The Joint Industry Special Effects Grading Scheme provides a career structure for those involved in physical, pyrotechnic and visual special effects.
The Joint Industry Committee (made up of representatives from the BBC, ITV, PACT and BECTU) determines the levels of experience, training and responsibility required to hold the various job titles (grades) within the scheme.
Visit the JIGS site
Apply for grading/re-grading
Special effects professionals are encouraged to join the scheme as trainees. As they receive training and their experience grows, they can apply for re-grading as technicians, senior technicians, and eventually, as supervisors. (With effect from March 2011 non-members using the scheme will need to pay £200 for each re-grading application. Statement below).
The structure of the Joint Industry Special Effects Grading Scheme is also used by employers (production companies, producers, etc.) to ensure that they are employing suitably experienced, qualified and responsible individuals.
This system helps to ensure that productions are, or become, low risk ventures, both from the completion and health and safety points of view.
- View the latest list (Dec 2011) of individuals who are accredited special effects operators. This list, which is not restricted to BECTU members, is updated regularly and can also be downloaded from this page.
- Accredited special effects operators can apply to appear on the list. All regrading applications should be submitted in both electronic form (pdf or Word) and hard copy (paper). Hard copy should be sent to Tony Norton, national official, BECTU, 373-377 Clapham Road, London, SW9 9BT. Non-members should enclose a cheque for £200. (See statement below posted on 13 March 2011)
JIGS latest March 2011: fee introduced for regrading
"JIGS Ltd. exists to uphold health and safety standards in film, television and audio-visual production by validating the competence, experience and appropriate grade for individual practitioners in safety-critical areas including Special Effects (SFX).
The administrative burden of providing this service in SFX is undertaken by BECTU staff.
BECTU members who apply for grading in the SFX Grading Scheme contribute to the cost of this service through their regular union subscription.
The Board of JIGS Ltd. has agreed that, in the interests of equity and fairness, non-members of BECTU who apply for grading in the SFX Grading Scheme should pay a fee of £200 to JIGS Ltd. on first registration with the Scheme, and a further fee of £200 on each subsequent occasion that they seek to be re-graded.
Non-members of BECTU wishing to apply for grading in the SFX Grading Scheme should submit their application accompanied by a cheque for £200 made payable to JIGS Ltd and addressed to Tony Norton, National Official, BECTU, 373-377 Clapham Road, London SW9 9BT."
Get involved
For more information about JIGS or the union's Special Effects branch contact national official, Tony Norton or branch secretary Nick Smith at sfxbranch@hotmail.co.uk. Additional information and documents are available to BECTU members on the Special Effects branch pages; members should log-in to access the area. (Need a new login? Contact our membership department and quote your membership number).
