South West Attachments Scheme (SWATS)

Structured new entrants' training is key to ensuring that the region's TV and digital media companies can access new production talent. It's also a way of ensuring high-quality work experience for promising newcomers. The South West Attachment Scheme (SWATS) has established a track record for delivering exactly that.

Funded by South West Regional Development Agency, Skillset's TV Freelance Fund, South West Screen and eighteen of the region's production companies, SWATS 2006/07 helped 11 new entrants - Production Assistants, Coordinators and Junior Researchers - into industry through a 12-month intensive programme of supported work placements, short course training and individual advice and guidance.

Oliver Coysh from Totnes in Devon was one of the lucky trainees who won a SWATS place in October 2006, after being chosen from around 150 applicants - graduates and non-graduates - from across the region.

After gaining a degree in Media Arts from the University of Plymouth, Oliver set about finding that crucial first job. Despite his education and work placements during his degree, Oliver found it difficult to gain work in the industry that paid enough to live on - some was even unpaid. He took a few short-term assisting jobs, mostly in London, and found himself turning down unpaid work experience during gaps because of his circumstances.

Fortunately Oliver heard about SWATS through a Skillset mailing and knew it could be the perfect chance to get started in his home region. Eight weeks later Oliver was starting his first SWATS placement as a general assistant with Denham Productions in Plymouth, then moving on six months later to Yeovil-based GRACE Productions.

Oliver says:

"The scheme truly bridges the gap between university and industry. I was unemployed before I applied to SWATS and lack of money made it really difficult to take up offers for unpaid work experience. It was quite frustrating as the people at the job centre weren't aware how the industry worked, and that without the experience I wouldn't be able to get a job. SWATS seemed to be the way forward. Nobody likes application forms but I really wanted to get on the scheme so I just went for it! I had two quite different placements which taught me very different things, and I worked on both broadcast and corporate productions.

There's no way I would have been able to do any of the training courses if I hadn't been on SWATS. There was a really good mix, from camera and sound to a range of PACT's production and development courses. The one-to-one meeting with a Skillset advisor at the end of the scheme was really useful as it gave an objective view of me and my CV. Overall it's made me employable and as a result I've now got a short-term contract with GRACE Productions - and I haven't had to move to London."

Ray Tostevin, Creative Director of GRACE Productions says:

"Being part of SWATS has enabled us to have access to some of the region's brightest and best media talent, in a really cost-effective way. We've hosted three placements over the past 12 months and each trainee has brought a particular set of skills which have been of tremendous benefit to us as a company - and it's enabled them to learn too. What sets SWATS apart is the excellent training courses along the way, so both the trainee and the placement company benefit. It's been brilliant! And we've recently offered Oly a paid contract to continue working with GRACE through 'till Spring 2008."

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