Returners mentoring programme

three men in different outfits in fighting position — Image: Barbie © Warner Bros Pictures

People leave the screen industries for a variety of reasons, such as parental leave, long term illness, the impact of Covid-19, time away for caring responsibilities or to work in a different sector. These skilled professionals are vital to the screen industries and its abilities to maintain and further build upon the production boom.

The ScreenSkills Returners Mentoring Programme was created to retain existing talent and encourage experienced crew back to work in the film industry and provide the tools for a smooth transition to the workplace.

Returning to work after a career break can be daunting, whether it is reconnecting with people in professional networks, updating and refining skills or job-hunting. Those returning to the screen industries need support and guidance to navigate a route back to a successful and rewarding career.

This pilot programme is designed to support 20 experienced professionals, from a range of departments and roles, to return to work in the film industry after a career break. The programme matches 20 mentees with an industry mentor for six-months of one-to-one mentoring sessions and provides advice and training on how to get the most out of mentoring. The programme also offers regular networking opportunities and workshops as well as support and encouragement from a cohort of fellow returners to develop the confidence, knowledge and skills needed to re-ignite their career.

The mentoring programme will take place from April - October 2023

Programme provides:

An industry mentor for six hours of one-to-one mentoring
Training on how to get the most out of mentoring
Membership to a peer network
Guidance on how to set goals and create a back to work action plan
Support to help returners to build their confidence and reconnect with industry networks

This programme is funded by the Film Skills Fund