Skillset is the Sector Skills Council for the audio visual industries (broadcast, film, video, interactive media and photo imaging). Jointly funded by industry and government, our job is to make sure that the industries have the right people, with the right skills, in the right place, at the right time, so that our industries remain competitive.

One of the ways we do this is by reducing the costs of training for freelancers working in TV, via the TV Freelance Fund. The Fund is worth around £1.5 million a year, made up of contributions from the whole UK TV industry (BBC, ITV companies, C4, Five, independent production via Pact’s Indie Training Fund, cable and satellite companies). It gives cash grants to training providers who cut the costs of their courses for either new entrants or experienced professionals working as freelancers in TV. Some money also goes towards bursaries for individual freelancers.

One of the key aims of the Fund is to help improve the diversity of the TV industry’s workforce. We ask everyone we fund to tell us how they’ll reach out to a broad range of people through their advertising and publicity, and how they’ll ensure under-represented groups get to attend schemes e.g. by providing travel subsidies. Everyone who gets a grant sets targets for recruiting women, disabled people and ethnic minorities to their courses, and we review their success annually. This year we’ve supported over 100 courses and schemes, with some schemes particularly focusing on bringing a diverse range of new entrants to TV, such as Cyfle’s scheme in Wales, and Top TV Academy’s Researcher scheme.

For more information on Skillset’s work with the TV industry please see our website: http://www.skillset.org/tv/