Film trainees to benefit from Skillset career boost

The Skills Investment Fund (SIF), managed by Skillset, have established a groundbreaking new web-based service – the SIF Trainee Network – for 100 talented trainees from throughout the UK.
To become members of the network, trainees must be nominated by the industry through a group of Skillset’s partner organisations in each nation or region of the UK. These potential members should be committed to working in the film industry and have some solid experience as a runner or in a junior capacity but will have been traditionally excluded or under-represented in the industry. They also need to have an understanding of working as a freelancer and a clear idea about which department they want to work in.
Dinah Caine, Chief Executive of Skillset, said: “The SIF Network has been developed in conjunction with the film industry to address a real need. Many producers came to us and said it was costing time and money to find trainees who were genuinely committed and had the right attitude, skills and experience.
"Using the industry’s contributions to the Skills Investment Fund, Skillset can now develop the network to make a real difference to the infrastructure of trainee supply in the UK film industry.”
Industry professionals such as producers, heads of department and crew who are working on productions contributing to the SIF will be able to search the list of trainees on the website. The site can be found at: www.sifnetwork.org
The network can benefit many productions that have contributed to or will contribute in the future to the SIF. This service will save productions time and money when searching for suitable trainees and will guarantee that more trainees working on production have the knowledge, skills and experience that the film industry is looking for.
The network is to be launched on March 11 when Skillset launches as a Sector Skills Council.
Skillset, www.skillset.org
(GB)