Scotland's Stepping Up skills and training scheme launched

Stepping Up, a new skills and training scheme which will create 28 training placements in Scotland’s film and TV industries, has been launched.

The Creative Skillset drama training programme will create 20 Stepping Up drama placements in key craft and technical disciplines, nurturing Scotland’s existing creative talent and helping them to ‘step-up’ to more senior roles, while the new funding will also create eight Stepping Up factual placements delivered through the BBC and new traineeships for script editors and producers.

Alasdair Smith, Scotland director, Creative Skillset, commented: “It is vital to support the development of producers, executives and executive producers now in order to meet the expected growth in Scottish comedy and drama production.”

He continued: “We have already seen major growth in this industry, which has created an urgent need for skilled TV drama production staff. This programme will create an environment where the next generation of Scotland’s creative leaders can flourish, attracting top class production talent and giving them real and valuable on-the-job training to address their skills gaps.”

Stepping Up is funded by a partnership of Creative Skillset, BBC Scotland, Creative Scotland, BECTU, Skills Development Scotland and the European Social Fund, via Scotland’s Trade Union Centre (STUC).

Film and TV crews will be invited to apply to the new Stepping Up programme in January with the placements starting from March. Recruitment for factual placements will follow in the spring. Applications will also be invited for up to two script editor trainees and four trainee producers later in 2013.

For more information, visit BECTU’s website.