High-end TV working group investments 2026/27

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

These are the investments each group is making this year.

Craft and tech working group

  • The guiding principle of department budgeting – supporting a total number of 120 (plus additional 120 from the Film Skills Fund)
  • Step up to costume supervisor - supporting a total number of 10 (plus additional 10 from the Film Skills Fund)
  • Stand by art department dressing for camera - supporting a total number of 10 (plus additional 10 from the Film Skills Fund)
  • 1st AD training - supporting a total number of 10 (plus additional 5 from Regions WG and 3 from Wales WG)
  • Step up to art director - supporting a total number of 3 (plus additional 3 from the Film Skills Fund)
  • Grips training - supporting a total number of 10 (plus additional 10 from the Film Skills Fund)

Production grades working group

  • Business affairs for production teams - supporting an additional number of 50+ on the current course (plus an additional 50+ from the Film Skills Fund)
  • Production accountant Training - supporting a total number of 40 (plus an additional 40 from the Regions WG, 8 from Northern Ireland WG and 40 from the Film Skills Fund)
  • Good work in locations - supporting a total number of 40 (plus an additional 40 from the Film Skills Fund)
  • Sustainability training - supporting a total number of 10
  • Line producer training - supporting a total number of 20 

Producers working group

  • Co-producer placement programme - supporting 5+

Post and VFX working group

  • Leading effective teams in post and VFX - supporting a total number of 40 (plus an additional 40 from the Film Skills Fund)
  • AI Editor training in offline - supporting 200+(plus an additional 200+ from the Film Skills Fund)
  • Assistant editor best practices - supporting a total number of 20 (plus an additional 20 from the Film Skills Fund)
  • Post budgeting - supporting a total number of 45 (plus an additional 45 from the Film Skills Fund)

Unscripted working group

  • AI awareness - supporting 10 (plus an additional 10 from the Unscripted Skills Fund)
  • Socials producer training - supporting a total number of 8
  • Mid-level compliance training - supporting a total number of 24

Regions working group

  • Shadowing/ taster programme for young people - supporting 10

Wales working group

  • Production accountant training - supporting a total number of 5-10
  • Stepping up - supporting a total number of 7

Scotland working group

  • Early entrant pathways - supporting approximately 120
  • Locations 101 - supporting a total number of 8
  • Art director masterclasses - supporting a total number of 8
  • Payroll accounting training - supporting a total number of 5
  • Post-production for production roles - supporting a total number of 15

Northern Ireland working group

  • Step up to locations unit manager training - supporting a total number of 6
  • Production coordinator training – supporting a total number of 5
  • Production manager training – supporting a total number of 5
  • Finance for freelancers - supporting a total number of 40

Make a Move working group

  • Make a Move ‘classic’ - supporting 180+ professionals

Trainee Finder working group

  • In-house delivery - supporting a total number of 250+ trainees in 2026/27 cohort

Leaders of Tomorrow Working Group

  • In-house delivery - supporting a total number of 17 on a three 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