Join Wild Child Animation as part of their apprenticeship programme Apprentices will work with the studio for 11 months (44 weeks) gaining invaluable experience in the Film and Screen industries by learning the craft of making animated television. You will work on live studio projects with your work contributing to your attaining a National level 5 or National level 6 Film and Screen Award certificate. Throughout the apprenticeship, you will rotate through departments over a period of 11 months. During this time you will develop your skills and experience in Art and Design, Storytelling and Editing, CG and 2D Asset creation, Animation and the Production departments. You will receive on-the-job technical training, soft skills coaching and will be well supported in attaining valuable skills for employment in a competitive industry. Who are we looking for? For this role we are looking for young people with skills in art and an interest in film and television. Our ideal candidate is a school leaver in 5th or 6th year who has strengths in art and design and is looking for a step into the film-making world. You will be required to work at the Wild Child Animation studio in Stirling, Scotland for a minimum of two days a week and must be able to commute independently for a 10am start every day. Applicants should be: Aged 16-17 (must be at least 16 years old by 7th July 2025) Interested in animation, film & TV or other creative industries with strong artistic skills Able to independently commute to the studio in Stirling You will also work from home on a weekly basis so it’s important you have a quiet space where you can join and contribute to online meetings and complete tasks. Wild Child Animation will supply you with a computer, webcam and headphones but you will need a good internet connection for this role. (We may be able to access funding to support internet access if this is a barrier to you applying). Working hours & pay This position will be contracted at 15 hours per week, working across 3 days (10am - 4pm, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday). You will be expected to work from the Wild Child Animation studio in Stirling on Tuesday and Thursdays. On Wednesdays you will work from home. Overtime may be available on a monthly basis upon completion of the first three months. Additional working hours will be agreed with you in advance. The start date is expected to be in mid-August 2025 with apprentices graduating in July 2026. You will be paid hourly at the national minimum wage for the duration of the apprenticeship (currently £7.55 - £10.00 per hour dependant on age). You will be allocated the studio's standard paid holiday allowance. Holiday allocation accrued on overtime hours will be paid on a monthly basis. Studio closures: The studio will be closed on the following dates: Summer Break - 4th August 2025 - 15 August 2025 (inclusive) Festive Break - 23rd December 2025 - 2nd January 2026 (inclusive) Easter 2026 - 1 day TBC These closure periods will be deducted from holiday allowances. Timeline Month 1 - Month 3: Introduction to the television industry Month 4 - Month 6: Rotating through departments to gain invaluable employable skills in television production Month 7 - Month 11: Consolidating skills and identifying an area of strength Future Prospects Upon completing the apprenticeship, you will be equipped with a solid foundation in animation production, hands-on experience with industry-standard software, and a certified Film & Screen Award. With practical, real-world experience gained through working on live project briefs in a studio environment, you will be work-ready and prepared to pursue specialised roles in the animation, film, TV, or games industries. The creative, technical, and collaborative skills gained will also be highly transferable, opening opportunities in fields like advertising, design, digital media, and content creation. About the Film and Screen Award As part of the apprenticeship, you will work towards achieving a Film & Screen Award, accredited by SQA (Scottish Qualifications Authority) at Level 5 or Level 6. This is a recognised qualification that highlights your understanding of the animation and screen production process. Assessment for the award is practical and informal, with no traditional exams. Instead, you will build a portfolio of work, attend regular 121s where you will develop a progress diary, and take part in informal discussions with your assessor. An experienced assessor from Forth Valley College will support you throughout, offering feedback and guidance. The award is made up of three units: 1. Film and Screen Elements What you'll do: Explore different types of films and screen content, experimenting with key elements like camera work, composition, colour, sound, and storytelling. How you'll learn: Complete tasks set by Heads of Department, trying out different techniques and approaches. How you’ll be assessed: Create a portfolio of your work, showing what you've learned and how you’ve experimented with screen elements. 2. Craft and Technical Roles What you'll do: Find out how different departments work together in animation and screen production. You’ll try out different roles and see how your work contributes to a larger project. How you'll learn: Rotate through various departments, gaining hands-on experience. How you’ll be assessed: Via regular 121s where you will build a progress diary to reflect on your experiences, documenting what you’ve learned about different roles. 3. Creative Project What you'll do: Work as part of a team to create an animatic (a rough animated sequence) for a children's TV series using a provided script. How you'll learn: Collaborate with team members, applying the skills you've developed. You'll also receive feedback to help refine your work. How you’ll be assessed: Your final animatic and notes from feedback sessions will form the basis of your assessment, showing how you collaborated and reflected on the process. This qualification will not only recognise your achievements but also demonstrate your ability to work on real-world projects in a professional environment. How to apply We would like you to create a piece of art inspired by a prompt and to answer a few questions about yourself. The prompt is ‘ Creature ’. Your piece of art can be anything from a still life of a human creature, to a pattern utilising the theme of cat and dog creatures, a collage of monsters, a motion graphic using the word creature, or any other creative interpretation. Our advice is to make your piece in the style which shows off what you are best at If you are working on paper you can send us a photograph of your final piece. As part of the application, you will also be prompted to answer a few creative questions: Who is your favourite film or tv character? What is one thing that makes them stand out visually? What is your favourite tool to create art with? E.g. charcoal, digital painting, collaging Who is your favourite director for films or television and what is their best work? What is one reason you would like to join this apprenticeship? For these we are looking for short word answers. This is not about assessing writing, it’s about knowing more about you. The deadline for applications is 11:59PM on 25th May 2025. If you have any questions about the apprenticeship or the application process, please email: Suzie Brearley (Head of People and Culture) - infowildchildanimation.com Selection Process If you are long-listed we will contact you to arrange confirm some additional information. For this stage we will arrange a short call (by phone or video) and ask you to confirm your details via a digital form. For the final stage of the process, we will invite short-listed candidates to a group workshop (10 people maximum) at the studio in Stirling. You will work with Wild Child Animation team members on a creative task to showcase your creative talents and ability to communicate with others. All short-listed candidates who reach the group interview stage will receive feedback on their work and careers advice from experienced animation professionals. About the Delivery Partners Wild Child Animation (WCA) is an animation and VFX studio based in Stirling, Scotland specialising in children’s television. Since opening our doors in 2020, Wild Child has worked with Sky, Cartoon Network, Warner Media plus numerous shows for the BBC. We have won a Scottish BAFTA, a Royal Television Society, an award at LA’s Kidscreen, alongside a host of additional nominations including for BAFTA and RTS. Forth Valley College (FVC) are a leading provider of further and higher education offering a wide range of courses and training opportunities. Our dynamic provision ranges from access to degree level and includes full-time and part-time courses, evening classes, flexible and online learning, vocational qualifications and business training courses. Screen Scotland drives development of all aspects of Scotland’s film and tv industry, through funding and strategic support. Screen Scotland is part of Creative Scotland and delivers these services and support with funding from the Scottish Government and The National Lottery. Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) is the national accreditation and awarding body for Scotland. Our purpose is to help people fulfil their potential and maintain standards across Scottish education. We engage with learners, schools, colleges and training providers across Scotland, the rest of the UK and internationally, to develop, maintain, and improve a framework of qualifications, and to set and maintain standards for many other awarding bodies, and accredited qualifications.