Flexibility In Film-Making Programme

Timeshift supports film professionals seeking greater flexibility in their working hours through job sharing their role on production.
The programme is funded by Equal, Skillset and the UK Film Council and was initially launched in December 2005 for freelancers with parental and/or caring responsibilities. However, the programme is now open to include those freelancers who are juggling a programme of further training with existing work commitments.
TimeShift is not grade specific however, applications are only considered from those teammates who have a shared experience within the same grade.
Candidates are advised to apply at the point at which they are ready to begin work on a Production. Teams may of course register as part of the programme beforehand, however, priority will always be given to those who have secured a Production contract.
Those on permanent contracts with an employer are not eligible for this programme.
The main benefits are:

• Production companies receive £180 per team per working week.
• For those freelancers who have childcare or caring responsibilities, once on production each participant will receive £100 per working week towards childcare or carer costs.
• For those freelancers undertaking a programme of study, once on production you will receive up to 80% of the cost of course fees up to a maximum of £800. This will be paid in increments over the course of the production. If the production ends before your course of study or vice–versa the benefit will cease immediately.

TimeShift is open to the following group of freelancers only:

• those who have caring or childcare responsibilities
• those who are undertaking a programme of further training that lasts longer than 4 consecutive weeks (e.g. a course that requires your full attendance for a minimum 2 days per week over the course of a minimum period of 4 consecutive weeks)
• applications from those returning to the industry after a career break are also welcomed

Check the Skillset website where you can find more information about the programme and also download an application form: www.skillset.org
(DS)