Following another successful programme in 2019, AWUK launches The Helen North Achieve Programme for a fourth year to continue to provide targeted career development to women across the VFX and animation industries.
*Deadline for applications to the Achieve Programme have been extended to midnight Mon 2nd March.
Animated Women UK, the organisation supporting women in the UK’s VFX and animation industries, today announced that its Achieve Programme is open for entries. The Programme, first run by Animated Women in 2017, focuses on supporting women in the VFX and animation industries to achieve their potential and offers the opportunity for 24 of their members (12 women from each sector) to take part.
Funded by the ScreenSkills Animation Skills Fund with contributions from UK animation productions and with additional support from Escape Studios, the Achieve Programme is open to women at all stages of their career looking to address the real challenges and barriers they face on a day-to-day basis. It aims to provide strategic career management and is run by acknowledged career development experts.
Run by experienced coach, facilitator and trainer Jan Armstrong who specialises in women’s leadership development and helping individuals achieve their full potential along with executive coach Marianne O’Connor, the course’s 24 successful applicants will take part in six sessions in central London.
Natalie Llewelyn, Head of Development at Jellyfish Pictures , who took part in the 2019 programme commented, “The Achieve Programme is a super opportunity to meet and support other women from the VFX and Animation Industry. It was great to hang out with 23 other women in the business and to learn from their experiences whilst also sharing some of my own knowledge and expertise. I wanted to take part in order to ‘give back’ but actually I walked away having gained a huge amount. The course offers valuable, constructive and engaging career advice for women at every stage of their professional journey and it was a welcome chance to hone old skills, learn new ones, reflect on my own career and consider the future.”
Anne Akande, Producer at Dneg, also took part in the 2019 programme. She said of the sessions, “The Achieve Programme gave me access to some amazing women from all areas of the industry and enabled us to draw from each other’s experience as the course progressed – it was a great support network! I found that really insightful. I also had loads of advice from the course leaders, Jan and Marianne – two inspiring women who provided the lens for us to look deeper into our careers and collectively celebrate the journey.”
Beth Parker, Co-Chair Animation, Animated Women UK said, “I am so proud to be part of a programme that has contributed to the career development of so many women in the animation and VFX industry over previous years. “That we are able to start a new decade by offering The Achieve Programme to another group of women, is fantastic. We are truly grateful for the support that enables us to continue running this programme, as I know it will help strengthen the stories of women across this business even more.”
Louise Hussey, Co-Chair VFX, Animated Women UK adds, “It is so exciting to be able to offer the Achieve programme again in 2020. “We really couldn’t do it without the huge amount of support that comes from ScreenSkills, the Animation Council, Escape Studios, our training team of Jan Armstrong & Marianne O’Connor, and all the wonderful help that our volunteers give. “I know that the programme has such an impact on so many levels for the participants, and this year we are hoping to be able to extend the reach to outside of London and further one-off workshops – so watch this space for more information as we get it!”
Abigail Addison, Animation Production Liaison Executive, ScreenSkills said, “After the success of 2019, ScreenSkills is once again thrilled to support Animated Women UK in bringing back the Helen North Achieve Programme. It is contributions from UK animation productions to the ScreenSkills Animation Skills Fund that enable us to back initiatives designed to drive real change in our industry. The mission of the Achieve programme in realising gender balance across all levels of animation and VFX is one we are proud to support.”
Fees for the Achieve Programme costs £250 for Senior participants, £200 for mid-level and £100 for junior level for the full set of sessions, and will consist of evening workshops in central London. Bursaries are available for those who may need them to assist with travel, childcare or course fees.
For more information, or to apply for the programme, visit:
Annual membership of Animated Women UK costs just £30.
