Award for training scheme
A national award has been won by the BECTU-supported training initiative FT2.
The training scheme for freelancers in film and television was given a National Training Award by the charity UK Skills for its New Entrants' Technical Training Programme at a ceremony in London's Guildhall.
UK Skills is an independent charitable organisation whose everyday job is to promote occupational skills at all levels, through local, regional, national and international competitions.
Its national competitions cover a wide range of occupations, including building and construction, consumer services, electrical and electronics, various commercial services, industrial engineering and information technology.
FT2 is a not-for-profit organisation whose governing board includes representatives from Advertising Producers Association, BBC, BECTU, Channel 4, Independent Television Association, the Motion Picture Association, and PACT (Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television). Part of its funding is provided by the European Union, through the European Social Fund.
The training programme which won FT2 its National Training Award is aimed at young people working in the film and TV industries in production, technical, and craft jobs.
Film and television industry training scheme gets national award
A National Training Award was presented last night to FT2 (Film and Television Freelance Training) for their New Entrants Technical Training Programme.
Acclaimed British Film Director Mike Leigh says:
"I am delighted that FT2 have received the National Training Award. It has been my pleasure and privilege over the last 15 years to have worked with a wide range of talented and committed young film technicians, all of whom have contributed to my films with great spirit and gusto, and many of whom have gone on to successful careers in their various departments. Bravo! What a gas!!!"
"We are delighted that after 17 years this film and television industry founded, funded and managed apprenticeship-style scheme has been awarded such national acclaim," says Sharon Goode, Director of FT2, who with Tudor Gates, Vice President of BECTU and Vice Chair of the FT2 Board, received the UK Skills award at the Banqueting House, Whitehall from Diane-Louise Jordan.
"I believe FT2 to be the best training scheme of its kind in the country," says Tudor Gates, "And I am delighted that its efforts over the last two decades have received recognition through a National Training Award. No other scheme provides the same balance of training and work experience which has been so successful in providing technicians for the film and television industries, who have proved themselves already and will go on to greater things. Today some of the past trainees are passing on the skills they have gained through working in the industry. We hope to continue to gain more funding for more places for the skilled technicians of the future."
The New Entrant Technical Training Scheme trains young people to enter the film and television industry in freelance junior technical, craft or production jobs. It is funded by the film and television industry through the Skillset Investment Funds, by Channel 4, by the European Social Fund and by London Central Learning and Skills Council.
Dinah Caine, Chief Executive of Skillset, the Sector Skills Council for the Audio Visual Industries said,
"Congratulations to FT2 on this outstanding achievement. Over the last five years Skillset has channelled almost £2 million funding into industry led training schemes delivered by FT2. National recognition of their hard work and expertise is thoroughly deserved. It also reflects the calibre of trainee whose skills will go on to benefit the industry as a whole."
"2002 has been an eventful year for FT2," says Sharon Goode, "As we have achieved both Investors in People and now a National Training Award. We could not have done this without the support of all those crew members and production staff who provide on-the-job training placements to our trainees and who have supported their development into highly trained and highly sought after freelance crew. The UK is known worldwide for the excellence of its technicians. Schemes like this by which young people can get practical experience on movies like "All or Nothing", "Die Another Day", "Dirty Pretty Things", "Nicholas Nickleby" and "Tomb Raider" and television productions like "The Bill", "Dalziel and Pascoe", "Waking the Dead", "The Vice" and "White Teeth" will help ensure that reputation is maintained and enhanced."