Media Trust & ScreenSkills Mentoring Programmes

Season 1 of the Media Trust & ScreenSkills Emerging Talent  Mentoring Programme in partnership with Sky launched in September 2020. We were particularly keen to recruit mentees from groups that are traditionally under-represented in the screen industries – women, Black, Asian & minority ethnic and disabled talent were particularly encouraged to apply. Over the course of the six-month online programme, our 50+ mentees were matched with an industry mentor for one-on-one mentoring and received expert guidance on completing a practical assignment for their CV/portfolio.  

Our second season of the Emerging Talent programme in partnership with Discovery launched on 23 June 2021. The programme is for entry-level and very early-career mentees keen to work in behind the camera roles in the film and TV industries. Again we particularly encouraged applications from groups who are currently under-represented in these industries. Induction for the programme began in September 2021. The programme runs until the end of February 2022.

The Media Trust & ScreenSkills Early-Stage Talent Mentoring Programme, launched in January 2021, matching 24 early-stage mentees looking to progress their career in behind-the-camera roles in film and TV with industry mentors. The programme was aimed, as with all our mentoring programmes, at talent from groups that are traditionally under-represented in the screen industries. We were also supporting talent based outside of London and the South-East. We were delighted that ITV were the principal screen industries partner for this programme.

The second season of the Early-Stage Talent programme launched in March 2022 and ran from the end of April-October 2022, in partnership with Channel 4. We paired 39 mentees with mentors from across the screen industries. As with all our mentoring programmes we especially encouraged applications from underrepresented groups, and in this case particularly D/deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent talent. This disability focus continues Media Trust’s work over the past few years, ensuring the screen industries become more receptive to and representative of disabled talent.

Season three of our Media Trust and ScreenSkills Early-Stage Talent Mentoring Programme runs from September 2022 to February 2023. We want to move the dial on the under-representation of talent from outside London and the South-East, in off-screen roles. We matched 29 early-stage mentees (with a few entry-level exceptions possible for truly outstanding candidates or candidates with transferable skills from another industry) who are looking to progress their careers in behind-the-camera and below the line roles in film and TV with seasoned industry mentors. This programme has a regional and national focus – at least 75% of the mentees are based outside of London.

The Media Trust & ScreenSkills Mentor the Mentors Programme, launching in May 2021, matched 27 mid to experienced career level mentees, recruited from Media Trust’s pre-existing base of screen industry mentors, with seasoned mentors predominantly from WarnerMedia. This programme strengthens the pipeline of talent from groups that continue to be under-represented, particularly at HoD and senior level, in the screen industries. Each mentee is matched with a series of different mentors and meets with at least one of them every month from July to November. This structure ensures mentees get exposure to a broad range of industry contacts and receive multiple perspectives on their career development. A big thank you to WarnerMedia for partnering with us on this exciting new programme.

Mentees benefit from:

• a better understanding of possible career pathways in behind the camera and below the line roles within the screen industries
• knowledge of the in-demand skills in the sector
• training and development and networking opportunities
• CV writing and interview skills
• a strong and mutually supportive network with other mentees and mentors to help you grow in confidence and resilience

Mentors benefit from:

• training and opportunities to hone your leadership, coaching and mentoring skills
• reverse mentoring and insights and perspectives from not just the next generation of talent but also talent from diverse communities and experiences
• a strong and mutually supportive network with the other mentors and mentees
• the satisfaction of using their skills and experience to pay it forward