ScreenSkills pilots flexible apprenticeships

ScreenSkills is kicking off a pilot scheme for flexible apprenticeships as the government opens for applications for a £7m fund designed to support the creative industries’ mobile freelance workforce.

From this week, the funds are open to TV, film and other areas of the creative industries, with ScreenSkills among the agencies managing the apprenticeships.

The TV training body can apply for up to £1m to fund apprenticeships across a range of employers from early next year.

The scheme, unveiled in Rishi Sunak's Budget in March, aims to offer more flexibility than standard government-sponsored apprenticeships, which require individuals to work for 12 months with a single employer – thereby better reflecting the freelance, short-term nature of many TV contracts.

ScreenSkills chief executive Seetha Kumar said the scheme will “unlock much needed apprenticeship opportunities for freelance talent and enable social mobility in key areas of skills needs”.