Film London’s Equal Access Network (EAN) is proud to relaunch their fourth Return to Work programme with the support of the ScreenSkills High-end TV Skills Fund with contributions from UK high-end TV productions. Over the last five years, the EAN has supported 25 carers to return to the creative industries in development, production and post production.

For the first time, this successful programme will focus specifically on Production Management roles. We are particularly looking for people who have experience as Production Secretaries, Production Coordinators and Production Managers who have been away from production and are looking to re-enter the industry. We are keen to attract parents who have had a career break due childcare, carers who have left the industry to look after relatives or those returning after illness, injury or disability.

We always welcome applications from groups currently under-represented in the industry, including women, Black, Asian, minority ethnic and disabled people. This is a nationwide scheme so we welcome applications from across the UK. We are supported by our partners in the regions including The British Film Council, Screen Yorkshire, Creative England, Film Wales and Northern Ireland Screen. The programme will provide remote training and cover travel costs to facilitate this.

The twenty candidates accepted onto this year’s programme will benefit from this proven course which combines soft skills training, mentoring, industry networking and links to production placements. The programme will include three virtual training days conducted in June and July. These training days will be co-hosted by guest speakers from some of the UK’s top production companies and HETV streamers guiding us through a Production Coordinator & Manager’s playbook with added elements of career coaching, mentoring and freelancer finance support. Proposed dates for training will be confirmed during the interview process. Remote access, childcare support and travel bursaries will be available as needed.

As part of the programme, a minimum of five participants will receive immediate paid industry placements upon completing training. These paid placements will also include contributions toward childcare and travel expenses. Previous placements on our Return to Work programme have been with industry partners such as 20th Century Fox, See-Saw Films, Tiger Aspect, Cuba Pictures, Carnival, Aardman, Pulse Films, Objective Media Group, Twickenham Studios and Molinare, to name a few.

The scheme will take place between June and July 2022. Timings of the Returnships will be agreed on an individual basis depending on availability of candidates and companies throughout this period.

Essential experience and personal qualities

· Relevant experience in TV and/or film industry prior to career break

· Awareness of High End TV

· Excellent communication skills

· Demonstrate ability to prioritise workload, manage own time and work to deadlines

· Team player

Returnships will suit people who have demonstrable experience in one or more of the below areas:

· Production Managers

· Production coordinators

· Assistant Production Coordinators

· Production secretaries

· Travel / Accommodation Co-ordinators

· Other departmental co-ordinators.

NB. This scheme is for the Production sector, so please only apply if you are interested in working/transferring your skills to this sector.

In addition to the Returnships, candidates are required to attend various retraining sessions, including workshops, industry meetings and meetings with a mentor. Once the scheme has finished the participants will become part of the Equal Access Network and we will help facilitate further work opportunities and on-going support.

Benefits

Selected participant will:

· Be offered training, mentoring and industry networking

· Be reimbursed their travel expenses if coming from the nations and regions to attend in-person training days or workshops.

· Become part of the Equal Access Network to gain further support

Five select participants from the course group will:

· Be sub-contracted to Film London and paid a day rate as a freelancer to undertake the Returnships at a selected company

· Be offered childcare and travel contributions to support returners with the expense of returning to work

HOW TO APPLY

Applications are now closed.

FAQs

1. Who are Film London?

Film London is the strategic agency for film and media in the Capital. Funded by the British Film Institute and the Mayor Of London, we support the sustainable development of all the screen industries based in the Capital, including film, television, video, commercials and new interactive media.

2. Who is funding this scheme?

ScreenSkills (formerly Creative Skillset) High End TV Skills Fund with contributions from UK high-end TV productions.

3. Which companies are the Returnships taking place at?

We anticipate placements with our partner companies such as: Netflix, ITV, Universal TV, Pulse Films, CPL Productions, Sky Studios, BBC Studios, Channel 4 Comedy and UKTV Productions – to name a few.

4. I do not have previous experience as a Production secretary, coordinator, APOC or Production manager but I am keen to get experience, can I apply?

Yes. We are keen to hear from people who would like to transfer their skills to these Productions roles.

5. Is this scheme just for Londoners?

No. We welcome applications from across the UK. We will endeavour to find local companies to take on a Returner in the nations and regions as well as London companies. If the Retraining sessions take place in London, we will cover travel costs for the Returners based in the region and nations.