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• Assistant Production Accountant Training Scheme (APATS VIII) - Recruitment Closed

  Date: 10 September 2012

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  Applications are now closed for the Assistant Production Accountant Training Scheme (APATS VIII).

  Please e-mail PG@ProductionGuild.com if you would like to sign up to the training mailing list to receive instant updates on APATS IX.

  The APATS VIII scheme has now begun formal training at Pinewood Studios.  Training will last for five weeks bringing in some of the industry top practitioners as tutors and guest speakers, before the six trainees go on to their Feature Film and TV Drama placements.
  

  At the close of Recruitment, we had received 54 applications for APATS VIII.  All applications were sent to the selection panel and thanks and appreciation go to all the PG members who were panellists:

  Craig Barwick
  Anne Marie Fitzgerald
  Bobbie Johnson
  Sarah Lucraft
  Ali Mosref
  Louise O'Malley
  Dilip Patel
  Maggie Phelan
  Shruti Shah
  Mike Smith
  Denis Wray
  
  32 candidates were selected for interview, taking place from 9th - 13th July.

  Course Description:

  Funded by the Creative Skillset Film Skills Fund and the UK feature film industry, the Guild is looking for 6 trainees to undertake a ten month programme of short courses, attachments to features and television drama, mapped against the Skillset National Occupational Standards in Production Accounting.
  
  So, if you have a real ambition to work in the challenging environment of production accounting at a junior level, have a burning interest in feature film and television drama production, and have previous experience of working in financial administration, you should consider applying for this scheme.
  
  Commended by the Department for Education & Skills and the Creative Skillset Film Skills Strategy as a best-practice training scheme, the Assistant Production Accountant Training Scheme has trained 41 new entrants to enter UK feature film production over the past ten years.
  
  Fran Triefus, PG Training and Development Officer said, "The Assistant Production Accountant Training Scheme is recognised by the UK industry and many of the US Majors as being one of the most effective routes for new entrants to kick-start their freelance careers in the Production Accounting Department.
  
  Over the past ten years, we have trained people from differing backgrounds, work experience and qualifications and they have proven the quality of the programme by working consistently post-graduation. The trainees are the first to recognise that they could not have achieved this without the unparalleled support of Guild Accountants and their Assistants."
  
  Kevin Trehy Vice President Physical Production of Warner Bros Productions Ltd and Chair of The Production Guild said, "The Production Guild APATS scheme has been held up in many industry quarters as the exemplary model of how practical training for applicants seeking film industry employment should work. It is one of the few schemes that succeeds not only in successfully educating and integrating its trainees into a real film making environment but also has an enviable resulting through put of its graduates into employment."
  
  Dan Simmons, Head of Film at Creative Skillset, said, "To maintain the UK's position at the forefront of the international film industry, we must make sure that we can effectively support the levels of domestic and inward investment production with UK crews. Skillset's research has highlighted a continuing lack of sufficient Production Accountants in the UK and it is essential that we bring new people into this area of need. The Production Guild's APATS provides a rigorously high-quality training solution to help fill this critical skills gap." To visit the Bigger Future 2 webpage, please visit http://www.abiggerfuture2.co.uk.
  
  Last year's graduates from the scheme worked on productions as diverse as DARK SHADOWS, WRATH OF THE TITANS, THE DARK KNIGHT RISES, 360, IRON LADY, JACK THE GIANT KILLER, WORLD WAR Z, GREAT EXPECTATIONS, MISFITS, CALL THE MIDWIFE, NOW IS GOOD AND ANNA KARENINA.
  
  Successful candidates will receive a tax-free training allowance of £300 per week and financial support will be available to assist with travel, child or dependent care costs.
  The application pack for this year's recruitment is available below.

  Applicants should complete the Application Form and Diversity Monitoring Form (both linked to below) and ensure that both completed documents are returned to the Production Guild by the closing date of Friday, 15th June , 2012.

  Please note that the scheme is only open to UK residents, who hold full work permit status and who intend to work long term in the UK film and television industry.

  • To download the APATS VIII Application Pack, please click here. (PDF - 290KB).
    
  • To download the APATS VIII Application Form and Diversity Monitoring form, please click here. (Word Doc - 215KB)

  
  For more information, please e-mail Fran Triefus at PG@ProductionGuild.com.
  
  Please click here to download the full National Occupational Standards in Production Accounting.

  
  

  Quotes from APATS Graduates
  
  

  “The APATS scheme gave me a golden ticket into the world of film and television accountancy. The training courses at the start gave me a good introduction into how the industry operates, the placements were a fantastic opportunity to make work contacts and the support I received from the production guild both during and after the scheme has been invaluable.  Applying for APATS has definitely been one of the best career decisions I have ever made.
  Apats VII Graduate”

  “The APATS scheme has opened a whole new world, one which I may never have dreamt of working in without the opportunity that this scheme offers.
  Apats V Graduate”

  “The course was a fantastic opportunity to get into accounts within the film and TV industry. It gave me invaluable on the job training and put me in the right circle of Accountants. I made many contacts through the course and without doing it, I would not be where I am today.
  Apats IV Graduate”