The BBC Academy’s Career Shadowing Scheme is now open for applications from experienced freelancers looking to explore their career options and try different areas of the industry.
Produced with the support of Creative Skillset and the Royal Television Society (RTS), the scheme offers a two week paid shadowing opportunity for 30 successful applicants to understand and appreciate the skills and talent needed to work in a different area of drama and factual television and is open to industry freelancers across craft, editorial, technical or business.
The Academy has identified seven areas of particular demand for placements:
- Production (including production managers and production accountants)
- Editorial (including series producers, development and commissioning)
- Technical (including vision and broadcast engineers, studio managers)
- Craft (including Sound, Hair and Costume, Visual Effects)
- Digital (including online producers and social media managers)
- Business (including leadership and management skills)
- Drama (including script editors and script supervisors)
Sarah Wood, BBC Academy Executive Producer, said, “The scheme will be invaluable to someone who wants to explore a career move, or move genres. The aim is to offer an introduction and overview of the role involved, together with a mentor within a particular company, so you have the best experience and gain the most insight.”
Ruth Palmer from Creative Skillset said, “We know that formal shadowing programmes have been highlighted as one of the best ways to develop talent and allow people to move up in their careers. It gives TV freelancers access to a structured environment in which they can learn from key talent and senior leaders in the industry. By providing fixed bursaries, we open up opportunities to freelancers that may otherwise not have access to this new and innovative training.”
Applicants will need a minimum of five years’ experience in the television industry, in any area, and will need a referee as part of the application. They’ll need to submit a CV and personal statement of maximum 1000 words, outlining their area of preference from those identified above, why they want to work in that particular area, what they hope to get out of the two week placement and what they’ve done already to break into the area.
Full application information is on the BBC Academy website
