How the HETV Skills Fund supports the workforce across the Nations

For over a decade, the High-end TV Skills Fund has been underpinned by a commitment to supporting the growth of a skilled and diverse workforce across the whole of the UK.

By working with industry and investing funds from contributing productions into tailored training, the Fund has developed programmes designed to meet the needs of production crew working in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Hannah Green said: “There’s a huge production landscape across the Nations, with a history of making shows known the world over – from Derry Girls and Doctor Who to Blue Lights and Outlander. This is only made possible through the talented workforce that bring these productions to life so it’s hugely important to the Fund to ensure that talent is supported through considered training, on-the-job learning and career progression opportunities. We remain grateful for the collaborative relationships we share with partnering organisations and industry members that allows the Fund to ensure these opportunities are targeted to where they are most needed.”

Through these relationships, training is shaped by those working at the heart of productions. Dedicated Working Groups for each of the Nations, comprised of senior members of the industry from the area, help design grade specific programmes targeting areas of shortage. This ensures the Fund reflects and responds to industry need by investing in areas where the impact will be most keenly felt, allowing for the most effective use of the collected funds with decisions being shaped by those directly involved.

A recent resulting training programme was a Steadicam initiative in Scotland, designed for camera department professionals to learn essentials skills and foundations so that they’re able to work effectively on any set. Specialisms like this are mirrored across training in a range of behind-the-camera departments with the Scotland working group commissioning grade specific costume, 2^nd AD and location manager training since the star of the year.

Working in partnership with organisations allows the Fund to widen training opportunities with recent examples found in the Fund’s script editor training developed with BECTU offering the cohort shadowing placements on high-end productions in Scotland.

Additionally, a post-production for production roles programme – the brainchild of the working group – was designed to equip professionals in senior production roles with a better understanding of the post-production and VFX processes. It was delivered by NFTS Scotland in partnership with Blazing Griffin.

Both Scotland and Wales saw training developed for those working with textured hair and make-up for different skin tones, offering skilled professionals the chance to enter the screen industry.

Joy Djadi, academy director from Afro Hair Academy in Wales, delivered the training in Cardiff. She said: “The programme aimed to support experienced hair and make-up professionals, skilled in working with make-up for deeper skin tones and textured hair, to transfer into the UK television industry. The support from the HETV Skills Fund provided access to resources, industry insights, and a structured framework that enriched the training experience. Delivering this programme has been such a rewarding experience: participants expressed increased confidence in their abilities, and several have already begun securing industry opportunities and paid placements! It was inspiring to watch the individuals grow.”

Also in Wales, a developing HOD programme offers significant impact for emerging and shadow HODs on major HETV productions. The initiative offers dynamic placements across departments, designed to build professional confidence, broaden industry experience and develop essential skills while helping participants earn valuable credits on large-scale productions. 

Producer Adam Knopf is Chair of the Wales Working Group. He said: "Over the last few years the Welsh Working Group has commissioned bespoke training and developed schemes to support talent that have been both reactive and pre-emptive which is a testament to having direct links to the local industry responding to current on the ground information.  From the first two Wales based intimacy coordinators to developing creative HODs enabling them to get their first HETV credit, none of this would be possible without the support ScreenSkills offers the nations and regions."

In Northern Ireland, tailored opportunities for grips, a new 1^st assistant director training programme offered experienced 2^nd or 3^rd ADs the chance to step up through an immersive course of online sessions, in-person training and guided one-to-one coaching sessions. At the end of the training, the Fund sourced 17-week placements for candidates on productions across the nation, allowing candidates to put their training into practice.

Assistant Director Sheena Kelly secured a placement on series two of Channel 5 drama Ellis, she said: “This process has given me the opportunity to learn without any pressure of it all being on me. To ask questions along the way and be involved in meetings and conversations which I would not have been involved in before in the prep process. I had the opportunity to run my own splinter/ drone units with support from the 1^st and production and to put some firsti1sting into practice. The fact that you get supported financially means I don’t have the financial stress of going oh my God I’m going to learn how to do it but how am I going to pay my rent for the next few months? The programme has given me more confidence and knowledge to leave this job and start first-ing at smaller levels and I look forward to the journey in my progression as a 1^st AD with ongoing support from the team at ScreenSkills and the colleagues from Ellis.”

A flexible bursary for mid-career freelancers in the country offers £2000 to cover the costs of travel and accommodation to work on a HETV production, training courses that aren’t already funded by ScreenSkills, shadow placements, equipment and kit costs and much more. 

In addition to grade specific training, further programmes have been designed to support career progression for those ready to take the next step in their departments. Make a Move is a mid-level initiative developed by the Fund to help those identified by productions as ready to take the next step within their departments who then receive on-the-job training in a new, more senior role. Since April 2024, 41 candidates have been placed on productions in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland as part of the initiative, providing professionals from the area with the tools they need to step-up.

By developing these programmes, the Fund creates opportunities that allow the UKs workforce to thrive. It helps nurture talent, grow the production landscape and continue to make the shows the world watches.