Screen Skills: "Animation Trainee Finder"

Animation Trainee Finder Programme at ScreenSkills

ScreenSkills has launched the Animation Trainee Finder, a paid placement programme for animation graduates.

Animation Trainee Finder is being launched by the ScreenSkills Animation Skills Council with the support of UK animationStudios.  The deadline to apply is 27 September 2021.  

Animation Trainee Finder - Eligibility

The Animation Trainee Finder programme is open to candidates who are over 18, with up to 12 months' paid experience in animation.

Paid Placements

Animation Trainee Finder will provide 20 trainees with up to three paid placements on 2D, 3D and stop motion animation productions across the UK, to gain a variety of experience over the course of a year.

Programme Roles - animator, storyboard artist, rigger & production coordinator

The focus is on four roles identified as shortage areas: animator, storyboard artist, rigger and production coordinator.

Industry Mentor
Trainees will also receive an industry mentor, networking opportunities and insight into the industry through an intensive weekend bootcamp.  

Diversity
Applications will be particularly welcomed from Black, Asian or minority ethnic candidates because they are currently under-represented in the animation workforce.

Blue Zoo Animation

Blue Zoo's Tom Box 

Tom Box, Animation Skills Council Chair and Co-founder and Managing Director of Blue Zoo Animation Studio, said: " Trainee Finder will give successful candidates who have already embarked on their animation career the opportunity to gain further experience with different companies on a ScreenSkills programme that has already built a strong reputation with other parts of the industry.  “It is one of a range of ways in which the animation sector is working to open up the sector to a greater diversity of talent and address skills shortages."

Animation Trainee Finder Success Stories
You can read about the experience of Rebecca Hardess, who participated in last year’s pilot for the new Animation Trainee Finder programme with the pre-school show Circle Square.  Ryan Jones, who has built a career in animation since working for Fettle Animation on the previous iteration of the Animation Trainee Finder programme under Creative Skillset, also discusses the impact of it on his career.

Official Site

To find out more about Animation Trainee Finder, visit the official site, and to apply, fill out the form here.

For more on the experience of studying at Buckinghamshire New University, come and visit us at one of our Open Days, take a virtual tour of one of our animation studios, check out what our students think of our course, and see why we're ranked in the top 12 creative universities in the UK.