There is a surprising amount of public money and funding around to support people at the start of their careers. This can assist you in a number of ways. It can enable you to produce a piece of work outside an educational environment. It forces you to present your work and ideas in a professional and businesslike manner. If a public body invests in you and your ideas it gives you credibility in the eyes of the professional world and for many it opens the door into the industry. The key to success is in doing the research, making contacts, knowing what the organisation is looking for and reading all the published literature. Talk to people to get the emphasis right, be professional, write a proper proposal, don't use the same words and phrases on every application form, follow instructions carefully and find out what drives the funders. Poor research and preparation is often what causes applications to fail. Early funding is often easier outside London where there is less competition. Remember, wanting to make the work is not enough, think about the market, think about the audience.

			Interview Material

Our Media Professionals explain how they have applied for and used funding.

			Christine Molloy On projects that she has completed using Arts Council and Regional Arts Board funding

			Sarah Beecham and Graham Howard On applying for European Funding, and the structure of funding applications

			Kate Broome On developing her own projects within the BBC

Investing in further training will develop your skills and will also allow you to meet other people who are working in the industry.

			Web Research

For advice and information about relevant funding schemes, visit the following sites.

The Film Council now has responsibility for National Lottery Funding. Most public funding for film now flows through this organisation which will incorporate and oversee the activities of the BFI Production Fund, British Screen Finance, Arts Council of England and the British Film Commission - Funding of up to 50% (or 2 million: whichever is lower) towards the cost of making feature films.

The London Film and Video Development Agency provides funding, information, advice and professional support to makers of independent film, video and television in London. Funds include The London Production Fund, East London Film Fund and London Artists Film and Video Awards.

The Arts Council is the national body for the arts in England, and distributes public money from Government and the National Lottery to artists and arts organisations, both directly and through the Regional Arts Boards.

The Regional Arts Boards, with information about funding schemes, training and other initiatives in the region in which you are based.

The Arts Council of Wales

The Scottish Arts Council

The BBC Talent scheme for encouraging and supporting new talent in a variety of areas. Check the site to see which schemes are relevant to you.

The BBC Shooting Live Artists consists of six artworks commissioned by the BBC and the Arts Council of England. Each of the artworks centres on the use of new digital media alongside live performance.

The BFI Handbook lists all the projects that have received National Lottery Funding as a proportion of their total budget. Reading this can give considerable insight into the type of film that is likely to attract National Lottery Funding

The National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts is the UK's only National Endowment. Its task is to support and encourage brilliant people and their ideas and help them fulfil their potential. They aim to force a crossing of the old boundaries between science, technology and the arts, and they focus on individuals and ideas rather than organisations.

For advice and information about relevant training schemes visit the following sites:

The Skills Investment Fund nurtures new talent and supports the strategic development of existing practitioners, to provide essential support to freelancers, encouraging individuals to gain professional qualifications.

Skillset is the National Training organisation for broadcast, film, video, and multimedia and exists to encourage the delivery of informed training and education. The site includes lots of useful information on conferences, training days and job fairs. Seeks and channels investment to the UK's best training providers to support affordable quality training for freelances.

FT2 Film and Television training is the leading training provider for people who wish to become freelance assistants in the construction, production and technical areas of the UK's film and television industry.

Blaze the Trail offers a wide variety programmes aimed at people wanting to break into the film and TV industry, industry professionals wanting to upgrade their skills and young people who want to gain practical knowledge and experience.