
- Broader skill coverage – job-share partnerships often combine complementary strengths, bringing a wider range of skills, perspectives, and problem-solving approaches to a single role.
- Strengthened professional development – with increased flexibility, crew members can dedicate time to training, upskilling, education, or personal pursuits, contributing to long-term career growth and resilience.
Q: What does the production need to do in relation to the placement?
The production must assign a named supervisor to support the participants and provide the supervisor’s contact details to ScreenSkills. This supervisor acts as the primary point of contact for the job-share team, offering guidance, oversight, and practical support to ensure their work is effectively integrated into the production.
Q: What paperwork does ScreenSkills issue?
An offer letter is issued between ScreenSkills and the production to confirm the terms of the placement. The production is then required to issue each job share participant with their own fixed-term crew contract, outlining their terms and conditions, working dates, location, expenses allowance, overtime rate (where applicable), and the contact details of the allocated supervisor.
In addition, the supervisor and participant must complete a ScreenSkills progression plan, setting out clear objectives for the duration of the placement and providing a framework for monitoring development. Part One of the progression plan must be completed and submitted within the first week of the placement, with Part Two to be finalised during the final week.
Q: Who employs and pays the job share candidates?
The production employs job share participants in the same way as any other crew member, with all payments made through the production’s payroll. ScreenSkills funding is provided on a reimbursement basis and is released at the end of the placement once all required documentation has been submitted and approved.
Q: How does the production claim the funding?
The production invoices ScreenSkills at the end of the placement. Funding for the agreed amount can only be released once the production has submitted, signed, and returned all required documentation for ScreenSkills’ records. This includes the signed offer letter, a fully completed progression plan, and proof of the production’s agreed funding activity with the participants.
Q: What is the process for confirming a job share placement?
- Production contributes to the Film Skills Fund.
- Production identifies the job share pair.
- Production completes the job share proposal form.
- ScreenSkills organises a meeting with the candidates, their allocated supervisor and Reel Time Media.
- Candidates confirm their willingness to participate.
- ScreenSkills approves the job share placement.
- Production submits a grant request form for the placement.
- ScreenSkills issues the offer letter, which must be signed by the production and returned before the job share begins.
- The supervisor and participant complete the progression plan during the placement.
What job share funding cannot be used for:
- Retrospective claims – applications must be submitted before the prospective job share participants begin work on the production. ScreenSkills requires a minimum of two weeks to process approval paperwork. If a candidate has already started, the ScreenSkills team will advise on the earliest eligible start date that can be supported and how this affects the grant amount available.
- Job share roles within Development – this includes positions such as film writers or directors, which are not eligible for job share funding.
- Candidates already receiving ScreenSkills job share funding – individuals who are currently benefiting from job share support, either via high-end TV or film, cannot receive additional funding under this programme.
For more information, please contact Celia Small – celia.small@screenskills.com.