Television production assistant : Training

Television production assistants receive most of their training on the job by shadowing experienced assistants and attending training sessions organised by the production company. In some companies, the BBC for example, training opportunities are almost exclusively internally provided.

A number of training organisations, however, offer additional training and short courses for media professionals:

• Skillset: The Sector Skills Council for Creative Media has a pool of money to subsidise training for freelancers. They also offer a range of nationally recognised qualifications (NVQs) and professional standards for a range of media careers.
• Cyfle , the national training provider for the television, film and interactive media industry in Wales, offers a range of production-based courses.
• In Scotland, Creative Scotland provides training for new entrants in areas such as creative and financial skills and the production process.
• BBC Academy offers courses and online training in broadcasting and new media.