As agreed by the HETV Council and Pact in 2019, the cap on industry contributions to the High-end TV Skills Fund will undergo a small rise to £58,200 with effect from the new financial year.
The maximum contribution will rise from April in line with the RPI (retail price index), plus an additional 2%.
Productions pay 0.5% of the production budget spent in the UK. In 2019/2020, the contribution has been capped at £55,000 per production.
The High-end TV Skills Fund was created in 2013 following the introduction of UK tax relief for high-end television production. It was agreed by industry that those utilising the tax credit would contribute to a skills fund managed by ScreenSkills.
When productions pay into the High-end TV Skills Fund, they are supporting and investing in the longevity and quality of the high-end TV industry workforce in the UK. The Skills Fund invests all contributions in training and targeted support - bringing new entrants into the industry as well as investing in professionals at all career stages, developing their skills to ensure a first-class industry.
Since 2013, ScreenSkills has collected and invested more than £14 million in training which has been invested in more than 6,000 freelancers working in high-end TV. Support includes a host of programmes targeted at shortage grades, as well as Make a Move, Trainee Finder and bespoke freelance bursaries.
Speaking of the value the High-end TV Skills Fund has had for Killing Eve, executive producer Lee Morris said: “The HETV Skills Fund is vitally important and necessary and the trainees we have used have been incredible on Killing Eve.”
Rachael Cole, line producer on Hanna, has also benefited from working with ScreenSkills. “Make a Move allows people to increase their skillset at a much faster rate than maybe it would be possible if you were in just one role. And I think the duty of care you get through ScreenSkills is second to none.”