Breaking into the grip department can feel daunting. Here's an honest look at how to become a grip in the UK — and the first steps that actually make a difference.
Published 29 March 2022 · 5 min read
Becoming a grip can be a difficult journey. Like much of the film and television industry, the grip department is notoriously insular — a lot of work comes through word of mouth, and it isn't always obvious how to get your foot in the door. We're trying to change that, because we believe everyone should have the opportunity to learn the craft if they want to. This guide lays out the realistic route in and the habits that help you stick.
Almost every grip in the country started as a trainee, and that's still the most reliable way in. As a trainee you support the department — helping lay track, prepping and cleaning equipment, moving weights, and generally making the experienced grips' day run smoothly — while you absorb how everything works. It's physical, early-start work, but there's no better classroom than a live set. Your job in that first period isn't to be brilliant; it's to be reliable, safe and easy to have around.
The faster you understand the equipment, the more useful you become. Get to know what a dolly, a slider, a jib and a crane each do, and start decoding the terminology — Mitchell and Moy fittings, bowl and Boss mounts, levellers, bazooka bases, rolling spiders. None of it is as complicated as it first sounds, and knowing the names means you can be handed a task and actually carry it out. Our grip equipment guide is a good place to start, and our FAQs explain a lot of the on-set vocabulary in plain English.
You don't strictly need a qualification to become a grip, but structured training can help — especially for building safe rigging knowledge and giving you something concrete on your CV. Industry NVQ routes (Level 2 and Level 3) and screen-industry training schemes exist specifically to support new entrants into technical grades like grip, and they can be a valuable complement to hands-on set experience rather than a replacement for it. If you're weighing this up, it's worth looking at what's currently offered by UK screen-skills bodies, as the schemes change over time.
Ask any key grip what makes a trainee worth rebooking and it won't be raw talent — it'll be attitude. Turn up early, stay switched on, keep the kit tidy, watch and learn without getting in the way, and take safety seriously every single time. Grips move heavy equipment around people, so a calm, careful, dependable presence is worth more than flashiness. Days lead to more days, and a reputation for being solid travels quickly in a small industry.
UK grip departments are notably underrepresented in terms of both gender and ethnic background — something we want to change and believe should be openly discussed. If you've ever assumed grip work "isn't for people like you", we'd genuinely encourage you to get in touch. Everyone deserves a fair shot at learning the craft.
If you're interested in becoming a grip, don't hesitate to reach out. We're always happy to advise on that first step into becoming a trainee and to point you toward the right opportunities.