High End Skills Investment Fund + Film Skills Investment Fund

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Name of the instrument - Local language
High End Skills Investment Fund
Name of the instrument - English translation
High End Skills Investment Fund + Film Skills Investment Fund
Scheme ID
323
Country
United Kingdom
Reporting year
2020
Type of instrument
Training fund
Sub-type of instrument
National level collection and sectoral level distribution
Type of entry
Single instrument
Short description

The Film Skills Investment Fund (FSIF) directly supports skills and training for the UK film industry, including bursaries for individual beneficiaries. Studios and production companies producing films in the UK are encouraged to contribute 0.5% of their core UK expenditure up to a cap of GBP 58 200 (approx. EUR 69 270) per production, into the Film Skills Fund. If films receive public support, they are required to contribute the 0.5% to the FSIF. High-end TV Skills Fund, established in return for the tax credit productions costing more than GBP 1 000 000 (approx. EUR 1 187 888) an hour, supports training programmes for new entrants and the continuous professional development of crew and talent. Sector workers in the Film and High-end TV sectors in the UK are eligible for this scheme. Eligible costs for a bursary include accommodation, disability access support, care, driving lessons, equipment/clothing/software licenses, subsistence, training, travel, and bespoke training/coaching.

Level of operation
National
Sectoral
Name of a part of the country
Not applicable
Name of the region (for regional instruments)
Not applicable
Name of the sector (for sectoral instruments)
Film sector
Relevance
Further instrument
Not applicable
Objective(s) and target(s)
The High-end Television Skills Fund was created in 2013 following the introduction of UK tax relief for high-end TV production. It was agreed those utilising the tax credit would contribute to a skills fund managed by ScreenSkills. The key purpose of the HETV Skills Fund is to invest in developing freelancers and talent working at all levels in HETV, to advance their careers as well as bringing new entrants into the industry. This activity increases and upskills the high-end television production workforce in the UK. The FSIF works across the whole country to help build a diverse workforce with the skills needed for continued success, now and in the future.
Year of implementation
2013
Operation/management
Both funds are managed by ScreenSkills, including QA and monitoring of results as well as disbursement of funds to beneficiaries.
Eligible group(s)
Sector workers in the Film and High end TV sectors in the UK.
Group(s) with preferential treatment
No
Education and training eligible
A range of education and training fund options are available, including bursaries for professional training courses.
Source of financing and collection mechanism
The funds receive income through a range of sources, including a voluntary sectoral levy, match-funding from the UK Government, and annual payments from Channel 4 and the BBC. For the HETV fund, currently capped at GBP 58 200 per production. Productions can take out up to 60% of the value of their fund contribution from programmes offering direct return finance, such as Trainee Finder. For the FSIF, studios and production companies producing films in the UK are encouraged to contribute 0.5% of their core UK expenditure up to a cap of GBP 58 200 per production, into the Film Skills Fund. If films receive public support, they are required to contribute the 0.5% to the FSIF.
Financing formula and allocation mechanisms
A ScreenSkills bursary is a cash grant designed to remove some of the practical barriers to making progress in the screen industries. Bursaries pay for training or other costs associated with skills development. Bursaries are provided to help ensure the screen industries have access now, and in the future, to the skills and talent needed for continued success.
Eligible costs
Eligible costs for a bursary include accommodation, disability access support, care, driving lessons, equipment/clothing/software licenses, subsistence, training, travel, and bespoke training/coaching. Specific requests If you are requesting software, it must be at a relevant level to where you currently are in your career (or to make the next step up) and you are in a role, or moving a role that would require you to use this regularly. If you are applying for a training course you must apply at least 7 days before the start date. If you are applying for equipment, it must be the most cost effective version and it must be a direct need in regards to the role that you do. Please note, demand for laptops is high and funding will only be considered when absolutely vital to the regular completion of that role.
Volumes of funding
Figures for bursary schemes: 2018/19 HETV: GBP 155 000 (appox. EUR 181 968); FISF: GBP 255 000 (approx. EUR 286 083) 2017/18 HETV: GBP 390 000 (approx. EUR 437 539); FISF: GBP 115 300 (approx. EUR 129 354)(estimate) Further figures not available.
Beneficiaries/take up
Figures for bursary schemes: 2018/19 HETV: 107 FISF: 157 2017/18 HETV: 1 019 FISF: 71 Further figures not available.
Organisation responsible for monitoring/evaluation
ScreenSkills
Most relevant webpage - in English
https://www.screenskills.com/education-training/
Most relevant webpage - local language
https://www.screenskills.com/education-training/
Recent changes

No recent amendment

Recent changes in response to COVID-19

No changes

Sources
pdf
ScreenSkills
ScreenSkills
ScreenSkills
ScreenSkills
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