A ScreenSkills bursary is a cash grant designed to remove some of the practical barriers to making progress in the screen industries. Bursaries pay for training or other costs associated with skills development. We provide bursaries to help ensure the screen industries have access now, and in the future, to the skills and talent needed for continued success.
Please read this full page before applying for a bursary.
Supporting an individual with a bursary to develop their career helps the screen industries to respond to skills gaps and priority shortage areas. Bursaries are supported by BFI-awarded National Lottery funds, by industry contributions to the Film, High-end TV, Children’s TV and Animation Skills Funds and through money from the Television Skills Fund targeted at improving diversity and inclusivity. Despite the various funding sources, we have created one route to accessing bursaries in order to make the application process as straightforward as possible.
These guidelines contain all the information you need to apply for a bursary. If, after reading the guidelines, you still have a question or you need help in applying please contact: bursaries@screenskills.com.
We will be closing bursary applications for site maintenance from Monday 15 March- Thursday 1 April. Please submit any planned applications before or after this time.
Update to changes to bursary process in regards to Covid-19 22/02/2021
We have updated our processes in regard to Covid-19 restrictions following the government’s recent update (22/02).
We aim to offer support wherever possible, but not all applications will be successful due to limited funding and a focus on skills priority areas. Every bursary application will be reviewed in detail and assessed by a senior manager at the final stage.
Top tips for applying for a bursary:
You can only apply for a bursary if you can confirm that all the following statements are accurate:
Considerations:
We will prioritise applications from people who clearly demonstrate an ambition to work in the UK screen industries long-term, particularly if they are filling, or are likely to fill, a skills gap or shortage priority area. You can find information on the roles for which employers found it hard to recruit from Page 32 to page 45 of the Annual Skills Assessment, Using this information may help you think through your application and write your personal statement. However, skills shortages aren’t the only factor we consider, particularly during this uncertain time, so don’t be put off if your role or the training for which you’d like bursary funding isn’t listed.
If you are already in the industry we may take into account your employment status. This is because we are focused on supporting freelancers and others who are not on permanent employment contracts.
ScreenSkills also reserves some funding to support people from groups that are underrepresented across the screen industries. This is to help meet the industry’s ambition to fully reflect the UK population in its workforce.
Due to the high demand for bursaries and the ambition to support as many people as possible through an even distribution of funding, we will also consider if you are currently receiving support from ScreenSkills via other initiatives, for example Trainee Finder- we may ask you to reapply once your time on a ScreenSkills programme has finished.
We aim to offer funding to support screen industry professionals at all stages in their careers. Our new bursary framework reflects four career stages: Entry, Early, Experienced and Expert. The aim is to help individuals identify where they are in their working life and the most appropriate support and training.
Use the career stage framework below to decide which stage most closely reflects your current situation. Count the statements which apply to you and choose the career stage with the most relevance to you.
The framework is not meant to be exhaustive and not all criteria will necessarily apply to you. Screen industry career paths are not always straightforward: you can move into one of the career stages at any age eg when you change role or department, transfer into a different sector, or are promoted into a new role.
During the assessment process, we will look at the information you supply to see if we broadly agree with the career stage you’ve chosen. If you have any questions, contact bursaries@screenskills.com
Entering the screen industries.
Career:
I'm still working that out, but I've definitely decided the screen industries are for me.
Professional engagements:
I am working towards my first couple of professional production credits or full-time employed roles in the screen industries
Budgetary responsibility:
I am not expected to manage budgets or spend money on behalf of the production or company.
Team management:
I do not manage anyone other than myself.
Establishing your career.
Career:
I have a sense of which job role or department I want to work in but as yet I might not be working regularly within it.
Professional engagements:
I have two or more professional production credits and/or have been employed in an industry-recognised role on two or more occasions.
Budgetary responsibility:
I have very minor budgeting responsibility, often restricted to petty cash or acquiring quotes for goods and services.
Team management:
I manage myself and sometimes others also at my level.
Progressing your career.
Career:
I've chosen my job role or department and I am regularly working in it.
Professional engagements:
I have a number of professional production credits in my current role or I am transferring in with advanced skills from another sector. I have been working in my chosen industry-recognised role for a number of years full-time.
Budgetary responsibility:
I might expect to be in control of my budget, reporting to a more senior member of the production or company.
Team management:
I might be responsible in my department for overseeing entry-and early-stage career colleagues working with me.
Acknowledged as an expert.
Career:
I have chosen my specific job role or department and I am now acknowledged as being an expert in my chosen field.
Professional engagements:
I have built up a portfolio of professional credits. I am highly regarded in my field and consistently work in advanced positions within my specialisation.
Budgetary responsibility:
I might be in control of my departmental budget, which could have many categories. I might be aware of other departments/overall budgeting strategy and report directly into the most senior member of finance.
Team management:
I am responsible in my department for overseeing entry-and early-stage career colleagues working with me.
The descriptions below use the career stage framework, so you should first have identified your stage from the list above. The table shows the maximum amount for which you can apply, what you can spend the money on, and the evidence we need to assess your screen industry interest and experience.
Please note that professional/academic references need to be on official paper and to contain an e-mail address relating to the company or college that can verify the reference.
Evidence required to apply:
At least one of these letters must be professional or academic. Please ask your referees to explain why they think you:
Examples of what we fund in relation to training, work or work-related activities in the screen industries:
Maximum funding available in a year:
Evidence required to apply:
Examples of what we fund in relation to training, work or work-related activities in the screen industries:
Maximum funding available in a year:
Evidence required to apply:
Examples of what we fund in relation to training, work or work-related activities in the screen industries:
Maximum funding available in a year:
Evidence required to apply:
Examples of what we fund in relation to training, work or work-related activities in the screen industries:
Maximum funding available in a year:
The maximum amounts you can claim for an item (e.g. travel or accommodation) are set out below.
Specific requests
You should apply online using our application form and by uploading supporting documents. If you have any access needs or questions please contact bursaries@screenskills.com.
Use the below information to see what evidence you will need to provide for each usage, and what the allowance for each usage is:
If you’re applying for accommodation to attend training you will need to provide:
Please note: we will consider applications from those seeking funding towards costs of accommodation associated with taking up work opportunities, primarily at Entry and Early stages.
ScreenSkills will contribute to accommodation costs at the following rates:
If the accommodation is needed to attend training that you are also asking ScreenSkills to support, you should only make one bursary application for all related costs.
If you’re applying for disability access support you will need to provide:
If you’re applying for care to attend training you will need to provide:
Please note: we will consider applications from those seeking funding towards care associated with taking up work opportunities, primarily at Entry and Early stages.
ScreenSkills will contribute to care costs at the following rates:
If the care is needed to attend training that you are also asking ScreenSkills to support, you should only make one bursary application for all related costs.
Early, Experienced and Expert applicants may only apply for up to £1,500 per annum.
In line with current government guidelines we are not accepting applications for driving lessons at this time.
If you’re applying for funding to purchase or rent equipment, clothing or software licences you will need to provide:
For wet weather gear, ScreenSkills will contribute up to a maximum of £200 per applicant.
If you’re applying for subsistence while attending training or a work opportunity – where subsistence is not provided by the venue/training provider/employer – you will need to provide:
Please note: we will consider applications from those seeking funding towards subsistence associated with work opportunities in the short-term, primarily at Entry and Early stages, where meal allowances are not provided by the employer.
ScreenSkills will contribute to subsistence costs for development or training where food is not supplied by the organiser, at the following rates:
Alcohol will not be covered.
If the subsistence is needed to attend training that you are also asking ScreenSkills to support, you should only make one bursary application for all related costs.
If you're applying for a training course you will need to provide:
If you're applying for travel costs to attend training you will need to provide:
Please note: we will consider applications from those seeking funding towards travel associated with taking up work opportunities, primarily at Entry and Early stages.
ScreenSkills expect people to use public transport whenever possible. If you need to use your own transport we will contribute at the following rates:
Standard class/economy rates only (rail and air).
All vehicles must be fully road-legal and we reserve the right to ask for copies of insurance, MOT and driving licence.
If the travel is needed to attend training that you are also asking ScreenSkills to support, you should only make one bursary application for all related costs.
If you're applying for bespoke coaching/training you will need to provide:
Your application checklist
When you have completed the application form and attached your supporting documents you should click on the ‘submit’ button. Your application will not be submitted to ScreenSkills for assessment until you have clicked ‘submit’.
A message will appear on your screen that confirms your application has been successfully submitted. If you experience any issues please contact: support@screenskills.com
We aim to offer funding wherever possible, but we cannot promise that all applications will be successful due to limited funding and skills shortage priorities.
Applications are assessed by the ScreenSkills bursary team and senior managers.
We recommend that when you’re planning your application, you allow at least four weeks from submission for an answer on whether your application has been successful.
We may need to ask you for additional information, so the time we take to make a decision may also be affected by the time it takes you to respond to any requests for further information. Please bear in mind that, to ensure equality of opportunity, we cannot speed up the assessment process in any individual case.
If an offer is made to you, the first payment instalment will then take up to a further 3 weeks to reach your account.
If your application is successful, you will receive an e-mail with a letter outlining the provisional offer and our terms and conditions. The offer e-mail will explain what further information we will then need such as a copy of formal identification and proof of a UK bank account. Please note that we use anti-fraud systems to verify your identity. This process forms part of the application process and will be carried out before any funding is awarded or released to successful applicants.
If you receive an offer e-mail you must accept the offer within two weeks of the date of the e-mail. ScreenSkills cannot release any funding until checks are made and we receive your signed offer letter. The signed, returned offer letter is your ‘Funding Agreement’ with ScreenSkills.
Please let us know in writing if we offer you funding but you no longer wish to accept it. Any offers not accepted within two weeks will be withdrawn.
If your bursary application is unsuccessful, we will notify you by e-mail. ScreenSkills cannot accept responsibility for any costs incurred before the decision on your application is confirmed.
Confirmed bursary funding will be paid directly into your personal bank account. ScreenSkills will pay 80% of the amount agreed (up to a maximum of £1,000) once you have returned your signed offer letter, provided all information requested and all of our checks have been made. The balance of the bursary funding will be reserved until you have completed the activity or purchase supported by the bursary funding and submitted the documentation outlined in the ‘Funding Agreement’ paperwork. In exceptional circumstances we will consider varying this staged payment: if you think your situation qualifies, please outline the reasons in your personal statement, or you can contact: bursaries@screenskills.com
Please note that you are responsible for payments made to third parties. ScreenSkills does not accept responsibility for transferring funds to third parties.
If you’re awarded a bursary you must invest your funding in line with your approved application. If you purchase any equipment using bursary funding you are expected, wherever possible, to insure your purchase. ScreenSkills cannot be held responsible for any loss, theft or damage of any item and/or purchase made using bursary funding. If any purchased item is returned, or any planned activity is cancelled, you are legally required to return all awarded bursary funding to ScreenSkills.
If you receive bursary funding ScreenSkills will follow up with you, at intervals, to ensure that funding is being used as agreed and to monitor how the bursary support has helped your career progression. Taking part in this process will be part of your funding agreement with us.
I would like to apply for an animation bursary- I work on commercials/motion graphics, am I eligible to apply? For animation submissions priority will be given to those evidently working on or aspiring to work on TV series and features, given that the support for the bursaries comes from UK television and feature film productions.
ScreenSkills has a limited amount of bursary funds to invest in supporting screen industry skills development. Every two months we will look at the pattern of our bursary investment. If we find that a certain role, skill, demographic or type of training has received a disproportionate amount of bursary funding we reserve the right to adjust our application approvals to ensure a balanced funding distribution. Similarly, if we invest a larger amount than budgeted during one particular phase, we reserve the right to close applications for a period of time to ensure fair distribution of bursary funds during each financial year.
ScreenSkills strives to be an inclusive organisation, and we are committed to meeting the aims of our diversity and equal opportunities policy which is in line with the Equality Act 2010. We support the screen industries’ aim for their workforce to reflect the UK’s diversity.
ScreenSkills bursaries support talented people, including people from underrepresented groups, to enter or progress in the screen industries. This is particularly important in circumstances where people feel that the screen industries are not open to them, whatever their career experience and stage.
When you apply for a bursary we will request consent for your diversity information to be used, where appropriate, in the application assessment process. Diversity information is also used to help us monitor ScreenSkills bursary applications, take-up and benefit.
For more information please read our ScreenSkills guide to diversity and inclusivity monitoring.
ScreenSkills is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy, and to collecting and processing your data in accordance with all legal requirements. For more information please read our policies which are in line with the General Data Protection Guidelines of May 2018 (GDPR) and any other subsequent Data Protection Legislation UK (Act).
If you have questions or concerns about your data you can contact our Data Protection Officers at data.protection@screenskills.com
ScreenSkills is committed to ensuring that bursary funds reach the right people and are used in the right way. By making an application for a bursary you are agreeing that the personal information you supply can be shared with fraud prevention agencies who will use it to prevent fraud and money-laundering and to verify your identity. If fraud is detected your bursary application will automatically be declined. A record of any fraud or money laundering risk will be retained by the fraud prevention agencies, and may result in others refusing to provide services, financing or employment to you.
Further details of how your information will be used by us and these fraud prevention agencies, and your data protection rights, can be found here.
If you are successful in your application you must spend the money as agreed, keeping all receipts and returning them to ScreenSkills. You must also comply with other reasonable terms, as outlined in your ‘Funding Agreement’ paperwork. ScreenSkills reserves the right to take appropriate action if the terms of the ‘Funding Agreement’ paperwork are not met.
Please be aware that we reserve the right to amend these guidelines at any time. If you have questions or need advice please contact us at bursaries@screenskills.com.
These guidelines were last updated 5 January 2021. Download these guidelines as a PDF.
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