Apprenticeships are very different from a full-time course. You earn as you learn and most of your learning happens in the workplace. You will be trained on the job, by people at the very top of their game. You'll gain valuable experience, job-specific skills, earn a wage and get holiday pay.
You'll also spend around 20% of your time studying 'off the job' in a mix of structured remote learning, calls with your development coach, and some in-person contact. This structured learning programme will train you to work in entry level roles that the Games, Animation and VFX industries see as critical. Which means your skills will be in demand from the moment you start and, unlike a degree course, you can complete your training in just two years, have two years work experience and start your career debt-free.
Everyone's a winner. You contribute to your employer's productivity and in return you earn a salary and learn real-world skills that will prove invaluable in the workplace. Together we create a highly skilled workforce that's ready to meet the future demands of the business.
Following feedback from employers there is now one Apprenticeship Standard for the VFX industries with three pathway options. Employers will now recruit for Junior Visual Effects Apprentices, with the option of working towards becoming a Junior VFX Artist (2D), Junior VFX Artist (CG/3D), or Assistant Technical Director. You can read the full Apprenticeship Standard with more details on these roles here: Junior Visual Effects Apprentices.
The skills you learn as an apprentice have been identified by employers as those most relevant and widely used, so you will learn exactly the skills you need to work in your chosen career.
These are Higher Apprenticeships, which means that they're comparable to the first year of a degree. For this reason, Government funding for an Apprenticeship isn't available for people who already hold a degree in Visual Effects. But if you don't have a VFX degree, or are considering leaving University, then this could be the opportunity for you.
Please check back here regularly for any updates. We will open an expression of interest list soon.