From February 2022 to January 2024, ScreenSkills ran the Flexible Job Apprenticeship Agency (FJAA) pilot programme, with key backers including Prime Video, Sky with APX Content Ventures, Banijay, Lime Pictures and Fremantle.
The pilot programme, co-funded by the Department for Education in its first year, tested whether a limited, agency-based apprenticeship model could be effective in the project-based film and television production sector.
“Overall, the pilot has been a success, demonstrating that apprenticeships can be a credible career path, particularly for candidates from diverse backgrounds. Not only did the vast majority of apprentices complete their training and secure further employment in the industry shortly thereafter, it also had an impact on them personally,” said Laura Mansfield, CEO of ScreenSkills.
“The UK screen industry is one of the most creative in the world and talent, ability and creativity should not be defined by education or social background. The pilot identified some areas for improvement but, once these are addressed, apprenticeships will be a viable option for anyone wanting a career in the industry.”
During their training, the pilot program enabled trainees to gain valuable experience across multiple companies and production companies and to find and secure further employment. At the end of the pilot program, 85% of trainees passed their End Point Assessment (EPA) and 76% of trainees had already secured further employment at the end of the program. In addition to deals with Banijay, Fremantle, and Lime Pictures, trainees from the pilot program also secured further employment with 19 other production companies, including Hat Trick, ITN, Mindhouse, Molinare, and Studio Lambert.
Trainees’ feedback on their personal development during the program was also very positive: three-quarters would recommend training in the film industry; 90 percent said the program improved their communication skills, and 85 percent said they felt better prepared for the workplace; and the majority said the training had made them more confident and improved their ability to work as part of a team.
“Banijay UK is thrilled to have been invited to take part in ScreenSkills’ flexible apprenticeship pilot programme. Apprenticeships should be a key pillar in upskilling, providing opportunity and democratising opportunities within the industry. We were fortunate to have gained an apprentice in the key skills area of ​​Production Accounting and Production Management,” said Bella Lamborn, HR and Operations Director at Banijay.
“The training provided allows apprentices to progress to the next level and, in some cases, gain a vocational qualification and forge an entirely new career which we hope will benefit them for the rest of their careers. To work in the creative industries, apprenticeships need to be as flexible as possible and this wouldn’t have been possible without the support of ScreenSkills.”
In the FJAA pilot, 26% of apprentices were from working-class backgrounds, higher than the proportion in the general UK workforce (23%). Additionally, just over two-thirds of apprentices were aged between 20 and 30, and almost 30% had moved from full-time employment in other sectors.
However, the pilot also highlighted room for improvement: the apprenticeship agency route to flexible working is a costly training model, requiring partners to cover additional costs, not only for training but also internal costs associated with leave, apprentice wages during training, recruitment and the time-consuming requirement of arranging ongoing and suitable placements.
The pilot program also highlighted the need to improve both apprenticeship standards and final assessment processes to ensure apprentices have the best chance of completing training that is fully relevant to the job.
ScreenSkills continues to believe that change is needed in certain areas, which will not only deliver greater benefits for both potential apprentices and employers, but will also see apprenticeships play a key role in addressing the industry’s skills shortage, as well as improving inclusivity and diversity. ScreenSkills therefore also welcomes the Government’s proposals for a Growth and Skills Levy, which will give businesses more flexibility in choosing how they invest in skills and training.
“Apprenticeships offer a real opportunity to improve workforce diversity and bring a range of existing and new voices and perspectives to the industry,” Mansfield concluded. “Furthermore, ScreenSkills welcomes the government’s plans for a growth and skills tax, which will not only increase the potential for investment in skills and training across the industry, but is also likely to improve the uptake and affordability of apprenticeships for both future candidates and employers.”
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