Edinburgh Napier University and Screen Academy Scotland, a Skillset Film and Media Academy have announced the launch of Screen NETS, an advanced training programme to enhance and boost the skills, knowledge and contacts of new and recently entered practitioners in the Film and TV Drama Industry in Scotland

Building on a legacy of 30 years of the New Entrants Training Programme (NETS), and with investment from Creative Scotland’s talent development strand Creative Futures and the Skillset Film Skills Fund as part of ‘A Bigger Future 2’, the UK film skills strategy, Screen NETS will train five individuals, working in Camera, Production, Art Department, Assistant Directing or Animation through in-depth professional skills training, industry placements and mentoring.

Screen Academy Scotland’s Director, Prof. Robin MacPherson, said: “We are delighted and proud to be able to build on the fantastic thirty-year track-record of NETS and connect it to the growing range of continuing professional development provision at Screen Academy Scotland.  High quality, tailored on-the-job training remains essential to the future of our screen industry and so we are working in close partnership with the industry in Scotland to ensure people at every stage of their screen career can access the training they need.”

Previous NETS trainee Stephen Moore said "Without doubt the NETS course gave me the best possible exposure to contacts working at the top level of the Scottish film and TV industry. I have gone on to work with several of these contacts on productions in the last year. The skills and knowledge I gained from the course has given me the best possible foundation for working as an assistant coordinator in drama production."

Dan Simmons, Skillset’s Head of Film (Acting), said “One of the priorities within A Bigger Future 2 is supporting high quality trainees to enter the industry across the UK. Screen NETS will provide a structured introduction to the industry, helping to launch the trainees’  careers and meeting identified skills gaps within the Scottish industry.”

Caroline Parkinson, Director of Creative Development, Creative Scotland, said:  “Creative Scotland is delighted to be working in partnership with Screen Academy Scotland to offer New Entrants Training (Screen NETS), as part of Creative Scotland Creative Futures Programme. Screen NETS is an essential part of developing talent across Scotland.  It offers emerging practitioners on-the-job experience allowing them to develop their skills and learn from professionals. “

Screen NETS will be delivered by Screen Academy Scotland at Edinburgh Napier University. The Academy is one of only two dual-status Skillset Film & Media Academies in the UK. A collaboration between Edinburgh Napier University and Edinburgh College of Art (eca), Screen Academy Scotland is recognised by the industry as a UK centre of excellence in film and media training and education (www.screenacademyscotland.ac.uk).