High-end TV working group investments 2025/26

The High-end TV Skills Fund invests in developing the skills of high-end TV professionals at all career stages across the whole of the UK and in bringing new entrants into the industry.

Two actor on the Blue Lights set sit in a police car holding a clapperboard and smiling out of the window
Image: Blue Lights (c) BBC / Two Cities Television

The High-end TV Council and industry-led groups – made up of more than 60 industry leaders - decide how the contributions are invested, using their experience and the most up-to-date research to determine the most effective use of the collected funds.

The working groups are:

  • Craft and tech
  • Production grades
  • Producers
  • Post and visual effects (VFX)
  • Unscripted
  • Regions
  • Wales
  • Scotland
  • Northern Ireland
  • Make a Move
  • Trainee Finder
  • Leaders of Tomorrow

These are the investments each group is making this year.

Craft and tech working group

  • Trainee grips - supporting a total number of 20
  • The guiding principle of department budgeting – supporting a total number of 120 (plus additional 30 from Northern Ireland WG & 60 from the Film Skills Fund)
  • Start a career in set decoration and props - supporting a total number of 30
  • Stand by art department dressing for camera - supporting a total number of 10 (plus additional 6 from Northern Ireland WG)
  • Craft and Tech Shadowing programme - supporting a total number of 10

Production grades working group

  • Business Affairs for Production teams- supporting a total number of 100+ (plus an additional 20 from Northern Ireland WG and 100 from Film)
  • Advanced training for Production Accountants - supporting a total number of 40 (plus an additional 10 from Scotland WG and 25 from Film)

Producers working group

  • Co-producer placement programme - supporting a total number of 5
  • Co-producer alumni Masterclasses - supporting a total number of 50+

Post and VFX working group

  • Leading effective teams in post and VFX - supporting a total number of 40
  • AI training for Post and VFX - supporting 200+
  • Understanding Post Production Technology - supporting a total number of 20
  • 1st AE to Editor training - supporting  20+

Unscripted working group

  • Bursaries for underrepresented groups - supporting  12+
  • VFX management programmes - supporting a total number of 60 (plus an additional 30 from Film)

Regions working group

  • Shadowing/ Taster programme for young people- supporting 10

Wales working group

  • Developing HODs in Wales - supporting a total number of 3 (to include one editor)
  • Stepping up - supporting a total number of seven
  • Post-Production Paperwork - supporting 5-10
  • Developing Location Managers - supporting 5-6
  • Wales work shadowing programme - supporting 10

Scotland working group

  • Advanced training for Production Accountants – supporting 10
  • Early entrant pathways - supporting approximately 100
  • Production Coordinator training - supporting a total number of 8
  • Assistant Script Editor placement - supporting 1-2
  •  Costume supervisor training- supporting 5-6
  • Post-Production Paperwork - supporting 5-10
  • Steadicam bursary support - supporting 5
  • Post-production for production roles - supporting up to 15

Northern Ireland working group

  • Grips qualifications - supporting a total number of 5
  • The guiding principle of department budgeting – supporting a total number of 30
  • Business Affairs for Production teams- supporting  20
  • Stand by art department dressing for camera - supporting 6
  • Assistant Script Editor/ Script Assistant training - supporting 6-10
  • Northern Ireland Mid-Career Bursaries - supporting 10+
  • 2nd AD/ Extras Coordinator training - supporting 5-6

Make a Move working group

  • Make a Move ‘classic’ - supporting 250+ professionals

Trainee Finder working group

  • In-house delivery - supporting a total number of 250+ trainees in 2025/26 cohort 

Leaders of Tomorrow Working Group

  • In-house delivery - supporting a total number of 15  on a 3 year rolling programme

For more details about any of the programmes listed, please contact the high-end TV team.

We also provide a number of further support programmes, including bursaries, access coordinator training, Leaders of Tomorrow progression programme, leadership and management training, which includes anti-bullying and harassment sessions. Find out more here.

ScreenSkills also offers free e-learning for those wanting to get into - and already working in - high-end TV and other screen industries.

Back to High-end TV Skills Fund