ScreenSkills invites training providers or industry professionals to tender for training designed to address skills shortages and gaps and to help build a more inclusive workforce in High-end TV.
Training for the UK High-end TV industry is supported by the ScreenSkills High-end TV Skills Fund (with contributions from production companies, broadcasters and streamers in the UK).
The High-end TV Skills Fund is looking for an organisation or individual/s who can design and run an access coordinator programme for six people/ professionals from the DDN (deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent) community with a background in television or film and who are based in the following nations and regions: two in Wales, two in Bristol/ South West, one in Northern Ireland and one in the Midlands.
At the end of the training, the training provider will work with HETV skills team to secure six placements for the access coordinators on productions contributing to the HETV skills fund and will support them during their placements.
Who can apply?
ScreenSkills welcomes applications from individuals, partnerships or organisations that have a proven track record of delivering successful industry-standard training projects and who have a deep understanding of supporting DDN creatives in the screen industry.
We particularly welcome applications from providers based in the UK’s nations and regions, including partnerships between organisations and/or in partnership with freelancers who have career in the creative industries, have lived experience of being deaf, neurodivergent or having a disability and who could deliver some elements of the training.
The successful applicant will need to demonstrate their understanding of HETV training requirements, have positive relationships with UK broadcasters, streamers and indies and be committed to improving disability representation in the industry. They must also demonstrate that they have the resources to track the career progression of participants beyond the life of the programme for up to 12 months.
Applicants must:
- demonstrate evidence of appropriate, recent engagement with the industry in the design and delivery of the programme
- meet critical diversity aims as outlined in this tender, including:
- 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 – we will ask for evidence of your approach and implementation
- having an equality policy in place as an employer
- having a monitoring system in place to track the diversity of the delegates, see the Monitoring diversity and inclusion - ScreenSkills
- providing diversity and inclusivity training to facilitators – (see free ACAS online training).
- gather long-term destination data from the delegates to prove impact of training utilising the ScreenSkills monitoring questionnaire
- develop a clear structure for the training, ensuring that it is outcome focused
- discuss and agree with those taking part in the programme that they will provide feedback on the training if requested which could include providing ScreenSkills with a quote on their experience of the training
Key requirements
The applicant will design, manage, market, recruit and deliver training programme for six DDN participants, two based in Wales, two based in Bristol/ Southwest, one based in Northern Ireland, and one based in the Midlands. The training should include all aspects and responsibilities of the role of the access coordinator to include the following:
- an initial online webinar to explain the role of the access coordinator to anyone from the DDN community who may be interested in applying for the programme
For the successful applicants, the programme should include:
- training on how to advocate effectively and collegiately for and on behalf of DDN cast and crew from greenlight to post-production, on set and off
- a session covering all aspects of production including the correct etiquette and language and look at where access barriers may arise and how to address them
- a session with broadcasters and streamers to understand the correct policies and procedures
- a HR session with an industry specialist to give clarity on the responsibilities of an access coordinator and when situations need to be passed onto HR
- a session on the similarities and differences of working on an unscripted production
- a session on writing a good CV, self-marketing/ promotion and how to look for a job
- content and delivery from an access coordinator with specific and recent experience of work in the HETV field
- immersive set days and opportunities to meet with production companies to ensure that those being trained have a clear understanding of the production process
- a session for production professionals to understand the role of access coordinators and how it can help their crew
We would also encourage the training provider to invite the previous cohorts to relevant refresher sessions and to share their experiences with the current cohort.
Following the training, the training provider will produce an alumni booklet of the six candidates and will work with the ScreenSkills HETV team to help them secure funded placements for the cohort on productions contributing to the HETV skills fund and will provide ongoing support for the participants during the duration of the placements.
The training provider will be expected to create a Padlet of resources and information at the end of the course for all participants and signpost opportunities and resources to help them progress as access coordinators in high-end television.
The training provider should ensure that the trained participants are aware of and can signpost any additional external resources to the production and crew that could be beneficial.
The HETV Skills Fund is interested in hearing interpretations of how this programme can be best delivered to reach this audience and how the training will be effective in giving the access coordinator the confidence and key skills needed to ensure that access and adjustments are provided to enable both actors and crew members to give their best work. The ScreenSkills’ skills checklists may be helpful.
Participant aims
The following are the minimum diversity aims for this programme:
- six beneficiaries based in the following nations and regions: two in Wales, two in Bristol/ Southwest, one in Northern Ireland and one in the Midlands
- 10-30% from a minority ethnic group (ethnicity aim)
- 45-55% women (gender aim)
- 25-40% lower socioeconomic background (social inclusion aim)
Providing access to diverse crew and talent is key to our delivery objectives. All trainers and companies delivering programmes that are funded by the High-end TV Skills Fund must meet the identified diversity requirements and will need to demonstrate how they plan to reach these targets at the start-up meeting. If a training provider is struggling to meet their diversity and inclusion targets during recruitment, this must be communicated in writing in order to agree to any revised targets. If any targets have not been achieved at the end of the programme, training providers must show robust evidence of why a target has not been met. Failure to do so will put the project at risk of loss of funding.
We require all Skills Fund-funded programme participants to set up a ScreenSkills profile via our website which allows us to gather data and track beneficiaries.
Participants must complete their profile and diversity data before the training begins.
The HETV Skills team will need to sign off the participant cohort before places are allocated.
How to apply
At this stage we are requesting an expression of interest. Please complete this brief document outlining the key aspects of the proposed programme, how the key requirements of the training sessions will be met, information about the company and the provider’s capacity to deliver training.
If you have access requirements and would like an alternative way to submit your application or would like any support in completing the expression of interest form, please email emily.gunn@screenskills.com.
How much can you apply for?
We are looking for bids of up to £55,000 to cover all aspects of training, management of the programme and pastoral care.
Funding would be ringfenced for six placements plus expenses and would be managed directly by the HETV team.
All our funds are treated as grants and therefore are not applicable for VAT.
Deadlines
Please save your completed form with this naming convention: ‘EOI – HETV Access Programme in the Nations and Regions'
All expressions of interest should be sent directly to emily.gunn@screenskills.com by 21 November 2025.
If you are successful in being shortlisted, you will be required to submit an online application form and a budget.
Other useful information
If you progress to full application, we will expect you to detail your plans for ensuring the programme and application process are accessible including, but not limited to, alternative application formats, marketing and the delivery of training.
As part of accessibility, 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.
Please ensure that, where applicable, costs are shown in your budget inclusive of VAT.
If you would like to discuss any aspect of this tender, or your proposal, before submitting your expression of interest, please contact emily.gunn@screenskills.com.