Training for the UK unscripted TV industry is supported by the ScreenSkills Unscripted TV Skills Fund (with contributions from productions companies, broadcasters and SVoDs in the UK).
Investment addresses the skills and development needs of unscripted TV, tackling skill gaps and shortages, and ensuring the robust growth of the sector is secured with a fully skilled and inclusive workforce. All priorities are endorsed by the industry-led Unscripted TV Skills Council and Steering Group.
The Unscripted TV Skills Fund is looking for applications to the Unscripted TV Contestable Training Fund.
This fund is intended to support third-party training programmes where the Unscripted TV Skills Fund would be a minority funder and amplify successful training in key shortage areas. 50% of the Fund will be ringfenced to support other training being delivered to support entry/progression in production management roles.
We can fund up to 10% of a project’s total costs, up to a maximum per project of £10,000.
This fund is not tied to our commissioning cycles and is open for applications all year round. Applications will be assessed on bi-monthly basis, by a cross-industry working group.
Who can apply?
ScreenSkills welcomes applications from individuals, partnerships or organisations that have a proven track record of delivering successful industry-standard training including but not limited to training providers, national and local screen agencies, local enterprise partnerships, professional guilds, and representative bodies.
To be considered for funding, applicants must:
- demonstrate evidence of appropriate, recent engagement with the industry in the design and delivery of the programme
- outline the skills shortage area which the programme addresses and how
- clearly demonstrate the impact of the project so far, or projected outcomes
- meet critical diversity targets as outlined in this tender, including:
- making reasonable adjustments to the training (whether face-to-face, content or online and including during the application process) to make it accessible to a diverse audience – we will ask for evidence of your approach and implementation
- having an equality policy in place as an employer
- having a monitoring system in place to track the diversity of the delegates, see this guide
- providing diversity and inclusivity training to facilitators – (see free ACAS online training).
- gather long-term destination data from the delegates to prove impact of training utilising the ScreenSkills monitoring questionnaire
- demonstrate a clear structure for the training, ensuring that it is outcome focused.
Participant aims
The following are the minimum diversity aims for this fund. We recognise that majority funders may set different aims, but would expect applicants to make best efforts to meet the targets of the USF
- At least 65% of beneficiaries based outside London
- 20% minority ethnic (ethnicity target)
- 50% female (gender target)
- 12% disability (disability target)
- 12% LGBT (sexual orientation and gender identity target)
- 30% social inclusion (based on parental occupation)
We require all Skills Fund-funded programme participants to set up a ScreenSkills profile via our website and to provide diversity data at this point. Participants must complete their profile and diversity data before the training begins if possible.
How to apply
All applications are made via our online application form. If you have access requirements and would like an alternative way to submit your application, please email usf@screenskills.com and we will be happy to help.
How much can you apply for?
We are looking for bids of up to 10% of a project’s total budget, up to a maximum of £10,000.
All our funds are treated as grants and therefore are not applicable for VAT.
Deadlines
All applications are made through Grant Request via this link. There is no specific deadline for applications, but our regular assessment schedule will take place bi-monthly, as follows:
Applications Received By |
Application Assessment |
Decisions By |
30th June 2024 |
July 2024 |
w/c 5th August 2024 |
31st August 2024 |
September 2024 |
w/c 7th October 2024 |
31st October 2024 |
November 2024 |
w/c 9th December 2024 |
31st December 2024 |
January 2025 |
w/c 3rd February 2025 |
29th February 2025 |
March 2025 |
w/c 24th March 2025 |
In exceptional circumstances, applications may be considered outside of the above schedule and/or financial parameters.
We reserve the right to close applications to the fund early if all funds are allocated.
All subsequent correspondence on your application will come from USF@screenskills.com We would advise adding this email address to your safe senders list to ensure you do not miss any communication from us.
Other Useful Information
As part of your application, we will expect you to detail how you have, or will be, ensuring the training and any application process are accessible including, but not limited to, alternative application formats, marketing and the delivery of training.
As part of accessibility, we expect your budget to include a reasonable bursary allocation for delegates who risk being excluded due to costs including, but not limited to, travel and caring responsibilities.
If there is, or will be, a charge to the delegates for the training, we will also expect your budget to include a reasonable bursary allocation to ensure no potential applicants are deterred.
Please ensure that, where applicable, costs are shown in your budget inclusive of VAT. This also applies to any delegates fees you may charge.
If you would like to discuss any aspect of this tender, or your proposal, before submitting your application, please contact us at USF@screenskills.com.
If you’d like to receive a copy of any tender in Welsh, please email usf@screenskills.com.
If you have any access requirements and would like to request this tender in a different format, or would like support to complete it, please email usf@screenskills.com.