The ScreenSkills Training Passport is the first pan-industry initiative to provide a digital record of standardised and industry-approved free training that production staff and freelance crew can take from one production to the next.
The passport was launched in collaboration with, BBC Studios, ITV Studios and Sky, and was developed in consultation with Pact. After a successful 10-month pilot period, the passport is being expanded to include other new partners, including BBC Public Service.
Why was the ScreenSkills Training Passport introduced?
The Passport was introduced to simplify and standardise the on-boarding process for production staff and freelancers as they move between companies and productions.
Who were the partners in the pilot?
ScreenSkills partnered with BBC Studios, ITV Studios and Sky to develop the pilot, consulting with Pact during the process. After the success of the pilot, it is expanding to include new partners, including BBC Public Service.
Who has to do the training?
BBC Studios, ITV Studios and Sky have identified the following departments where the training passport will need to be completed:
- BBC Studios: all technical production freelancers on all in-house productions, for example, Bargain Hunt, Dragon's Den. EastEnders and Strictly Come Dancing
- ITV Studios: rollout started on the pilot with MultiStory Media's current affairs shows Tonight and The Martin Lewis Money Show Live Summer Special, and expanded to productions such as After the Flood Series Two, Come Dine With Me and The Guest
- Sky: On Sky Original commissioned productions, for example, Brassic Series 7, Mr Bigstuff, Prisoner and Under Salt Marsh
BBC Public Service will roll out the passport to freelancers engaged in public service across the next 12 months.
What are the training modules that I need to complete?
All production staff and freelancers will need to complete two ScreenSkills’ e-learning modules - Tackling Bullying and Harassment at work and Safeguarding for All. These will be recorded in your training passport.
In addition, production staff and freelancers working for the BBC, ITV Studios and Sky will also need to complete additional training:
- BBC Studios: Code of Conduct
- ITV Studios: freelancers will be re-directed to the ITV Studios website for training
- Sky: ScreenSkills’ Work Well e-learning series
Why do I need to create a ScreenSkills login to complete the training?
All the training is being hosted on the ScreenSkills website to provide a single destination to complete the training modules. To access the training, a login is required. People should use an existing login if they have an account otherwise they will need to create an account. A personal email address, rather than a work one, should be used to create an account to ensure users have continued access to their training records.
Is the training free?
The ScreenSkills e-learning modules are free. The production safety modules that will be integrated later this year are sold separately by commercial training companies.
How long does the training take to complete?
In total the ScreenSkills e-learning will take an hour to complete.
Can I save the training certificate to my phone/tablet/computer?
Yes. You will receive training certificates for any module you complete which you can save to any device. You will likewise receive a certificate for your ScreenSkills Training Passport to show that this is complete and up-to-date.
How do I demonstrate that I’ve completed the training to a prospective employer?
If you are working on a relevant production with BBC Studios, ITV Studios or Sky, your employer can easily check whether you have completed the training through the ScreenSkills platform. If you are working on another production, you can provide a link to your ScreenSkills profile, or download your ScreenSkills Training Passport certificate and add it to your application form.
BBC Public Service will roll out the passport to freelancers engaged in public service across the next 12 months.
If I don’t complete the training, can I still apply for a job?
You will need to complete the e-learning modules recorded in the training passport after you have successfully applied for a role and as part of your on-boarding process with the BBC Studios, ITV Studios or Sky.
Why do I have to re-do the training every year?
This will ensure that your training remains up to date and relevant, and takes into account any changes to the training module to reflect changing practices or legislation.
Is this the same as the Production Safety Passport (PSP)?
No, not currently. The Production Safety Passport certifies where production crew have completed specific third-party health and safety training courses that are endorsed by the PSP scheme. However, the PSP will be integrated into the ScreenSkills Training Passport in the coming year.