91Èȱ¬

Fast Train, a free training event for TV freelancers, will be held on Wednesday 18 May 2011 at the 91Èȱ¬ Academy in White City. This ground-breaking initiative will provide freelancers with the unique opportunity to sample a wide range of high quality professional training from the industry's leading providers.

Short training sessions will be provided by the 91Èȱ¬ Academy, the Indie Training Fund, DV Talent, VET, NFTS, BECTU, Four Corners, The TV Collective and Skillset Media Academies, with the support of many independent production companies*.

Skillset will also be on hand to discuss training bursaries and guide freelancers through the application process.

This new initiative, which will be open for up to 500 freelancers, is in direct response to Broadcast's TV Freelancer Survey in which training was highlighted as an important factor in career progression. Of those questioned, 52 per cent listed it as being far more important than professional support bodies, commercial recruitment services or online social networking.

Fast Train will comprise practical workshops, day and half-day courses and short "taster" sessions covering all aspects of production; camera, self-shooting, editing, HD, multi-camera, scripting, legal, digital, cross-platform, social media, H&S, production management, making the web work for you, business, leadership and people skills, editorial policy, pitching and much more.

There will also be updates on key industry issues – such as tapeless production, the 91Èȱ¬'s Digital Media Initiative (DMI) and connected TV; leading industry figures will give master-classes on hit shows and, importantly, the day will also provide networking opportunities with commissioners, controllers and indies.

Anne Morrison Director 91Èȱ¬ Academy, says: "The broadcast industry increasingly relies on a mobile workforce and freelancers rightly rate training as important to their career development. We hope that this initiative, in partnership with training providers across the industry, demonstrates our commitment to them by showcasing what is on offer and helping them to find the right training, and funding."

Kate O'Connor, Executive Director/Deputy CEO Skillset said: "Skillset is delighted to be partnering with the 91Èȱ¬ on this unique event. The Open Day is a fantastic opportunity for freelancers to come into direct contact with the broad range of training providers and hear about funding opportunities that are out there for them, but of which perhaps they were not aware."

John McVay, Pact said: "The continual training of our freelancers is an important ingredient to both a skilled workforce and a successful broadcast industry. Pact is delighted to support an initiative that allows our freelance community to sample the training on offer which will not only aid in their career progression, but will also allow them to continue to contribute positively to our ever-evolving industry. "

Carla Mitchell, Chair MITA adds: "MITA welcomes this breakthrough occasion where the industry training providers are coming together to showcase the wealth of training that is available to TV freelancers."

Further details and registration for the day – which will also run into the evening – will be announced shortly.

Notes to Editors

* Backed by Pact, Production Base, Crackit Productions, Maverick Television, Cineflix, Optomen, Outline Productions, Plum Pictures, RDF Television, Shine TV, Silver River, Twofour.

MITA (Moving Image Training Alliance) is a membership network for independent training providers working in the moving image sector. e

JIW