ScreenSkills activity: Spotlight on Scotland

At ScreenSkills, our Animation, Children’s TV, Film, High-end TV and Unscripted TV Skills Funds all work closely with industry across the UK to deliver training, resources, and opportunities to crew in the nations and regions. We’re taking a closer look at some of the investments made in the nations and the training put in place to help develop the area’s workforce. This month we’re focusing on ScreenSkills support and industry-funded activity in Scotland.

Since 2021, Kate Efomi, ScreenSkills’ Training Liaison Manager for Scotland, has been connecting Scotland-based screen professionals at all career stages with training programmes, industry networks and career development opportunities in the nation.

Kate manages the day-to-day relationships with the public bodies, training providers, education providers, production companies and key industry contacts across Scotland, supporting the expansion, growth, and inclusive makeup of the nation's workforce.

Industry research

Earlier this year, ScreenSkills partnered with Channel 4 Skills on a first-of-its-kind research report designed to provide a comprehensive snapshot of the behind-the-camera screen workforce in the UK.

As part of this, we dug into the data across the UK Nations and Regions.

Here, we found that Scotland makes up:

•       8.2% of the general UK population

•       6.3% of the UK screen workforce

•       9.5% of ScreenSkills overall beneficiaries

Conducted by Ampere Analysis, the Sizing Up report has provided a first of its kind detailed look at the British screen industries off-screen workforce, enabling ScreenSkills to develop the talent and expertise required to build a world-leading, inclusive, and adaptable workforce for the UK screen industry, now and for the future.

Film Skills Fund

The Film Skills Fund's Make a Move programme provides on-the-job training for crew above trainee level who are ready to step into more senior roles.

The career progression initiative supports candidates working in below-the-line roles and looking to make the step up but finding it challenging to do so on their own. Those identified by production as ready to make the move to a more senior position are offered grade-specific training on a placement position. By the end of their placement, participants will be working in, or able to apply for, the new grade they’ve trained in. 

It helps crew progress into new roles on live productions - building skills, experience and confidence when it matters most. Through the programme, Scotland-based Maria Godfrey had the chance to step up to production coordinator with confidence. With mentors by her side and the pressure taken off, she was able to grow into the role, ask questions, and build the experience to take the next step in her scripted career.

A ScreenSkills co-funded programme, delivered by DV Talent, gives ADs across the UK the practical skills, confidence, and guidance needed to step up into 2nd AD roles on film and scripted TV productions. Succeed as a 2nd AD enabled participants to learn from acclaimed 2nds and 1sts with credits on award-winning studio features and TV dramas, gaining expertise in script breakdown, workflow building, time and people management, effective communication, and understanding US and European production requirements.

The programme is designed to nurture the next generation of 2nds, giving them the tools to succeed in high-end TV and film.

Fraser Malcolm, a Scotland-based AD, had been trying to land a 2nd AD role for over a year - and, as part of the programme, he finally got the opportunity he needed on a production shooting in Scotland.

On the impact the programme had on his career, he said: “I highly recommend the Step up to 2nd AD programme with ScreenSkills. The course gave me the opportunity to step up to a 2nd AD position, which was something that I had been trying to get for over a year. Having the support of ScreenSkills throughout the scheme was a big bonus.” 

Unscripted TV Skills Fund

Scotland-based producer Lia Tamviskou gained new skills and a funded post-production placement with Tern TV through the Unscripted TV Skills Fund’s Edit Producing for Future Series Producer programme.

As part of a talented cohort of senior producers, the programme helped Lia advance in her unscripted career by giving Lia “a front-row seat” to see a brand-new quiz format come together.

That experience has already opened doors for Lia to new edit producer opportunities on Scottish productions, showing how industry-funded training helps talented crew take the next step.

Lia told us how the programme helped take her career to that next step. She said: "I had the pleasure of being part of a brilliant cohort of talented, senior producers training up their edit producing skills with a course from ScreenSkills. The course came with a funded placement in Scotland that allowed me to have a front row seat learning how a brand new quiz show gets formatted in post-production. I have been contributing editorially to Scottish productions for over a decade but I rarely get to see a project through to the end. But now, thanks to the placement, I have the experience, skills, and opportunity to be offered edit producer roles on other returning unscripted formats produced in Scotland." 

High-end TV Skills Fund

Since April 2024, the ScreenSkills High-end TV Skills Fund has supported 25 contributing productions in Scotland.

Contributions to the Fund have enabled new entrants get an early taste of TV production via placements as part of the Trainee Finder programme. There have also been 11 placements through the Make a Move programme and three further placements for Leaders of Tomorrow candidates. The three-year inclusion programme provides comprehensive and tailored support to mid-level professionals working to give them the tools to progress to a senior, decision-making role in the future.

Scottish professional Jonny Livesey is a member of the current cohort and was able to step up on Netflix’s Dept. Q through the support and development offered by the programme.

He said: "It was a great privilege to work with Scott Frank, Rob Bullock and David Brown, and their incredible production team - who in partnership with Production Sound Mixer David Bowtle-McMillan and the ScreenSkills HETV Leaders of Tomorrow programme offered me some amazing opportunities for growth. They embraced and facilitated a job share between myself and another 1st Assistant Sound, which was something I’d never tried before but felt really beneficial for the team. We all felt the fresh energy come in as the weeks went on, and it buoyed our spirits during a tough schedule. Thanks to funding from the ScreenSkills Leaders Of Tomorrow programme I was able to step-up into the role of Production Sound Mixer to cover David on the main unit, mix the second unit days, and also run an additional ‘sound effect’ unit, under the supervision of legendary sound designer Wylie Stateman.”

 

ScreenSkills x Outlander: Blood of my Blood

The HETV Skills Fund partnered with Screen Scotland on the Outlander Training Programme, giving Scotland-based aspiring trainees the chance to gain hands-on experience behind the camera on the country’s longest-running show. Over the past seven seasons of Outlander – and now the first season of Blood of My Blood – more than 170 individuals have received training across departments ranging from accounts and carpentry to production and set decoration.

Alongside this, 10 ScreenSkills HETV First Break participants secured 27 weeks of work experience on Outlander: Blood of My Blood, rotating through 11 departments.

The First Break programme partners with productions and local community organisations to give people with no prior TV experience the chance to explore the industry through training, paid work shadowing, and career support – helping them gain valuable on-set experience and practical skills for a first step into high-end television.

On Outlander: Blood of My Blood, candidates received an induction day, structured learning and skills sessions with Bectu Vision designed to help them thrive as freelancers, healthy and safety training with Mark Milsome Foundation and one-to-one development support to set goals and track progress.

This mix of hands-on learning and professional development ensures trainees leave with the practical skills and confidence to build long-term careers in high-end TV.

Kate Efomi, ScreenSkills Training Liaison Manager, Scotland, said: "It’s an absolute pleasure to see such brilliant, continued collaboration between the ScreenSkills High-end TV Skills Fund, Screen Scotland and Outlander: Blood of My Blood. Not only have we been able to support the Outlander Training Programme on every series of this fantastic franchise but this time we were also able to support the show with First Break, opening up the possibilities of working in TV drama to local underrepresented talent. And it has been really rewarding to see our participants progress and gain work after their experience as a trainee or first-breaker."   

Third AD Skills Boost with Bectu Vision

This summer, Scotland-based third ADs and floor runners took a break from the high-pressure of live production to focus on building their skills with BECTU Vision.

The HETV Skills Fund supported Third AD Skills Boost – based in Glasgow and Dumbarton - was designed to support established Third ADs, new Third ADs, and experienced Floor Runners preparing to step up, helping them grow confidence across different production scales.

Over three courses, participants explored:

• Theory: Script breakdowns, planning and prep, and on-set communication with top ADs Alex McKay and Mark O’Connor.
• Practical Simulation: Hands-on experience directing background action on a real set with scripted scenes, supporting artists and a camera team.
• Networking: Connections with peers and industry professionals to round off the experience.

The HETV Skills Fund was proud to support this programme for crew in Scotland in association with Scottish Union Learning, ScreenSkills High-End TV Fund, Progressive Broadcast Hire, Screen Scotland and BFI Skills Cluster Fund.

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Animation Skills Fund

Within the Animation Skills Fund lies the Skills Council, comprised of senior animation industry figures from all areas of the animation value chain, who lead and advise the Fund on training and opportunities that can be developed to support the workforce. 

CEO and co-founder of TG Entertainment, Ken Anderson, is a member of the council and told us how the Fund's work supports those across the UK, including his native Scotland. "The work of the Animation Skills Fund is a hugely important piece of the industry landscape. It allows us to ensure that those working across Scotland have the support and opportunities available to them that enables them to enter and progress within a screen career. There’s a talented workforce who can benefit from specialist training and help bring great animation to life. It's a benefit for the production companies too. The likes of The 2D Workshop, Clubhouse Animations and Cahoot Studios can access exciting new talent from programmes developed by the Fund and offer them working placements on productions."

Programmes are designed by the Fund to help those at all stages of their career. New entrant initiative, DreamBIG! is the Fund's flagship programme for those looking to take their first steps in a career in animation. It's designed to provide the vital learning and on-the-job training experience to candidates at the start of their screen journeys. 

For Scottish-based Jess Thornton, it offered just what she was looking for. She said: "The Dream Big! scheme was the bridge that helped me move from the arts and film festival world into Scotland’s animation industry – something I’d long hoped for but never quite knew how to make happen. The training sessions gave me confidence in areas like networking and freelancing and were delivered by a range of industry professionals, all of whom were supportive, approachable, and generous with guidance. What really brought it all together was the placement itself: immersive, hands-on experience in a welcoming studio. The traineeship at Wild Child opened the door to where I am now as Studio Coordinator, where I’m continually inspired by the artistry and kindness of the people I work with. It feels a privilege to be part of such a collaborative community, and I’m excited to continue building my career within Scotland’s animation industry while supporting new voices to find their place too."