Job title: production office runner
Industry: Children’s TV
A place on Trainee Finder showed Jennifer Harris that it is never too late to change the direction of your career. Before applying to the ScreenSkills scheme she worked in the sales and marketing department of an engineering company.
Attending a high-end television bootcamps at SharpFutures in Manchester introduced Jennifer to the world of TV and helped her decide that she really wanted to work in a production office. Jennifer was then successful in applying to the ScreenSkills Trainee Finder scheme. Her first taste production office work followed when she was placed on CBBC’s Class Dismissed as production office runner.
Trainee Finder has given me the confidence to take the first steps in changing my career into one that I am passionate about
“Class Dismissed was my first TV job and it was a brilliant experience,” she says. “I really enjoyed the varied nature of the work and how you are always working as part of a team.” She found that the skills she had acquired in her previous career were easily transferable to her new work environment.
Production Manager Sam Milnes knows that acquiring a first television credit can be quite challenging so it’s really important that a scheme like Trainee Finder exists. “A trainee role is a great stepping stone into the industry,” she says. “Jennifer was hard working and always willing to learn. She quickly gained confidence in her work and in no time became a key part of the team.”
ScreenSkills Trainee Finder has placed hundreds of young, talented, creative individuals on film, high-end TV and children's television across the UK. The entry-level placement scheme matches trainees with productions who have paid into the skills investment funds (commonly known as the levies) for on-set and on-the-job training. In return, the production companies can claim back some of the trainee's salary.
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