Games, Animation and VFX Industry professionals are being invited to apply for a new mentoring programme, ScreenSkills NextGen Prospects 2.0 in association with NextGen Skills Academy, to help aid their career development. This programme is funded by the ScreenSkills Mentoring Network, supported by the BFI awarding National Lottery Funds as part of its Future Film Strategy.
ScreenSkills, the industry-led skills body for the UK’s screen industries, recently announced funding of £130,375 to ten mentoring programmes around the UK, supporting more than 250 people from groups currently under-represented in the screen industries and working in areas of skills shortage.
Jane Saunders, ScreenSkills mentoring programme manager, said of the recent funding:
“We know that mentoring can help build confidence and establish networks which provide invaluable support, particularly for many people from groups currently under-represented in the screen industries. It is great to be working with like-minded partners who are committed, as we are, to making mentoring a really useful part of professional career development.”
This new programme focuses on those already working in the creative industries, with successful applicants being paired with an experienced industry mentor who will share their knowledge to help their mentee work and progress towards their career goals.
Mentoring is a two-way confidential partnership of development, dialogue, learning and challenge. Each mentoring partnership will have a video call once a month for the six-months of the programme, mentees will also be invited to 5 workshops with a leadership coach to help them make the most of having a mentor and to plan for their next career steps. The programme is open for Entry Level to Experienced professionals with up to ten years’ experience in industry.
Phil Attfield, co-founder of NextGen Skills Academy, said of the new programme:
“NextGen is proud to be working with ScreenSkills as part of their continued support for mentoring programmes. Working with ScreenSkills feels like a genuine collaboration, we are all working towards a shared goal of putting a framework in place to inspire mentees, support career progression, and increase the entry of underrepresented groups into the screen industries.
“We have seen from our previous programmes just how positive and beneficial mentoring partnerships can be. Being paired with an expert mentor can help to build confidence, clarify goals, and be a driving force when working on career and personal progression. We’re looking forward to working with colleagues in the creative industries to inspire and provide guidance to our new cohorts of mentees.”
To find out more and apply visit: ScreenSkills NextGen Prospects 2.0
Applications close at midnight on Sunday 24th October 2021.
If you are interested in becoming a mentor for this programme please email: ben.rust@nextgenskillsacademy.com