Mid-Career Momentum: supporting Film & TV freelancers to progress

Application Deadline
15 November 2026
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Ready to take your next step in Film and TV? Whether you want to take on greater responsibility, move into a new genre or add Film and TV work to your career portfolio, this fully funded programme will help you build a more sustainable career in the West Midlands.

Led by Alison Grade and Mission Accomplished, the programme combines practical training, industry connections and personalised career support. You’ll develop your leadership and freelance skills, strengthen how you present your experience to employers and create a clear plan for your next move with support continuing for 12 months after the training.

The programme is free to successful applicants and up to 15 places are available.

Who is it for?

We’re looking for people who have 2+ years’ professional experience, identify as mid-career and want to progress in Film and TV in the West Midlands.

You could be:

  • Working in Film and TV, in any genre or department, and looking to step up or move across.
  • Working in theatre and looking to add Film and TV to your career portfolio. Two places are reserved for people transferring from theatre.
  • Working in another industry, with directly transferable skills, some Film and TV experience and a demonstrable commitment to moving across

You must be aged 19 or over and live in the wider West Midlands region:

  • West Midlands
  • Warwickshire
  • Worcestershire
  • Staffordshire
  • Shropshire
  • Herefordshire

Successful applicants will need to provide proof of residency.

We particularly welcome applications from people traditionally excluded from the screen industry, including people from racialised communities; (d)Deaf, Disabled and/or Neurodivergent people; care-experienced people; refugees and people from disadvantaged migrant communities; Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities; LGBTQI+ people; and people from working-class or low-income backgrounds, now or in the past.

What does the programme include?

  • An initial one-to-one diagnostic with Alison Grade to explore your ambitions, identify gaps and begin your progression plan.
  • Six full-day, in-person training sessions in Digbeth: five led by Alison with guest speakers, plus a certified health and safety training day.
  • Four 90-minute online masterclasses.
  • Three individual meetings during training with our Talent Manager, covering career guidance, CV or portfolio reviews, interview preparation and your progression plan.
  • A £750 individual development allocation for an agreed mix of mentoring, specialist training and/or placement support, tailored to your progression plan.
  • E-learning, including the ScreenSkills Training Passport, BAFTA albert and Mission Accomplished resources and skills matcher.
  • 12 months of follow-up support after the training from our Talent Manager

Our Talent Manager will work with you to identify and source appropriate development support. Placement and employment opportunities will be facilitated where available; neither is guaranteed.

The programme will help you:

  • Build the confidence and skills to take on greater responsibility.
  • Identify opportunities to move between genres, departments or production types.
  • Present your existing and transferable experience more effectively.
  • Strengthen your networks and understanding of how productions recruit.
  • Manage the realities of freelancing, from setting rates to navigating gaps between contracts.
  • Develop a personalised progression plan and put it into action.

Through Mission Accomplished’s relationships with West Midlands productions, employers and crew, we’ll help you build relevant industry connections and access opportunities aligned with your goals.

The training covers:

  • Stepping up and leading: Confidence, communication, delegation, managing upwards, giving feedback, making difficult decisions and understanding your impact at work.
  • Building and managing a team: Recruitment, interviewing, onboarding and performance management.
  • Managing budgets: Creating, tracking and managing costs within your department.
  • Health and safety: A full day of certified Risk Management on Production training delivered by First Option, accredited by ScreenSkills.
  • Moving between roles and genres: Understanding scripted and unscripted workflows, recognising transferable skills and addressing screen-specific gaps.
  • AI for freelancers: Using AI without losing judgement, credibility or control.
  • Career strategy and freelance sustainability: Planning your next move, positioning your experience, building networks, negotiating rates, managing finances and navigating gaps between contracts.

Online masterclasses:

  • Mental health, resilience and wellbeing on production – Sarah McCaffrey, Solas Mind.
  • Sustainability – Ellie Ashton, Earth to Action, and Charly Conquest, Responsible Production Lead, Sky.
  • Production Central and the West Midlands screen sector – understanding current regional activity and opportunities.
  • ScreenSkills support – bursaries, Make a Move, Training Passport, e-learning and Leaders of Tomorrow.

Ongoing programme support

March–May 2027: monthly one-to-ones with our Talent Manager to review progress, support your next steps and help you make use of your individual development allocation.

June 2027–February 2028: continued access to Talent Manager support, alongside the Create Central Skills Accelerator Programme alumni network. You’ll receive information about paid opportunities, placements, networking and relevant events, with opportunities to attend quarterly alumni gatherings.

Apply by Sunday 15 November 2026 at 23:59.

Following your application, we’ll arrange a short discovery call to discuss your experience, ambitions, availability and support needs. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to an online interview.

  • Online interviews: Monday 23 – Wednesday 25 November 2026.
  • Applicants notified: Tuesday 1 December 2026.

We’ll consider your progression goals, relevant experience, readiness to take your next step, commitment to the programme and the West Midlands, and how the training and individual support could benefit you. We’re looking for progression potential as well as existing credits.

Programme dates

The in-person training takes place in Digbeth, Birmingham, with online sessions delivered via Zoom.

Date Session
Week commencing 7 December 2026 Pre-course diagnostic 1-2-1
Monday 14 December 2026, 18:30–19:30 Introductory Zoom welcome session
Saturday 9 January 2027, 09:30–16:30 Session 1 – In-person training
Sunday 10 January 2027, 09:30–16:30 Session 2 – In-person training
Week commencing 11 January 2027 Talent Manager 1-2-1
Wednesday 13 January 2027, 18:30–20:00 Online masterclass
Saturday 16 January 2027, 09:30–16:30 Session 3 – In-person training (Health and Safety)
Wednesday 20 January 2027, 18:30–20:00 Online masterclass
Saturday 23 January 2027, 09:30–16:30 Session 4 – In-person training
Week commencing 25 January 2027 Talent Manager 1-2-1
Wednesday 27 January 2027, 18:30–20:00 Online masterclass
Saturday 30 January 2027, 09:30–16:30 Session 5 – In-person training
Sunday 31 January 2027, 09:30–16:30 Session 6 – In-person training
Wednesday 3 February 2027, 18:30–20:00 Online masterclass
Week commencing 8 February 2027 Talent Manager 1-2-1

Participants are expected to attend all training days, masterclasses, the welcome session and individual meetings, and complete the accompanying e-learning. Please check the dates before applying and discuss any potential attendance difficulties with us during your discovery call.

We welcome requests for reasonable adjustments throughout the application process and programme. Help completing the application and alternative formats, including audio or video responses, are available. If you need support with access costs to attend training, please let us know so we can discuss how we can help.

To discuss application support or access requirements for interviews, training or individual meetings, please contact wmtraining@mission.guru

Mission Accomplished specialises in supporting screen professionals at career transition points. This programme builds on its Early to Mid-Level Upskilling in Film and TV pilot for Create Central.

Course Director and Lead Tutor Alison Grade is CEO of Mission Accomplished and author of The Freelance Bible. An experienced screen industry professional and approved ScreenSkills Leadership and Management trainer, she combines an extensive production background with expertise in freelance career development.

Delivery team

Our Funders

This programme is delivered by Mission Accomplished as part of the Create Central Skills Accelerator Programme, with the support of the BFI, awarding National Lottery funding and match funding from the West Midlands Combined Authority.