The Skillset TV Freelance Fund is offering Multiplatform Bursaries on a pre-selected range of courses covering key multiplatform skills in the industry. The BBC Academy courses listed below are included within this range and are available at a subsidised rate to successful applicants.

The amount of the subsidy varies, depending on whether you're employed or work as a freelancer. You'll get:

• 80% of the costs, up to a maximum of £800 if you are a freelancer; or
• 50% of the costs, up to a maximum of £500 if you are in permanent employment

Introduction to Multiplatform, 1 day
15th March 2010, BBC London
Full course Fee £230

Shooting for the Web, 1 day
4th February 2010, BBC Manchester
Full course Fee £490

Project Management for Multiplatform (TV Projects only), 1 day
5th February 2010, BBC Birmingham
Full course Fee £370

Application & Booking Information

Please note you will need to apply directly to the BBC in the first instance and then to Skillset separately to see if you’re eligible for funding. See below for further information.

You must complete and fax the forms below to the BBC:

• BBC Booking Form
• Freelance Declaration Form
• Your CV – listing clearly your broadcast employment history, together with employer names, contact numbers and brief description of roles and responsibilities.

The BBC will then reserve you a space.

All bookings are subject to our standard terms and conditions.

You will then need to apply to Skillset for the Bursary (www.skillset.org/multiplatformbursaries) who will award the bursary to you directly.

Skillset will inform you if your application is successful or not and payment will be made to you direct.

We encourage you to apply to Skillset for a Multiplatform Bursary at the earliest opportunity to avoid disappointment.
Please note that the bursary applications can take up to 4 weeks to process.

You should inform the BBC as soon as possible whether or not your application is successful.

The BBC will then take full payment from you and will email confirmation, stating that your reserved place on the course is now confirmed.

BBC contact Details:

Telephone: 0370 010 0264
Fax: +44 (0)370 010 0265
Email: training@bbc.co.uk

Are you eligible?

You can apply for a Multiplatform Bursary if you:

• can demonstrate professional experience in the UK TV industry;
• or can demonstrate professional experience in the wider creative media industries and can show that your training will lead to work in or with the TV industry in a cross-platform context;
• can demonstrate how the training you are applying for will benefit your career;
• are either a UK national or are living and regularly working in the UK as a freelancer or in permanent employment;
• are living in the UK at the time of applying for a bursary;
• have selected a training course from the list of eligible Multiplatform Courses and have been accepted by the recognised training provider; and
• are not receiving another form of Skillset subsidy to attend the training.

Definition of Freelancers

Freelancers can apply for up to a maximum of £800. We consider you a freelancer if:

• you are employed on a succession of engagements with different employers rather than in continuous employment;
• you are currently employed on a fixed term contract of not more than one year;
• you are currently in employment but can provide evidence that they have been given a date for the termination of employment and will become a freelancer;
• you are currently not working but have previous professional working experience in the creative media industries.

If you are a freelancer you may apply for up to 80% of the combined fees, travel and accommodation costs of your training to a maximum of £800. This means that if 80% of your total combined course and travel costs come to over £800, the maximum you could apply for is £800.

Employees

Employees can apply for up to a maximum of £500. We consider you an employee if:

• you are currently employed in the UK TV industry on a permanent contract with one or more employers;
• you are currently employed in the wider creative media industries on a permanent contract with one or more employers, and can show that your training will lead to work in or with the TV industry in a cross platform context;
• you are on one or a series of renewable contracts with one employer in the TV and/or wider creative media industries lasting more than one year.

Please note, if you are employed you may apply for up to 50% of the combined fees, travel and accommodation costs of your training to a maximum of £500. This means that if 50% of your total combined course fees and travel costs come to over £500 the maximum you can apply for is £500, however, we expect your employer to make a contribution of at least 30% of the costs of training.

The following people are not eligible for support

Actors;
Presenters;
Those in full time education;
Non-UK residents, including international students

If you are not sure if you are eligible to apply for a Multiplatform Bursary, please contact the Multiplatform Administrator on 020 7713 9832 or by email at multiplatform@skillset.org.