Film Skills Fund: Partnership Training Fund 2026-27

Training for the UK film industry is supported by the ScreenSkills Film Skills Fund (with contributions from productions companies and studios in the UK).

Investment addresses the skills and development needs of film production, tackling skill gaps and shortages, and ensuring the robust growth of the sector is secured with a fully skilled and inclusive workforce. All priorities are endorsed by the industry-led Film Skills Council.

The Film Skills Fund is looking for applications to the Film Partnership Training Fund.

This fund is intended to support third-party training programmes where the Film Skills Fund would be a minority funder and amplify successful training in key shortage areas.

We can fund up to 49% of a project’s total costs, up to a maximum per project of £25,000.

This fund is not tied to our commissioning cycles and is open for applications all year round. Applications will be assessed as per the timetable below by members of the Film Skills Fund Council.

If the fund is oversubscribed, priority will be given to new training programmes over those which have benefitted from funding in previous years. We also reserve the right to offer a reduced contribution percentage in some cases, to enable us to support as many projects as possible.

Who can apply?

ScreenSkills welcomes applications from individuals, partnerships or organisations that have a proven track record of delivering successful industry-standard training including but not limited to training providers, national and local screen agencies, local enterprise partnerships, professional guilds, and representative bodies.

Please note we will not be accepting any further applications for support with entry level/new entrant initiatives or training programmes.

To be considered for funding, applicants must:

  • give evidence of majority funding in place, or plan for securing majority funding if not yet confirmed
  • demonstrate evidence of appropriate, recent engagement with the industry in the design and delivery of the programme
  • outline the skills shortage area which the programme addresses and how
  • clearly demonstrate the impact of the project so far, or projected outcomes
  • make best efforts to meet critical diversity aims as outlined in this tender, including but not limited to:
    • making reasonable adjustments to the training (whether face-to-face, content or online and including during the application process) to make it accessible to a diverse audience
    • having an equality policy in place as an employer
    • providing diversity and inclusivity training to facilitators – (see free ACAS online training).
  • demonstrate a clear structure for the training, ensuring that it is outcome focused.

How to apply

All applications are made via our online application form. If you would like an alternative way to submit your application, please email FilmCPDteam@screenskills.com and we will be happy to help.

Please share any diversity and inclusion aims for this programme in your application.

How much can you apply for?

We are looking for bids of up to 49% of a project’s total budget, up to a maximum of £25,000.

Please complete the budget document to upload with your application. The template for completion can be downloaded here 

All our funds are treated as grants and therefore are not applicable for VAT.

Deadlines

All applications are made through Grant Request via this link. There is no specific deadline for applications, but our regular assessment schedule will take place bi-monthly, as follows:

Applications Received By

Application Assessment

Decisions By

15 June 2026

Early July 2026

Mid July 2026

31 August 2026

Mid September 2026

w/c October 2026

30  November 2026

Mid December 2026

Early January 2027

31 December 2026

 Mid January 2027

w/c 1 February 2027

 

In exceptional circumstances, applications may be considered outside of the above schedule and/or financial parameters.

We reserve the right to close applications to the fund early if all funds are allocated.

All subsequent correspondence on your application will come from FilmCPDteam@screenskills.com We would advise adding this email address to your safe senders list to ensure you do not miss any communication from us.

Other useful information

As part of your application, we will expect you to detail how you have, or will be, ensuring the training and any application process are accessible including, but not limited to, alternative application formats, marketing and the delivery of training.

We expect your budget to include a reasonable bursary allocation for delegates who risk being excluded due to costs including, but not limited to, travel and caring responsibilities.

If there is, or will be, a charge to the delegates for the training, we will also expect your budget to include a reasonable bursary allocation.

If you would like to discuss any aspect of this tender, or your proposal, before submitting your application, please contact us at FilmCPDteam@screenskills.com .