International aid/development workers provide aid and assistance to people and communities in the developing world.

Humanitarian aid work often involves responding to emergency situations, helping those affected by natural and man-made disasters, such as earthquakes and war.

You’ll work with the affected country (either from the UK or in the country itself) and will support local operations to provide relief and support to people and their communities.

As well as providing urgent, immediate aid in response to disasters, you may also work on longer term projects in developing countries, such as implementing health care and education programmes, improving access to water and sanitation and building food supplies through agriculture. You may also be involved with the development of urban and rural areas and small businesses.

Depending on your role, you may advise on humanitarian laws and policies.

Types of international aid work

Work in this sector is diverse and encompasses:

• conflict
• disaster preparedness
• economics
• education
• environment
• forced migration
• gender equality
• governance
• healthcare
• human rights
• infrastructure
• livelihoods
• security.

You could work within one or more of the following areas:

• administration
• research
• fundraising
• training
• consultancy
• advocacy
• relief work
• economist roles
• medicine
• engineering
• planning

Responsibilities

As an international aid/development worker, you’ll need to:

• evaluate the response required in fast-moving emergency situations
• administer the day-to-day work of an office or team
• carry out strategic planning for long-term development and/or disaster management to reduce the need for crisis intervention
• manage budgets and allocate resources
• conduct needs assessments
• organise fundraising and draft funding proposals to ensure the future of specific overseas programmes
• manage, monitor and evaluate projects
• research and write project proposals and reports
• recruit, manage and train staff and volunteers
• develop relationships with partner organisations in the field and encourage capacity building
• communicate effectively with relevant internal and external stakeholders including volunteers, clients, partners and donors
• negotiate and liaise with public bodies and other non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
• implement security procedures to ensure the safety of staff working in unstable areas, maintaining an overview of the security situation and making appropriate decisions
• represent the needs of poor communities by advocating, and lobbying sponsors, governments and the public

Salary

• Typical starting salaries for UK-based (mostly London) roles with NGOs providing administrative support to overseas programmes, such as team administrator, coordinator or research assistant, range from £18,000 to £25,000.
• Salaries for UK posts with experience, such as project manager, policy manager or programme development adviser, are in the range of £25,000 to £50,000.
• An overseas post requiring extensive experience, such as regional or country programme manager, field coordinator, specialist engineers, logisticians, can earn you £21,000 to £37,000. This varies widely depending on responsibility, skills, organisation and base country.
• Overseas leadership roles at deputy head/head levels can pay in the region of £50,000 to £60,000. This will be for country management roles where you’ll be expected to have significant previous experience of managing humanitarian operations overseas for large organisations.

Direct comparison with UK rates is complicated, as pay may be supplemented with items including accommodation, travel, medical allowances, hardship allowances, passage back to the UK and allowances for partners and children. It may also be taxed differently.

Income figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours

If based in the UK, you’ll typically work standard office hours. In contrast, overseas working hours may be long and unpredictable, particularly in emergency relief situations.

Part-time work is unlikely for overseas posts but is possible in the UK. Fixed-term contracts, ranging from a few months to several years, are typical for overseas postings – making career breaks, as well as periods of unemployment between assignments, a possibility.

What to expect

• UK roles are mostly office-based. Overseas posts may combine office and field-based work.
• Overseas locations include both cities and remote locations, such as refugee camps or educational programmes in small towns and villages. Frequent relocation between overseas postings is common and those with partners or dependants should be aware that some postings are unaccompanied.
• Work locations may include areas of political instability, war zones, natural disaster and medical hazard, all of which pose some risk to personal security.
• Many NGOs have headquarters in London with far fewer jobs available regionally. You may find some international organisations have nation-wide bases as well as a central London base.
• Short trips to visit projects in the field may add up to several weeks or months per year in some UK jobs. If you’re internationally-based you may spend up to 50% of your time travelling within your country or region.

Work for government or a leading NGO

Study our Global Development MA in LondonVisit

Qualifications

Many people who enter this area of work have a degree in social sciences or a relevant vocational subject, although not all posts require a particular degree. The following subjects may help to give you the required skills and increase your chances:

• economics
• education
• environmental science
• human rights
• international development or development studies
• languages
• law
• logistics
• medicine, nursing and other health-related subjects
• social policy
• water or sanitation engineering.

Entry without a degree is unlikely, unless you can demonstrate substantial relevant experience.

It’s a good idea to get some work experience in development before starting a postgraduate course. This will provide context for further studies and help to identify the most relevant academic or professional qualification to undertake.

Postgraduate courses are available in subjects such as international development management, international health management, humanitarian and conflict response, aid management and global social policy.

Search for postgraduate courses in international development.

A background in areas such as finance, IT, fundraising, HR or marketing may offer you an alternative entry point into development agencies, if you wish to work in development without being directly involved in managing overseas projects.

Some people enter aid and development work as a second career, having previously worked in nursing, law, teaching or logistics. This can be especially useful for overseas roles where experience is typically required.

International aid/development is a challenging and extremely competitive career area to break into. It’s essential to do some research and raise your level of knowledge and understanding of how the sector and organisations operate before applying.

Skills

You will need:

• the ability to relate to and communicate with a range of people
• problem-solving skills and the ability to operate effectively under pressure
• the ability to build and maintain effective relationships in changing teams
• drive and determination to achieve results and initiate action
• the ability to manage the workload, prioritise tasks and delegate when necessary
• cross-cultural sensitivity
• self-awareness and organisational awareness
• the ability to manage people and projects as well as motivate others
• patience and a willingness to adopt a long-term view
• the ability to learn and to acquire new skills rapidly and the flexibility to transfer learning from one situation to another
• operational decision-making skills
• willingness to live and travel in basic conditions (for overseas posts)
• language skills – French, Spanish and Portuguese are often requested (as well as English) and knowledge of Arabic, Russian, Chinese, Swahili or other African and Asian languages may be advantageous, depending on the region
• highly specific skills and experience that may be required for humanitarian and disaster relief assignments.

For overseas postings it can also be useful to have a driving licence and some essential first aid skills.

Work experience

The key to getting a job is relevant previous experience. Getting related voluntary or paid work experience is essential during, or following study, either overseas or in the UK. This can include office-based work with a charity in the UK, which is useful to get an idea of the work and commitment required.

Most university students’ unions offer opportunities to volunteer. Internships are also valuable and can often be taken during summer vacations. Formal internship and work experience schemes are common in larger charities and organisations such as:

• British Red Cross
• Oxfam
• UNICEF
• United Nations (UN)

Organisations that provide information and advice about getting involved in volunteering include:

• NCVO
• Scottish Council for Volunteering Organisations
• Volunteer Now (Northern Ireland)
• Volunteering Wales

Most routes to gaining overseas experience require some self-funding. Volunteering opportunities in Africa and Asia are offered through Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO). A variety of roles are available.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Employers

International development and emergency aid organisations are the main employers of international aid/development workers. These can be either government departments, such as the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) or more commonly non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

NGOs include voluntary and religious organisations and they vary in size, structure, regional focus and their capacity to employ paid staff. Some offer predominantly UK-based roles in finance, fundraising or overseas project management. Some deploy experienced staff in developing countries.

Opportunities can be found through the following organisations and programmes:

• Junior Professional Officer (JPO) Programme – provides hands-on experience to young professionals (usually aged under 32) pursuing a career in development. JPOs are sponsored by their respective governments who fund a placement in a UN organisation.
• The World Bank – offers employment for recent graduates and those with a relevant Masters degree and experience.
• Overseas Development Institute (ODI) – employs postgraduates.
• UN Young Professionals Programme (YPP) – a recruitment initiative for talented, highly qualified professionals to start a career as an international civil servant with the UN Secretariat. To be eligible, you must have the nationality of a participating country. The list of participating countries is published annually and varies from year to year.

There is usually fierce competition for positions at the major international organisations, such as the United Nations (UN) and World Health Organization (WHO).

Look for job vacancies at:

• British Overseas NGOs for Development (BOND)
• CharityJob
• International development jobs
• ReliefWeb – also lists organisations working on humanitarian projects.

Professional development

Vocational training tends to be delivered through volunteering, internships and short courses. Organisations such as RedR and BOND run relevant short courses.

The World Service Enquiry (WSE) offers information and careers advice through a range of specialist services.

If you work for a large international organisation, you’ll typically be given a comprehensive induction. The aim of this is to help you do your job effectively and individual learning needs will be identified. You may be able to choose from a range of training options, including traditional training courses, conferences and seminars, e-learning, coaching, mentoring and job shadowing.

Not-for-profit organisations are not usually able to offer as much formal in-house training as other organisations, as there tends to be less funding available for staff training. You may therefore need to access volunteering opportunities to broaden your skillset.

If you’re an engineering graduate or hold a vocational degree, you can join your relevant professional body and may also be able to work towards professional accreditation or chartered status. You may also be able to participate in relevant professional training.

Career prospects

There isn’t a set career pathway for international aid/development workers. You’ll need to carve your own career according to your own skills and abilities. Moving between NGOs to gain experience is common, often with a mix of UK and overseas posts. Competition is intense for domestic and international posts. Working overseas may be difficult without higher or specialised qualifications, for example in health promotion, micro-finance or logistics.

The public sector may offer more structured career development.

Posts such as country or regional programme manager generally require at least five to seven years’ experience. Recruitment at this level is increasingly global, with a noticeable move towards appointing well-qualified nationals with the appropriate cultural background. There is a growing trend for organisations to decentralise and base themselves in, or close to, the developing countries in which they are involved.

Consultancy may be an option after you have gained considerable experience, although there may be increased competition for consultancies in certain countries.

Written by AGCAS editors

April 2024

© Copyright AGCAS & Graduate Prospects Ltd · Disclaimer

Alternative careers

• Charity officer
• Charity fundraiser
• Emergency planning/management officer
• Health improvement practitioner
• Water engineer
• Volunteer coordinator

Forest or woodland managers are responsible for the sustainable management of timber production and the preservation and protection of trees and the forest environment.

Working as a forest or woodland manager, you’ll manage a designated forest or woodland area, overseeing activities such as timber production, conservation and recreation.

You’ll also manage other associated matters, such as commercial interests, biodiversity and public access. Establishing a balance between competing economic and social demands (for forest and land use) can present a challenge. This may mean you become involved in the creation of multipurpose forests, sustainable forest management and the regeneration of native woodlands.

You could also be known as a forest officer or forester.

Responsibilities

As a forest/woodland manager, you’ll need to:

• advise clients on good forestry practice and provide a contract service to woodland owners, including those interested in acquiring land for the establishment of new forests
• advise woodland owners on the most appropriate tree species (for planting or natural regeneration), and on budgeting, public access, ecological surveys and forest certification
• organise the growing, harvesting, marketing and sale of timber
• plan and implement annual work programmes and ensure the effective use of resources to meet objectives for the forest area
• supervise forest workers and contractors in the field, which may involve negotiating with subcontracting companies
• ensure forest operations are carried out to professional health and safety standards, to protect workers and members of the public
• liaise with customers, landowners, timber merchants, the public and local authorities
• liaise with other professionals, such as landscape architects, archaeologists, biologists, geologists, chartered surveyors and engineers
• liaise with charitable bodies
• attend meetings
• keep up to date with changes in legislation and industry developments
• work to, and maintain, globally recognised forest certification
• plan and control budgets and prepare costing and financial forecasts
• promote the expansion of new woodland coverage and, where possible, the restoration of ancient woodland in the UK.

You may also carry out the following tasks, in relation to forest protection:

• conduct research in areas such as silviculture, pathology, tree improvement and entomology
• monitor existing forestry practices
• protect forests from illegal felling, pests and diseases
• ensure that forests are not detrimentally affecting the environment and wildlife around them, by damaging wildlife habitats, water supplies or soil.

Salary

• The two-year Forestry England Graduate Leadership Programme offers a permanent appointment and a salary of £27,235.
• Qualified forest/woodland manager or officer salaries are usually in the region of £25,000 to £45,000.
• At the top end with considerable management responsibility salaries can reach £60,000.

Salaries and other benefits in the private sector vary much more widely than in the public sector. The lowest pay is generally for roles on private estates, but these posts may come with other benefits such as accommodation and a car.

Income data from Forestry England and Natural Resources Wales. Figures are intended as a guide only.

What to expect

• The role involves a mixture of office-based and outdoor work and at times you will need to work in adverse weather and possibly in remote places.
• With enough experience and specialist knowledge you could work in a self-employed or freelance capacity, by establishing a contract business. There are especially good opportunities for consultancy work in urban areas.
• According to the Forestry Commission, women now make up almost a half of the organisation’s employees. The government forestry organisations promote equal opportunities and there are no bars to progression within the industry. The impression that the job is physically tough may deter some people, but the role is more managerial and technical than industrial labour.
• Working hours may include unsocial hours and weekend work.
• Travel within a working day is common and occasional overnight absence from home may be required. Depending on the role, overseas travel may be a feature of the job.

Qualifications

Traditionally, completing a forestry HND, degree or postgraduate course would have been the norm and there are a few such specific courses offered at UK universities and colleges.

However, with greater diversification in the industry, you can these days usually enter the profession from a broader range of relevant degrees, provided you have at least a 2:1 degree. These include:

• business studies
• civil engineering
• ecology
• environmental science
• forestry
• geography
• horticulture
• land, estate or property management
• rural studies.

Entry without a degree or HND is possible at lower levels, but further progression will depend on gaining relevant experience and study towards a qualification on a part-time basis.

A pre-entry postgraduate qualification, either a postgraduate diploma or an MSc in Forestry, is necessary for holders of a non-relevant degree or HND.

The Forestry Skills Forum (FSF), supported by The Forestry Commission, promotes education and skills across the forestry sector in England and Wales.

Successful completion of an accredited Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF) course will be the quickest route to associate membership. With further experience and study, this can lead to chartered membership, from which you’ll earn professional recognition. The ICF also provides details about Level 2 apprenticeships.

The Forestry Commission in England is a non-ministerial department, which serves to increase the value of woodlands to society and the environment. Its website details the type of protective and sustainable management work it carries out. Wales and Northern Ireland each have their own state forestry departments. Responsibility for forest policy was devolved to Scottish Forestry in 2019 and Scotland’s state forests are now managed by Forestry and Land Scotland.

Skills

You’ll need to show:

• a passion for the outdoors and a desire to create a beautiful landscape for future generations
• good physical fitness
• good teamworking skills
• organisational ability
• good communication
• leadership ability
• numeracy
• the aptitude to achieve commercial outcomes
• an understanding of the need to deliver a cost-effective, quality service
• that you meet the specifications of the competency framework – if applying for a job within the Civil Service
• you hold a full driving licence or have the means to get to locations as required.

Work experience

Relevant experience is extremely valuable and will help strengthen your application when searching for jobs. You may find it possible to arrange some summer work experience, either paid or unpaid, and speculative applications to forestry companies and forestry management groups are worthwhile.

In addition to relevant qualifications and skills, practical experience is important for entry to the profession, some forestry degrees are sandwich courses, allowing you to complete a year in industry as part of your study.

There are several voluntary organisations working in woodland management:

• The Conservation Volunteers (TCV)
• National Trust
• National Trust for Scotland
• Trees for Life
• The Woodland Trust

Overseas volunteering opportunities are available through specialist agencies such as:

• Evergreen in Canada
• Eye on the Rainforest in Puerto Rico
• Projects Abroad
• TreePeople
• US Forest Service in the USA.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

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Employers

Thousands of people are employed in the forestry sector in the UK. A significant proportion of those work for Forestry England, Forestry and Land Scotland, Natural Resources Wales, Forest Service Northern Ireland and DEFRA. The rest work for private estates, other forest management companies, timber harvesting companies and the wood processing industry.

The types of employers involved in forest management can be roughly divided into the following categories:

• government agencies
• other public sector employers, such as town and county councils
• charities such as The Woodland Trust and the National Trust
• private companies such as Tilhill Forestry and Scottish Woodlands
• private estates, which employ either their own staff or have contracting companies doing the work
• timber companies
• contracting companies employed by landowners to provide a range of services and expertise
• cooperatives formed from groups of landowners to provide management and marketing services
• self-employed subcontractors who may work for any of the above employers at a pre-agreed rate.

You could also work on the conservation side of forest management, for an organisation such as The Woodland Trust. Although volunteers perform crucial roles for such organisations, there are paid jobs open to graduates with suitable experience.

The sector offers jobs with timber merchants, contractors and importers, and in sawmills, pulp mills, and paper and panel-board mills.

Recreation and amenities also form a significant part of forestry and woodland management, as do biofuels and collaboration with energy firms. From time to time, government agencies (such as Forestry England) run initiatives covering specific aspects of forest management and offer special training opportunities. Check individual websites for details.

• Civil Service Jobs
• Environmentjob.co.uk – also a source of voluntary opportunities
• Forestry England – graduate scheme and voluntary opportunities
• Forestry Journal
• Natural Resources Wales
• NIjobfinder
• Woodland Trust
• NICS Recruitment

Specialist recruitment sites such as Horticulture Jobs, arbjobs.com and GreenJobs advertise relevant jobs.

Members of the Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF) receive a quarterly Trees magazine, access to jobs through its vacancy service, online CPD activities and support with the route to chartership.

It may be worth applying speculatively to local woodland management companies and contractors. The ICF register of consultants is a useful directory, in which you can find chartered members offering forestry and arboricultural services.

Professional development

Government forestry agencies and all large private companies within the industry provide structured technical and management training and you’ll be given a large amount of practical training on the job.

If you take a degree course accredited by the ICF and become an associate member, you can follow the ICF’s Professional Membership Entry (PME) route. This leads to professional chartered status and the use of the initials MICFor after your name.

Continuing professional development (CPD) is essential and the ICF recommends undertaking 100 hours of CPD every three years. Suitable CPD activities include participating in conferences, meetings, discussion groups and short courses, as well as publishing technical work and delivering lectures.

For a range of skills-based forestry courses, see Lantra – Our Courses. As a professional member of The Arboricultural Association you’ll gain access to a wealth of training and support.

Career prospects

Achieving chartered status, which you can do through ICF, is the best way to make sure you have the right skills and experience for promotion.

Being geographically mobile can be helpful, as changing jobs and location is often necessary to gain a range of industry experience. The promotion opportunities open to you will also depend on the size and structure of the organisation you join.

If you work for a charitable organisation or public body, you may have the opportunity to be involved with influencing government policy on the nation’s woodlands.

Progression to senior roles inevitably means less time spent in forests and more time spent in the office and in meetings. This can be difficult if your love for the outdoors is the main reason for choosing a career in forest or woodland management.

Written by AGCAS editors

October 2023

© Copyright AGCAS & Graduate Prospects Ltd · Disclaimer

Alternative careers

• Environmental consultant
• Nature conservation officer
• Historic buildings inspector/conservation officer
• Farm manager
• Arboriculturist
• Rural practice surveyor

There are many types of animation, including 2D, stop-motion, 3D hand-drawn and computer-generated, but all roles call for high levels of creativity and passion.

An animator produces multiple images called frames, which when sequenced together create an illusion of movement – this is known as animation. The images can be made up of digital or hand-drawn pictures, models or puppets.

Animators tend to work in 2D, 3D model-making, stop-frame or computer-generated animation.

Computer-generated animation features strongly in motion pictures (to create special effects or an animated film in its own right), as well as in aspects of television, the internet and the computer games industry.

The basic skill of animation still relies heavily on artistic ability, but there is an increasing need for animators to be familiar with technical computer packages.

Responsibilities

Producing animation involves several stages including generating ideas, building models and rigging lighting.

Computer animation uses software known as CGI (computer-generated imagery).

Tasks typically involve:

• liaising with clients and developing animation from their concepts
• creating storyboards that depict the script and narrative
• drawing in 2D to create sketches, artwork or illustrations
• designing models, backgrounds, sets, characters, objects and the animation environment
• using a range of materials, including modelling clay, plaster, oil paints, watercolours and acrylics
• developing the timing and pace of the movements of a character or object during the sequence of images and ensuring they follow the soundtrack and audio requirements
• using technical software packages, such as Flash, 3ds Max, Maya, LightWave, Softimage and Cinema 4D
• building up accurate, detailed, frame-by-frame visuals
• recording dialogue and working with editors to composite the various layers of animation (backgrounds, special effects, characters and graphics) in order to produce the finished piece
• working to production deadlines and meeting clients’ commercial requirements
• working as part of a broader production team, which might include liaising with printers, copywriters, photographers, designers, account executives, website designers or marketing specialists
• dealing with diverse business cultures, delivering presentations and finding funding.

You will need to be proactive at selling your ideas and work to prospective customers and clients. This applies whether you’re self-employed, working freelance or employed within a company.

Salary

• Entry salaries are in the region of £12,000 to £15,000. Salaries in computer game animation start higher at £18,000, rising quickly with experience.
• Experienced animators can earn around £23,000 to £26,000.
• Salaries for animators with at least ten years’ experience are around £36,000+.

For information on animation freelance rates, see the Broadcasting Entertainment Cinematograph and Theatre Union (BECTU). Starting salaries are low, but it’s important to build up experience and contacts to secure future work.

Income figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours

Working hours are regular office hours (approximately 40 hours per week), but as deadlines approach you may need to work overtime, including at the weekend. Flexitime is quite common.

What to expect

• Animation is an office or studio-based profession. Some experienced freelancers have studio equipment set up at home.
• It’s a global industry and many projects are for international clients. Most production companies have a list of animators they use, so maintaining regular contact will prevent you from slipping off their list.
• The animation industry is global, but there are regional UK centres based in London, Bristol, Manchester, Dundee and Edinburgh.
• Overseas and UK travel may be necessary to showcase your work at festivals or to negotiate commissions with clients.

Develop a understanding of contemporary illustration

Through an open, inquisitive and explorative programme of studyVisit

Qualifications

Although this area of work is open to all graduates, the following degree or foundation degree subjects are particularly relevant:

• animation
• art and design
• computer-aided engineering
• design for moving image
• electrical engineering
• film and video
• graphic design or illustration
• model making or sculpture
• multimedia
• spatial design
• 3D design.

Entry without a higher education qualification is unusual, but not impossible. Exceptions may be made for very talented candidates. Many animators consider having an artistic background just as important as having skills in IT.

Although not essential, a relevant postgraduate qualification in animation may enhance your employability. Search for postgraduate courses.

Skills

You’ll need to show:

• artistic talent and technical skills
• a good eye for detail
• communication and storytelling skills
• ability to work with others and to take direction
• networking skills and commitment to projects through previous work experience
• an engagement with the industry from submitting work to festivals and competitions
• the flexibility to switch between several projects at once.

In character animation, specialist talents may be required – such as in comedy, dialogue, action or singing and music.

Work experience

Animation is a competitive industry. To find work you must have a showreel. This is your portfolio to show to production companies or animation commissioners in advertising agencies, music companies or television companies.

It’s acceptable practice to send showreels out speculatively, although it’s better to target particular projects. Take time to ensure your showreel is short and punchy, as companies are likely to be drawn in during the first five seconds and will probably have made a decision after one minute of film.

You may consider applying for a residency in order to raise your profile, make new contacts and build a portfolio. Residencies provide the opportunity to work as an artist-in-residence and have access to facilities and a working environment that are conducive to creative work. You can either pursue your own work or work with industry professionals on specific projects.

Residencies can last from two weeks to several months.

Look for opportunities at universities, regional film offices and at the British Council. The British Council arts department may promote your films at festivals overseas.

When establishing contacts you may find it useful to visit:

• Cartoon (European Association of Animation Film)
• International Animated Film Association (ASIFA)

It’s also worthwhile contacting your local media development agency to find out about workshops, support and networking opportunities. ScreenSkills acts as an umbrella information and advice service for the audiovisual industry.

Employers

Generally, animation companies work in several areas of animation (television, advertising, feature film, etc.) but computer games studios tend to specialise in the one area.

The UK also leads the world in the production of pre-school storytelling and design, and this area continues to attract investors, ensuring the availability of work.

Other areas of work include:

• feature films
• children’s programmes
• games
• music promos
• titles and idents
• adult comedy and drama.

Many animators work as independent filmmakers, producing their own short films and trying to win commissions from animation commissioners at broadcasting companies such as Channel 4, the BBC (in particular BBC2), or from the internet.

Getting a short film broadcast could lead to a commission for a short series, a longer film or interest from music company advertising agencies (for music videos) or commercial and business ventures.

Look for job vacancies at:

• Animated Jobs
• Animation Magazine
• Association of Illustrators (AOI)
• Datascope

Other useful directories and sources of agents include:

• Creative Review
• D&AD

Professional development

Most animators learn on the job but attending classes and courses can be helpful, either to refresh or hone your skills in drawing, modelling or software.

A list of media and multimedia courses can be found at the British Film Institute (BFI).

Larger companies may offer a more formal training package. This might include taking a Masters qualification in animation or working towards a professional qualification in a more specialist area.

There are numerous short courses and master classes, lasting from a few days to several weeks, covering specific areas of animation. For details, visit ScreenSkills – Training courses.

Local audiovisual sector skills councils can be very useful when it comes to researching short courses or opportunities to develop further specialist areas. Contact ScreenSkills to see which organisation covers your area of the UK.

Career prospects

Most animators begin as studio runners and then progress to junior animation roles.

In 2D animation, you may begin work as an ‘inbetweener’, then progress to key framer.

3D animation has a more hierarchical structure. Starting as a junior animator, you’ll progress to senior animator after a few years’ experience and finally reach design manager or art director level.

Senior roles involve more paperwork, managing staff and generating new ideas. Career progression is usually through freelance work, which develops the animator’s reputation, and this is likely to ensure a regular supply of work as well as more senior responsibilities.

The UK is particularly renowned for stop-motion or stop-frame animation and children’s animation and has a thriving computer games industry. However, animation is global and you may have to move abroad if you wish to specialise in a particular type.

The USA is home to some of the largest animation, CGI special effects and games studios. A lot of 2D animation is also done in East Asia. Animators are increasingly looking for work overseas, as well as in the UK, in order to maximise their client base.

In terms of development, versatility is the key and if you can work with puppets, models and drawn and computer-generated animation, you may find more options open to you.

Another progression route for animators is to go into teaching or lecturing.

Written by AGCAS editors

April 2023

© Copyright AGCAS & Graduate Prospects Ltd · Disclaimer

Alternative careers

• Special effects technician
• Production designer, theatre/television/film
• Multimedia programmer
• Concept artist
• Graphic designer
• Illustrator