Creative Skillset Cymru Freelance Fund Guidelines

Transcription

1 Creative Skillset Cymru Freelance Fund Guidelines Freelance Fund Guidelines The Creative Skillset Cymru Freelance Fund provides funds for individuals working on a freelance basis within the creative industries in Wales to spend on training. This training will be within the priority areas in these guidelines. This year, we have 47,000 to spend on funding for training for individuals. Funding will be released on 14 June 2013 and will relate to specific skills priorities. The Freelance Fund is managed by Creative Skillset Cymru on behalf of Welsh language broadcaster, Channel 4 Wales (S4C). Getting Advice Creative Skillset Cymru has an online application process, which you will be able to access through our website at Please take time to read these guidelines carefully before starting the online form. All of the information you need about the application process and what we can fund through the Freelance Fund can be found within these pages. For further information and advice on this scheme, contact the Fund Administrator on or welshbursaries@creativeskillset.org We receive a high volume of calls so please be patient if you get through to a voic . Your call will be returned as soon as possible. This document is also available in large print; Braille, audiotape and PC formatted disc formats. 1

2 Contents 1. Creative Skillset Freelance Fund for training What is the Freelance Fund Can I apply? Who can apply? 3 Who cannot apply? 3. What can I apply for? What type of training can be supported? What won t Creative Skillset Cymru Freelance Fund support? Amount of support How much can I apply for? 6 Additional support (travel and accommodation and/or childcare costs) The rest of the money you need 7 5. Information to help you apply How can I apply? 8 How many times can I apply? When can I apply again? 6. How do I apply? 8 Online application process What do I need to submit with my application? How do I know I have completed the online application process? 7. How will my application be assessed? 2

3 What we look for 8. What happens next? When will I know the result of my application? If your application is unsuccessful If your application is successful How will my funding be paid? Conditions of funding 9. Funding timetable 1. Creative Skillset Freelance Fund for training What is the Freelance Fund? The Freelance fund provides funding for training for freelancers working in the creative industry to spend on continual professional development (CPD) training. This fund has been made available thanks to Welsh language broadcaster, S4C and it is administered by Creative Skillset Cymru. This funding for training can be spent on any course that fits the current priority areas, which are listed in section 3) what Can I Apply For? Applicants can choose training from the Creative Skillset course database here: Alternatively, you may choose a different course not included in the online course database, if it is relevant to the current priority areas. 2. Can I apply? You can apply for training if you: Can demonstrate proven professional experience working regularly within the UK industry as a freelancer 1 : Or, if returning to work after a career break, be able to indicate how this training is essential to their employability in the creative industry 2 ; 1 For a definition of freelancer, please refer to page 5. 3

4 Can demonstrate how the training you are applying for will benefit your career in the creative industry in Wales; Have a permanent address in Wales; Have been accepted onto a training course that meets the priority training areas of this programme; Have already paid for the training 3. What can I apply for? What type of training can be supported? Creative Skillset Freelance Fund will only support training that develops skills within the priority areas. The priority areas have been set as a result of research and consultation with the industry on short and long-term skills gaps. In this first phase, the Freelance Fund has identified the following priority areas: 1. Production/Location Management, e.g.: Training to be production co-ordinators and Production Co-ordinators moving up to production management Production office skills 2. Business, Management and Leadership Skills, e.g.: Intellectual Property Finance models, advise on setting up a new company, development of entrepreneurial skills International Markets and Co-Production 3. Creation and Monetisiation of Apps, e.g.: Technical element of creating products for smart phones/androids/smart TVs Training on platforms to best exploit product 4. Data Wranglers/DITs, e.g.: Data wrangling Data handling Data Management 5. Researcher skills 6. Multi-skilling, e.g.: Editing software: Avid/Final Cut Pro Shooting to broadcast quality You may apply for a grant to attend more than one course within one application. You will need to demonstrate that the courses cover sufficiently different areas to make it necessary to attend more than one. Funding offered will only support training through structured courses with training providers, or a qualification through a recognised assessment centre, and not through ad hoc arrangements with freelancers or companies. Coaching arrangements should be with a qualified coach or 2 Data wranglers and DITs who do not have credits must be able to provide supporting evidence that they have worked on at least one programme broadcasted on UK television. 4

5 industry expert. You may apply to attend training outside the UK but you must demonstrate why this is more appropriate than training in the UK. All training must take place within 12 months from the date of your offer letter. If this is not possible due to the schedule of the course, please contact the Funding team on the contact details below for further advice. What won t Creative Skillset Funding for training support? Creative Skillset won t support the following: Full time graduate, postgraduate, degree or diploma courses; Training not arranged through a recognised industry training provider or assessment centre; Attendance at networking, festivals or social events; Film or video production or exhibition projects; The purchase of equipment; Travel, accommodation and or childcare costs only. 4. Amount of support How much can I apply for? The Freelance Fund will invest up to 47,000 to spend on funding for training for individuals. Funding will be released on 14 June Please note there is a high demand for our grants and inevitably there is only a finite amount of money to go round. Applications are assessed in a linear capacity.your application will be assessed against this funding programme and the criteria set out in these guidelines Freelancers can apply for up to 80% of the combined course fees, travel, accommodation and childcare costs to a maximum of , inclusive of VAT. You are a freelancer if you are currently: Employed in the creative industry on a fixed term contract of less than 364 days; In employment in the creative industry but can prove that you have been given a date for termination of employment and will become a freelancer; Unemployed but have previous professional experience working in the industry within the past two years. Example Course cost: Travel costs: Childcare costs: Total: % x = Travel and Accommodation Costs We only pay travel and accommodation costs in addition to the course fees, never on its own. Travel and accommodation costs will only be supported if your training is held more than 50 miles from your home. Your home is the address you live at and must be the address you give on the application form you may need to provide proof of address if your application is successful. 5

6 Travel & accommodation will only be supported at a standard rate: overnight accommodation within the UK but outside London 60 per night; overnight accommodation in London - 90 per night; overnight accommodation outside the UK 90 per night; flights economy rates only; rail travel standard class fares only; car travel 45p per mile. Please provide a breakdown of your travel and accommodation costs on your application form. If your application is successful we may contact you to ask how your costs were calculated. Childcare costs We can pay a contribution to childcare costs in addition to the course fees, and never on its own. Rates are as follows: Up to a maximum of 40 per day within London; Up to a maximum of 30 per day outside London but within the UK. Proof of childcare costs / arrangements will need to be supplied if your application is successful. Remainder of Costs You will need to find a percentage of the money you need for your training from sources outside Creative Skillset. As an example, sources may include: Grants from trusts and foundations; Grants from Scottish Local Enterprise Councils; A contribution from you. 5. Information to help you apply When can I apply? The Freelance fund opens xx/xx/xxxx and it will close once all of the funds have been allocated. How many times can I apply? You may only make one application at a time but you can apply for more than one course in a single application. When can I apply again? If your application is successful you may not re-apply for funds to spend on training until 12 months after the date of your offer letter and once your training is complete and all terms and conditions have been met. There may be other Creative Skillset funds you are eligible for. Please check our website for details: If your application is unsuccessful you may re-apply for funding for training. Before doing so, however, we strongly recommend you get advice and more detailed feedback on why your application was unsuccessful. 6

7 6. How do I apply? Online application process Applications to the Creative Freelance Fund can be done using our online application form. You can log onto this form on the following link which can also be found on our website here: When you log onto the online form for the first time, you will be asked to set up a personal Creative Skillset account. This means that you do not need to complete your application in one session; i.e. you can save and come back to it when you are ready. This will also enable you to look at previous online applications you have made if you apply for funding for training in the future. Creative Skillset staff will not have access to your personal application account. The online form takes you through the application step by step and should not take more than 20 minutes to complete. Before you start filling in the form, make sure you have the following information available: The name of your chosen training course/s; The name and address of the training provider/s; The cost of the training and any additional costs if you are eligible to claim them; The dates of your training; Online copy of your CV Online copy of your acceptance on the course and course costs either a company header letter or from the training provider; Online copy of the course outline. The first page of the application is an eligibility test. If you do not pass this test you will be directed to a Creative Skillset webpage which will give you information on alternative sources of funding. If you do not pass the test but think you are eligible for funding please call the Fund Administrator on or welshbursaries@creativeskillset.org, and they will be able to advise you. Once you have reached the last page of the form and are ready to submit your application you will be asked to attach the following documents: CV or credit list; Confirmation of your place on the course and confirmation of course costs; Online copy of the course outline. If you do not attach these documents, your application will not be eligible for assessment. If you have problems attaching your documents please call the Fund Administrator on or welshbursaries@creativeskillset.org. Once you have completed the application form and attached your supporting documents you must press the submit icon on your screen. Until you do this, your application has not been submitted to Creative Skillset to be assessed. You will automatically be sent a receipt of application with a tracking number if you do not receive this, please check your junk mailbox and if it is not there contact us immediately. 7. How will my application be assessed? 7

8 What we look for: All applications will be assessed using the information in your application form, CV and training details against the following criteria: Your experience in the industry; Demonstration that the chosen training will have a positive effect on your career; Whether this training would meet the skills need you have identified in your application. Whether the training fits within the priority areas identified in section 3 above. Your commitment to your chosen career; Your potential to succeed in the industry; Your career aims; Evidence of your skills need; The quality of the training you apply to attend including relevance to current working practices; There is a high demand for Creative Skillset funds. We will assess your application against all of these criteria equally. 8. What happens next? You will know if your application has been successful within 4 weeks of the date your full application is received. Remember that for your application to be successful, you will have to have submitted the application form and the above documents at least one working day before the training course is due to start. If you decide to attend training in the meantime Creative Skillset does not accept responsibility for funding your attendance. Please bear in mind that to ensure equality of opportunity we cannot speed up the assessment process. If your application is unsuccessful If your application for funding is unsuccessful, we will send you an electronic letter outlining the reasons why your application was unsuccessful. If your application is successful If your application for Creative Skillset funding is successful, you will receive an electronic offer letter outlining the offer and our terms and conditions (see below). You must accept the offer within two weeks of the date of the letter. This means printing and signing the offer letter, scanning and ing it to us with your bank details. We may also ask for proof of your address this will be indicated in your offer letter. Any offers not accepted within two weeks will be withdrawn. Creative Skillset cannot release any funding until we receive your signed offer letter. Please note that if we haven t received back the offer letter within six months, Creative Skillset will automatically close the bursary and re-allocate the amount awarded. If we offer you funding but you no longer wish to accept it, please let us know in writing by e- mail or post. How will my funding be paid? Your funding will be paid directly into your personal bank account in two stages: Stage 1: 50% of your award will be paid on receipt of your signed offer letter; 8

9 Stage 2: 50% of your award will be paid on receipt of your online survey (see conditions of Creative Skillset funding for training), and confirmation from the training provider that you have completed the training. Please note that you are responsible for paying the training provider/assessment centre. Creative Skillset does not accept responsibility for transferring funds to training providers/assessment centers. Conditions of funding All Creative Skillset funding is subject to the following terms and conditions: The funding may only be used for the training purposes outlined in your application; You will attend the training in its entirety unless there are mitigating circumstances, in which case it is your responsibility to inform us and contact the training provider to reschedule; You will complete all documentation required both before and after you have completed the course(s); You will complete the Creative Skillset online survey within 4 weeks of the end of your training - your offer letter will tell you what to include in your report (failure to do so within 4 weeks may result in the portion of bursary being withdrawn); You agree to be contacted by Creative Skillset in the future to determine the success of your training in achieving your career aims; You agree to take part in Creative Skillset s evaluation process if requested. If you do not meet any of the conditions outlined above, Creative Skillset reserves the right to withdraw your funding and may request repayment of funding already released. 9. Creative Skillset funding timetable You may find it helpful to use this timetable when planning your application for funding. Date online application and all supporting documents received by Creative Skillset The date we will use will be the date the last piece of supporting documentation is submitted to us. Once we have all the requested documents your application is passed to the assessors. 1 day after your application is received - Your training can start 1 working day after your application is received; - Automated confirmation we have received your application if you have not attached all the supporting documentation, you will be contacted to do so within two weeks. 4 weeks after your application is received - Creative Skillset tells you whether or not your application has been successful; - If successful you will receive an offer letter; - If unsuccessful we will tell you why. 6 weeks after your application is received - You must accept an offer within 2 weeks of the date of the offer letter by signing and returning this to us; - When you return it you must also send your bank details; - Creative Skillset will release the first 50% of your funding when we receive this. 4 weeks after the end of your training 9

10 - You must complete the online evaluation survey and provide evidence that you attended the training. Please contact us on or at for a link to the online survey when you are ready to complete it; - Creative Skillset will not release the final 50% of your funding until we have received these items; - The application will then be closed. 10