UK training body Skillsethas announced a new initiative to help women working in film return to work.

The Timeshift programme will provide job-sharing roles on filmproductions for teams of eight women, who will benefit from a child-careallowance as well as their salaries.

Eligibleapplicants will have at least three years' experience in any of these roles:production accountants, assistant production accountants, productioncoordinators, boom operators, production design assistants, costume assistants,art department assistants, prop buyers, locations assistants, third ADs, and assistant editors.

"Timeshift is a landmark scheme set to break the mould infilm production. Skillset's research shows that womenare under-represented in the production world, especially older women," saidJudy Counihan,director of film at Skillset. "And weall know the difficulties in juggling career and family responsibilities butthis is especially true for women working in film where the freelance workingpatterns and irregular hours can make it impossible. This scheme will helpfemale talent fulfil their potential and help the industry hang on to theexperienced and skilled practitioners it needs to go forward."

Timeshift, supported by the European Social Fund Equal Programme,falls under the five-year Skillset joint initiativewith the UK Film Council, A Bigger Future, the UK FilmSkills Strategy.

Applicationsare available at www.skillset.org/timeshift.