Professional Development Fund

Support for individuals working in film and television to access training, mentoring and other professional development activity, nationally and internationally.

The development of Scotland’s screen workforce is essential to meet the industry’s growth, and to increase its diversity. This fund aims to contribute to this by providing support for individuals working in film and television to access training, mentoring and other professional development activity, nationally and internationally.

Priority will be given to:

• Developments in areas of skills shortages and
• Applicants under-represented in the screen industries.

Under-Represented Groups

We will prioritise applications from those who are under-represented in our current funding programmes. Current evidence indicates that these under-represented people are those who self-identify as disabled, those who come from Black and Minority Ethnic cultural backgrounds, and those who are women or other gender nonconforming identities. There have been a number of gender-focussed studies that indicate a particular under-representation of women in areas of Directing, Camera, Post-Production and VFX.

For the Professional Development Fund, risk is a factor in our decision making. One of the key risks to creative activity is currently COVID-19 and our approach is informed by the Scottish Government guidance on this issue, which is regularly evolving.

Whilst Screen Scotland wishes to continue to support creative and developmental practice, we cannot accept avoidable or unmanaged risk to health and safety and our funding approach will be cautious in this regard. Applications should ensure that relevant Scottish Government guidance is being followed, and appropriate risk plans are in place and included with your application.

International travel

Applications to the Professional Development Fund can once again include travel, both UK and international, as long as Scottish Government advice is being followed (including any guidance on, or emanating from, the particular international locations you are planning to work in/ travel to) and appropriate risk management plans are in place and included with your application.

As regulations are changing frequently, please check the Scottish Government website at the time of submitting an application and be aware this guidance may have altered by the time your application is being considered. The assessing officer and Director of Screen will have to take decisions based on the Scottish Government guidance current on that day.

Screen Scotland cannot be liable for any further costs incurred beyond those agreed in the grant award, including any costs incurred as a result of further COVD impact and/ or change in Scottish or other government regulations before or during the term of the project. If the funded activity becomes unviable as a result of changes to government guidance Screen Scotland reserves the right to recoup all or an element of the funding.

For the avoidance of doubt, Government guidance takes precedence over any statement by Screen Scotland.

For more information, visit Screen Scotland