Following its inaugural Assistant Producer Accelerator Programme in 2021, BBC Studios Productions is to offer a further fifteen Researchers one-year contracts to gain the skills to become Assistant Producers.
The debut programme saw fourteen candidates recruited to work in Factual Entertainment, Natural History, Entertainment and Music, Documentaries and Science across BBC Studios Productions bases in London, Cardiff, Bristol, Salford and Glasgow. The trainee Assistant Producers have worked on titles including Top Gear, The One Show, Last Night of The Proms, Inside Culture, Imagine, Children in Need and Kelvin’s Big Farming Adventure.
Replicating year one of the programme, the successful new group will again receive bespoke training and mentoring as well as paid job placements. Researchers with at least three paid broadcast or online credits who want to become the next generation of stand-out Assistant Producers are eligible to apply for the roles.
Applicants are particularly being sought from underrepresented groups, including those who are deaf, disabled or neuro diverse, those from Black, Asian, Minority ethnic backgrounds, lower socio-economic groups, LGBTQ+ community and those with varied lived experiences and skillsets.
Ralph Lee, BBC Studios Productions CEO, says: “The first cohort of APs to come through this programme are making a fantastic impact in production so I’m delighted to be able to renew the scheme and offer this opportunity to fifteen more emerging editorial stars. We are committed to growing talent and skills in these key production roles across our genres and also ensuring that stand-out talent from across the UK and from all backgrounds are nurtured and given opportunities.”
Melissa Clay-Peters, Senior Head of Talent at BBC Studios Productions commented: “This is a significant, but as we’ve already seen a worthwhile commitment from BBC Studios to support the widest range of brilliant and diverse talent. We’re thrilled with the success of the programme’s debut year and I’ve no doubt that the Assistant Producers will go on to be trailblazers in our industry.”
Reece Finnegan, one of the Assistant Producer Accelerator Programme’s first year candidates, working in Entertainment and Music added: “Being registered blind in TV, it can often be difficult to find and access new opportunities and achieve career development. This scheme however has given me not only invaluable experience in a range of areas across my genre, but it has also grown my confidence exponentially while moving up to AP level. I have so far worked on Strictly It Takes Two, where I scripted shows, helped to edit VTs and brief talent; on the rebrand of Question of Sport, where I developed games and assisted on location; and in the Entertainment development team, where I pitched some of my own ideas to commissioners.”
The closing date for the Assistant Producer Accelerator Programme is Sunday 13th February 2022. visit: https://careerssearch.bbc.co.uk/jobs/job/Assistant-Producer-Accelerator-Programme-2022-BBC-Studios/57730
Jon Creamer
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