Apprentice Scheme In Post Production Launches

The UK government launched its Apprenticeship Levy in April 2017.
For employers that spend £3million or more on payroll HMRC collects an additional 0.5% that is paid into the Levy pot.
It's a great idea for raising funds for apprenticeships if there is an apprenticeship scheme that you can send you apprenticeships on.
And that's where the Post Production industry has struggled to move forward.

There has been success with the VFX industry but for the rest of Post Production the lack of a body able and prepared to develop and deliver an accredited scheme has been a challenge.

With the hard work and determination of Rowan Bray (Clear Cut) and Neil Hatton (UK Screen Alliance) 10 Trail Blazer organisations have formed to work over the last few years to draw up a curriculum that both served the industries needs and was acceptable as an Apprenticeship scheme .

That's finally been achieved and the 2020 intake launched on 30th January 9.30am at the BFI South Bank.
This will be open for the wave of applications to start their studies this April 2020 with the aim to complete a year later in 2021.
This is a Level 4 Apprenticeship scheme and fills a gap that's just not covered by traditional Creative Film and Video degree courses.

www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/post-production-technical-operator/

More details can be found on the link above.

The initial 10 Trail Blazers comprised of:
Clear Cut
UK Screen Alliance
Pinewood Studios
West Digital
MPC
Fifty Fifty
Framestore
Molinare
Edit Store
Technicolor
Company3/Encore/Deluxe
Motion Pictures Solutions
Platform Post
Run VT
Motion Pictures Solutions
Flix Facilities

So how and why is VET Training involved in this?
VET has a history of training delivery in this industry not just related to the Creative side.
As a Post House we had our share of runners we trained internally to be MCR operators and edit assistants. And we've developed commercial versions of these for delivery to the industry.
We even had an input to a Sky apprenticeship scheme some years back.

So I've been keeping in touch with Rowan and Neil to see how this scheme developed and if I could have a practical input in the programme delivery.
We so desperately need a way to deliver current useful skills to new entrants to our industry who have to have immediate practical skills to deploy.
For too long we've managed with internal training schemes of varying usefulness and accuracy creating a chain of Chinese whispers.

So is the apprenticeship scheme the best way forward?
Well its not without its issues of course. The course content isn't able to evolve easily as it has to be signed off.
So my challenge will be delivering the required curriculum, preparing the students to do their best in their final exams and assessment and at the same time give them current evolving content and information.
But that’s what I do with every course I deliver.

So it will be an exciting first year to achieve those 3 goals.
• Deliver the Curriculum as specified
• Prepare students to pass their assessments and exams
• Ensure they have modern current information and skills

And I hope to add to that they develop peer to peer contact and knowledge sharing.

Pat Horridge
www.vet.co.uk