One of the UK’s leading broadcast and digital training providers has launched a Scottish Government-backed programme giving those made unemployed during the Covid-19 pandemic an opportunity to retrain for Scotland’s flourishing and world-class Animation, Visual Effects (VFX) and Games industries.
Through Glasgow-based TRC’s new RESET programme, all applicants will benefit from free specialist and tailored training and up to 25 will move into an eight month paid industry internship.
RESET interns will learn from the best with award-winning Animation, VFX and Games studios across Scotland. Host companies include Wild Child Animation in Stirling; Freakworks VFX in Edinburgh; Blazing Griffin in Glasgow; and Tag Games in Dundee.
The RESET programme is open to adults aged 25 years and over who have been made unemployed/redundant due to the Covid-19 pandemic and EU exit. RESET will launch with an online information event on Tuesday 26 October.
During the online event, TRC and participating studios will shine a light on Scotland’s vibrant and dynamic Animation, VFX and Games industries which, despite the pandemic, continue to grow and offer excellent career opportunities.
Attendees will also hear about the wide range of support roles in demand. These include project management, IT and data support, administration, accounting, finance, marketing, art, design and quality assurance.
Announcing RESET, TRC Joint MDs Margaret Scott and Claire Scally explain: “RESET is an exciting, inclusive and immediate opportunity for talented individuals who have excellent skills and experience but who have seen their career path in their current sector grind to a halt due to Covid-19.
“In contrast, Scotland’s Animation, VFX and Games industries remain resilient despite the pandemic and need people with valuable administration and project management skills to help them continue to grow at pace.
“In return, these studios, which create some of the world’s most successful games and entertainment, offer excellent earning potential, development prospects and longevity. Now is the perfect time to make the leap, benefit from valuable training and invest in an exciting new future.”
Ken Anderson, Co-Founder of Wild Child Animation, adds: “The Animation, VFX and Gaming industries are hugely supportive of bringing new talent in from other industries and providing an opportunity to those who may have seen their previous work shutdown and/or shrink, due to the pandemic.
“We are confident that, with the support of the Government in partnership with industry, we can retrain and re-employ a broad range of people with many different skills and experiences.”
Culture Secretary, Angus Robertson said: “The Scottish Government is delighted to support TRC with funding of over £250,000 for their new RESET internship and training programme. This is for people who were made unemployed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Scotland has world-class games, VFX (visual effects) and animation sectors so this is a fantastic opportunity for people who want to have a career in these burgeoning industries.”
David Smith, Director of Screen at Screen Scotland: “The film and TV sectors in Scotland, particularly in what is known as “high-end television”, are experiencing a boom right now. The demand for talented people across all areas of production and post-production on those big shows has created a fantastic career reset opportunity for anyone looking to learn more about VFX, animation and post-production more widely. RESET will provide key access routes for those wishing to build a career in Scotland’s world-class animation, screen VFX and gaming industries.”
The creative industries are identified in Scotland’s Economic Strategy as growth sectors. Employment in the Scottish video games industry, which has given the world Minecraft, Grand Theft Auto and Lemmings, grew a staggering 17% in the 18 months up to April 2020¹ and rose 3.4% across the creative industries as a whole over the year to September 2021. In Scotland, average weekly full-time earnings across creative industries is also higher than the average and grew 5% between 2019 and 2020.
All RESET participants will benefit from online training in November after which 25 will be selected for the internships. RESET interns, who will receive the Living Wage, will then be supported by additional TRC training as they adapt to their new role. Those not selected for an internship will also receive further free personal development training from TRC.
TRC’s RESET programme is funded through the Scottish Government’s National Transition Training Fund, which was created to tackle the rise in unemployment caused by Covid-19 by offering short sharp training opportunities for people to learn in-demand skills.
Applications for RESET have been extended until Friday 3 December 2021.
To register interest in RESET or find out more, visit www.trcmedia.org
Background
TRC
TRC is one of the UK’s leading training providers for Broadcast and Digital in the Nations and Regions. TRC is a registered charity based in Glasgow funded by Screen Scotland, BBC Nations and Regions and Channel 4.
Screen Scotland
Screen Scotland is driving the cultural, social and economic development of all aspects of the sector in Scotland through enhanced funding, services and support and backing from Scottish Government and The National Lottery. Screen Scotland sits within Creative Scotland and works in partnership with Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Skills Development Scotland, Scottish Funding Council, working in close collaboration with the sector to ensure its success. Twitter / Instagram.