UPDATE : Manchester / northern Returners please APPLY by 28th Nov for FREE training.
Flexible working champion Media Parents is delighted to be partnering with Creative Skillset to provide FREE Return to Work Training for eight production freelancers in High End TV Drama and one from Children’s TV over the next nine months. Applications are open again for regional training which will be offered in Manchester or Bristol according to demand, from late November. Applications are open now and will close on Tues 28^th November at midday so please see below for details.

Media Parents HETV Drama Returners Paula Watkins and Fred Archer with Media Parents Director Amy Walker and Jenny Madalura, networking at BAFTA

Our first cohort of returners is already under way, having trained in Brighton, and attended the Broadcast Commissioning Scripted Forum at BAFTA. Returning Production Manager Paula Watkins is already on work placement with Fudge Park Productions on BBC Two’s White Gold. Fred Archer is also training alongside Paula and looking for a Production Assistant placement.

Freelancers who have taken a career break for childcare and would like help to return to work in High End scripted TV or Children’s TV should contact www.mediaparents.co.uk for an application form before November 17th. Roles covered include but are not limited to

• Producer
• Line Producer
• Production Manager
• Production Coordinator
• Production Assistant
• Production Secretary

The course offers paid returnships, mentoring, job-specific refresher training, confidence and presentation coaching, and attendance at an industry conference. Building on five years of success of the Media Parents Back to Work Scheme, this course offers all the tools needed to return to work with confidence in High End TV Drama or Children’s TV.

In addition to applicants for the scheme, Media Parents would love to hear from High End TV drama or children’s TV production companies able to offer mentors and/ or work placements for returners. Please use the contact tab at www.mediaparents.co.uk to reach us.

We welcome applicants who have taken a career break due to childcare responsibilities and who are now ready to return to work. Inclusion is important to us, we encourage applications from those currently under-represented in the industry, including women, black, Asian and minority ethnic, and disabled people.

The Media Parents Return to Work in High End TV Programme is supported by the High End TV Levy Fund, managed by Creative Skillset.

Creative Skillset works with the UK’s screen-based creative industries to develop skills and talent, from classroom to boardroom. The High End TV Levy Fund, overseen by the High End TV Council, ensures a sustainable funding legacy to develop industry skills to support the next generation of High End TV drama talent.

Media Parents HETV Drama and Children's Return to Work programme is re-opening for applications until November 28th. Media Parents - join now for brilliant jobs and events at www.mediaparents.co.uk

Media Parents is delighted to introduce the first cohort of the Media Parents High End TV Drama Return to Work Programme which began in Brighton this week, and aims to return skilled workers to drama production via training, mentoring and work placements. We’re delighted to be attending the Broadcast Commissioning Forum tomorrow, in the company of the BBC’s Head of Production Talent, Scripted, Jacqui Taunton Fenton.

paula watkins

Paula Watkins, returning PM

Following a successful career as a Production Manager in commercials for Nokia, Opel, McDonald’s and Kellogg’s and more, Paula took a career break to work in education, alongside raising a family. Having developed and managed a large and very successful Performing and Visual Arts and Media department at a VIth form college, and with her children now independent, Paula wants to return to full time production work in High End TV Drama, initially as a Production Co-ordinator, with a view to working back up to Production Manager and beyond. Paula had started working her way back in via production work experience on Silent Witness and The Durrells before successfully applying for the Media Parents HETV Drama Programme, funded by the HETV Levy Fund, managed by Creative Skillset.

fred archer

I am a capable producer who has created award-winning work for corporate companies, award-winning content for short films and am now striving to create award-winning work for High End Television Drama.

I am transitioning from factual to drama, and am open minded to new learning and mentorship to develop my skills. Having taken time out to raise my children, the Media Parents HETV Return to Work Programme will help me regain my skills, training and confidence to move on and up the ladder of High End TV Drama.

jenny madalura

jenny madalura

With a varied career in front and behind the camera and over five years’ experience as international journalist, MTV VJ and lawyer, I bring a great deal of experience to a future career in High End TV Drama production. I have factual and drama experience with the BBC, Central Television and Thames Television, on Kavanagh QC, The Bill and foreign Filipino telenovelas like Little Angel.

At the BBC I researched new programme ideas for Panorama, and worked as a researcher and production assistant on Tim Samuels’ three-part documentary series Power to the People. I am a proud parent of two, with my eldest son who recently recovered from Acute Myeloid Leukaemia.

Jenny is being supported by Media Parents but is not funded by the HETV Levy because she is London-based. The scheme is for regional returners.

Media Parents would like to thank Jacqui Taunton Fenton for accompanying us to the Broadcast Commissioning Forum tomorrow – see you there!

We're delighted to be attending the Broadcast Commissioning Forum tomorrow, in the company of Jacqui Taunton Fenton, Head of Production Talent, BBC Scripted

Media Parents HETV Drama and Children's Return to Work programme is re-opening for applications on Friday 6th October. Media Parents - join now for brilliant jobs and events at www.mediaparents.co.uk