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Media & Film

Screenwriter

View this career for different education levels:

Primary Secondary Post-16

Screenwriters are responsible for crafting the scripts used in films, television programmes, and online media. This involves developing characters, dialogue, and plot, as well as working closely with directors and producers to shape the final narrative. In the UK, most screenwriters are freelancers and often juggle several projects at once. Success in this field often requires persistence, networking, and a strong portfolio. Many screenwriters start by writing short films or web series before moving on to larger projects. The industry is competitive, but with the rise of streaming platforms and independent productions, there are increasing opportunities for new voices. Screenwriters often attend workshops, film festivals, and writers' groups to develop their skills and make industry contacts.

Screenwriter

📊 Statistics

Average Salary Range

Screenwriters in the UK typically earn between £18,000 and £80,000 per year, depending on experience and project success.

Industry Growth

The UK's film and TV sector saw over 10000 new job postings for writers and related roles in 2023.

Freelance Prevalence

Around 75 percent of UK screenwriters work on a freelance basis rather than being employed full time.

🚀 Careers in this path

Television Drama Writer

Creates scripts specifically for drama series or serials shown on television, working closely with producers and directors to develop characters and storylines for ongoing episodes.

Children's Animation Screenwriter

Specialises in writing engaging and age-appropriate scripts for animated shows or films geared towards children, often collaborating with illustrators and animators.

Script Editor

Works with screenwriters to develop, improve and refine scripts for film or TV, offering feedback on dialogue, structure and character development to ensure the story is compelling and production-ready.

Develop Your Writing Skills

Practise Creative Writing

Begin by writing short stories, plays, or even your own scripts to build confidence and skill.

Try writing regularly on different topics and experiment with various genres. Join a creative writing club or take part in competitions to get feedback on your work. Reading widely, especially scripts and screenplays, will help you understand different writing styles and formats.

Study Screenplay Format

Learn how to structure and format a professional script using industry standards.

Screenplays have a specific layout and style. Many free resources and templates are available online to help you understand the correct format. Consider using screenwriting software such as Celtx or Final Draft, which can guide you in formatting your work correctly.

Build Industry Knowledge

Study Film and TV

Watch a variety of films and television shows, analysing how stories are structured and characters are developed.

Try reading scripts alongside watching the finished product to see how scenes are translated onto the screen. Look for patterns in successful films and series, and think about what makes them compelling. Take notes and apply your observations to your own writing.

Take Courses or Qualifications

Consider studying screenwriting at college, university, or through online courses.

Many universities offer degrees in screenwriting or related fields such as creative writing or film studies. Short courses and workshops, both online and in-person, can also be valuable for learning specific skills and meeting others interested in screenwriting.

Gain Experience and Build a Portfolio

Write Scripts and Get Feedback

Create your own scripts and seek feedback from peers, mentors, or online communities.

Joining screenwriting groups or workshops allows you to share your work and receive constructive criticism. Regularly revising your scripts based on feedback helps you improve and learn how to respond to notes, a vital industry skill.

Enter Competitions and Network

Submit your scripts to competitions and connect with industry professionals.

Many screenwriting competitions in the UK and internationally can help launch your career if you place highly or win. Attend film festivals, workshops, and networking events to meet producers, agents, and other writers. Building a network can lead to representation and job opportunities.

Available Apprenticeships

Please note that this may not be a comprehensive list of available apprenticeships. To view a more complete collection, visit the Find an apprenticeship service.

Click on any card to be redirected to their vacancy page.

IT Support Apprentice

HEYGATES LIMITED

( Added 29 Jul 2025 - 1 position available )

A fantastic opportunity has become available for an IT support trainee to join the team, reporting to the Head of IT. This new and challenging role will give the opportunity to work with a wide range of enterprise technologies and potential to travel to other sites in the UK. An exciting and varied role.

Closing date: in 1 month

Possible start date: 13 Dec 2025

Content Creation Apprentice

LOCALLY WE DO... LTD

( Added 03 Sep 2025 - 1 position available )

Join Locally We Do... Ltd as a Content Creator Apprentice and master the art of impactful storytelling across digital platforms. Learn to craft videos, images, and articles that connect with audiences, while gaining hands-on experience in modern marketing and creative production.

Closing date: in 9 days

Possible start date: 01 Nov 2025

IT Apprenticeship

S B K COMPUTERS LTD

( Added 05 Sep 2025 - 1 position available )

Join SBK Computers Ltd, a friendly and trusted IT company that’s been supporting businesses in Derbyshire and South Yorkshire since 1998. As an apprentice, you’ll get hands-on experience fixing hardware, installing software, first-line support, and more. You will be working with a supportive team that has helped numerous apprentices learn and grow.

Closing date: in 2 days

Possible start date: 21 Oct 2025

Career Progressions

No career progressions found for

Sample Qualifications

How to become

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • a college course
  • applying directly
  • specialist courses run by private training providers

University

You could do a degree or postgraduate qualification to improve your job prospects, though this is not essential. Useful subjects include:

  • creative writing
  • English
  • media and communications
  • film studies
  • journalism
  • psychology

You should aim to get as much experience of reading other people's and writing your own scripts, alongside your studies.

Your university careers service can give advice on societies, work experience, internship and year placement opportunities that will help you build your creative network and develop your skills.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
  • a degree in any subject for a postgraduate course

More Information

College

When you're starting out you may find it useful to take a college course to help develop your skills and understand dramatic structure and production.

Courses are available in:

  • creative writing
  • scriptwriting
  • creative and digital media

Adult education centres, colleges and universities sometimes run short courses in writing for screen.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

More Information

Direct Application

If you want to get directly into this job, you may have an advantage if you have writing and storytelling experience from another field like journalism, advertising copywriting or acting.

You'll normally start by coming up with your own screenplays and ideas, and trying to sell them to agents and producers. Once you've had some work accepted and started to build a professional reputation, producers might then commission you to produce scripts for them.

Other Routes

You could take short courses in screenwriting run by film schools, regional screen agencies and private training providers.

More Information

Career tips

As a new writer, you could get yourself noticed by entering screenwriting competitions. These competitions are run by broadcasters and regional screen agencies to discover new talent.

You can also find advice about submitting your work to the BBC at BBC Writers.

Create a LinkedIn profile to connect with people in the industry and make sure you have a portfolio to show your skills.

Further information

You can get more advice on writing careers in film and TV from ScreenSkills.

You can get more information on working in creative careers from Discover Creative Careers.

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