We are looking for West Midlands based industry professionals working in craft, technical, editorial or production roles across scripted (Film, HETV or continuing drama), unscripted, animation or post-production and who are looking to step up and lead their teams.
Stepping up to HOD can be daunting. As an HOD, your approach and thinking needs to develop as you lead a team and take on extra responsibility.
Led by Mission Accomplished CEO, Alison Grade, with guest speaker sessions from a range of exciting industry experts, this training course is designed to support you as you Step Up to HOD.
Mission Accomplished is particularly keen to receive applications from traditionally excluded groups especially those from:
We welcome applications from all individuals. If you would like support completing the application form and/or would like us to send it to you in an alternative format, please email training@mission.guru
THE COURSE WILL COVER:
- What does stepping up to HOD involve?
- Understanding team dynamics and personalities
- Managing budgets and schedules
- Inclusive recruitment, working practices
- Dealing with conflict and managing performance
- Health and Safety considerations for HODs
- Looking after ourselves and our teams
- Pitching myself to take on an HOD / leadership role
By the end of the course, participants will have practical and actionable leadership and management strategies to build a vibrant, motivated and resilient creative team, as well as having developed their confidence in taking on a new challenge and thriving in a HOD role.
The course will be delivered as a mix of in-person monthly training sessions interspersed with online masterclasses from working HODs. The training will be offered at weekends and evenings to ensure that it is accessible to working freelance crew in region.
- 5 x 4 hour monthly in-person workshops in Central Birmingham
- 4 x 90 mins online masterclasses
- 4 x 60 mins HOD mentoring including opportunity to shadow mentor on set
- 2 x 60 mins CV/employability support
KEY DATES
- Applications close Monday, May 13 at 23:59, 2024
Interviews (online)
- Thursday, May 16, 2024
- Friday, May 17, 2024
Notifications
- Tuesday 21st May 2024
COURSE OUTLINE
| Date | Session time | Course Content |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday, June 15, 2024 | 9:30 – 14:30 | What does Stepping up to HOD involve? |
|
Monday, June 24, 2024
|
6:30 – 20:00 | Stepping into the HOD mindset – what you need to do now and what you need to stop doing! |
|
Saturday, 13th July, 2024
|
9:30- 14:30 | Understanding team dynamics and personalities |
|
Monday 15th July, 2024
|
TBC | Health and Safety for HODs delivered by First Option |
|
Monday, September 9, 2024
|
6:30 – 20:00 | Leading with my creative vision |
|
Saturday, September 14, 2024
|
9:30- 14:30 | Managing budgets and schedules |
|
Monday, September 30, 2024
|
6:30 – 20:00 | Working with Line Producer, Series Producer, Producer and Director – Dealing with and planning for changes |
|
Saturday, October 12, 2024
|
9:30 – 14:30 | Inclusive recruitment and working practices and reating a safe space and keeping my team motivated |
|
Monday, October 21, 2024
|
6:30 – 20:00 | Cultural literacy, managing performance and dealing with conflict |
|
Saturday, November 9, 2024
|
9.30 – 14:30 | Looking after ourselves and our teams |
MENTORING AND COACHING
Supporting the participants’ development will be their mentors, who will be HODs within their department with experience of the role they are stepping up into. Each participant will be matched with a mentor from their department to support them with departmental specific skills as they step up. Participants will have 4 x 60 mins (likely online) sessions with their mentor. They will also be encouraged to meet their mentors in-person and shadow them on a current production (access funding is available to support this activity).
In addition, each participant will be offered 2 hours 1-2-1 bespoke CV / employability support to help them identify the role and production they are looking to step up to and assist them with their CV, pitch and interview skills.
By the end of the training course, participants will:
- Understand the role and responsibilities of a HOD
- Have the skills and knowledge to step up to HOD
- Have developed knowledge of budgeting responsibility as HOD
- Know themselves and what they bring to a team
- Have developed Leadership and Management skills needed for the role
- Understand the Health and Safety responsibities of an HOD
- Have strategies and tactics for managing a team
- Feel confident to pitch themselves into a stepped up position as HOD and/or team leader
Alison Grade | Course Director
Alison founded and runs Mission Accomplished. The company regularly delivers training courses for ScreenSkills. Alison is an experienced Line Producer and Production Manager as well as a Nesta Accredited Creative Enterprise Trainer. She regularly delivers training that enables creatives to take their careers to the next level. Alison is the author of Penguin published book, The Freelance Bible and offers many workshops and training programmes to support freelancers.
Caroline Ball | Guest speaker
Caroline Ball is a Line Producer, based in Northern Ireland, who is known for being the driving force behind productions and bringing editorial vision into practical reality. She holds a Masters Degree in Production Management and has over 20 years’ experience working in the production office. Caroline has worked across numerous genres in television, radio and online, most recently working in scripted tv and film. She has experience of designing and delivering training courses. As a Training Executive for eircom, she was responsible for training new and experienced staff in a range of skills, including communication, time management and dealing with others. In the BBC, Caroline planned and delivered workshops to staff with a view to improving ways of working and increasing collaboration among teams.
Sarah McCaffrey | Guest speaker
Sarah has extensive experience delivering training programmes for ScreenSkills. She founded independent mental health and training company Solas Mind in 2019. Sarah is a fully qualified psychotherapist and offers mental health services including counselling and training in the film and tv industry. Sarah regularly runs mental health workshops, leadership and management training for ScreenSkills and Solas Mind supports the trainee finder trainees.
