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Mentoring Programme

The FOCAL Mentoring Programme offers support and guidance to individuals seeking to enter or advance their careers in the media archive industry. Each year, FOCAL seeks out newcomers to the archive and footage sector, as well as those eager to grow within various areas of the archival field.

Photo: © ITV

Mentoring Period April 2025 - October 2025

This is an international programme, worldwide applications are welcomed! A delegated committee of FOCAL members will match successful applicants and agree to participate in any relevant publicity.

Programme includes:

  • Pairing with a dedicated professional to give guidance and advice.
  • A minimum of one hour monthly online or in-person meeting over six months with your mentor.
  • Ongoing support throughout the programme from your mentor, the FOCAL team and FOCAL's Training Committee members.
  • Skills development, experience, and self-confidence.
  • Sector-specific networking opportunities.
  • CV review and discussions on career progression.
  • One-year FOCAL International membership.
  • Room to ask questions and deliver feedback.
  • Access to the wider FOCAL Member community via LinkedIn groups.
  • Free access to FOCAL's resources, events and webinars.
  • Discounted entry to Industry Events where available.

Eligibility:

Newcomers/Students with an interest in knowing more about the audiovisual sector and would like an experienced professional to answer questions and help develop a CV and career path.

Individuals working in the field with a professional goal to better understand the archive industry and aspire to increase their skills and knowledge or move across to a different sector.

Mentors:

  • Our UK and international mentors give their time on a voluntary basis.
  • All mentors are well-established industry professionals with extensive experience.
  • Mentors expertise:
    • Archival Research.
    • Research - Planning and Management.
    • Footage & Content Licensing – Library Management.
    • Rights & Policy.
    • Post-Production, Digitisation & Restoration.
  • Our mentors offer
    • A minimum of one hour monthly online or in-person meetings with their mentee.
    • Their expertise and shared knowledge within the archive industry.
    • Feedback and encouragement for questions.
    • Sector-specific networking introduction.
    • Opportunities to visit footage archives/facility houses

Please apply if:

  • You're a Production, Media, Arts, Culture, Cinema, Journalism, and History student with a strong interest in the archive heritage and the audiovisual world.
  • You're a new entrant of the archive industry or an individual in a mid-career pivot.
  • You just landed a challenging position and want guidance in this new environment.
  • You can commit to a six-month programme that includes at least one hour online or in-person (where available) monthly meetings with your mentor.
  • You agree to provide feedback at the end of the mentoring programme.

Fee:

As FOCAL is a not-for-profit association, we ask the successful mentee to pay a small fee of £50 or £100, depending on their experience, to help us deliver the mentoring programme.

Key Dates:

  • Application Deadline - 31 January 2025
  • Interviews - Early March 2025
  • Mentoring Programme Commences - April through to October 2025

Please note:

This is an international programme; we accept and encourage worldwide applications. Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed, and if successful, they will be matched with a dedicated mentor for the duration of the programme. Mentees agree to participate in any relevant publicity as part of the mentoring programme. We will ask you to sign a mentoring agreement, including our terms of conduct.

For further questions, please reach out to the FOCAL Team at [email protected]