USW launches Media Cymru Freelancer Development Fund

Screen sector freelancers based in Wales can now apply for financial assistance to access training opportunities, thanks to a development fund delivered by the University of South Wales.

The Media Cymru Skills and Training project is offering up to a total of £1,500 per person to cover for loss-of-earnings while undertaking training relevant to personal career development.

For privately procured training with a fee attached, the Freelancer Development Fund can be supplemented by the Welsh Government’s Flexible Skills Programme, who will contribute funding of up 50% towards the cost of the training.

The fund comes after a team at USW carried out the Wales Screen Workforce Survey last year – the first Wales-wide survey to assess the skills, training needs, attitudes and experience of those working across the screen sector.

Dr James Davies, Research Fellow at USW and Media Cymru, said: “We’re delighted to be launching the USW x Media Cymru Freelancer Development Fund. A lack of time, money and knowledge of training opportunities were the top three reasons for not engaging with training identified by screen sector freelancers in our Wales Screen Workforce Survey.

“It’s always immensely satisfying when research can result in a direct response to a need, and we hope that the development fund is an initiative that can have a great, positive impact on the screen sector. We hope this is just the beginning!”

For details on who can apply for the Freelancer Development Fund and how it works, visit USW’s Centre for the Study of Media and Culture in Small Nations website.