Education & Training

This year marks 10 years since the bursary schemes were launched, which aim to widen participation in, and access to, the media industry by supporting talented students from low-income backgrounds who are pursuing careers in television, film or related media industries.

The RTS is delighted to announce that British television presenter AJ Odudu will be an Ambassador for the scheme, which will see her meeting and mentoring the scholars and attending bursaries events, as well as using her platform to highlight the importance of the RTS bursary schemes for up-and-coming talent in the television industry.

Across the 44 recipients, 34 were selected for the TV Production and Journalism Bursary (TVPJ) and 10 for the Digital Innovation Bursary (DI). Two TVPJ recipients were also awarded named scholarships. Amelia Nicola, receiving the Steve Hewlett Scholarship, and Cerys Horner the Beryl Vertue Scholarship, introduced by the RTS in 2022 for a candidate with an interest in producing.

RTS Bursary scholars and alumni share how their lives have changed since applying for the scheme, what they have learned about themselves and the industry, and why they think you should apply.

In late June, Fremantle UK hosted the RTS’s annual summer networking session, welcoming past and present RTS Bursary scholars to their London office. Alongside their personal mentors, the attendees connected and exchanged contacts with each other and industry professionals.

One of the core goals of the RTS is to support the television industry in reflecting the exciting and diverse voices of Britain today which starts by changing the industry from the inside, championing and helping talented students to consider the creative industries.

The prestigious RTS bursary schemes support young people from lower income backgrounds who are interested in working in the television industry, from production or related subjects through to technology roles.

For 2022, a total of 45 bursaries have been awarded across TV Production and Journalism and the newly created Digital Innovation Bursary. The new Digital Innovation Bursary is in place to support students specifically in the digital space who are pushing boundaries and innovating, and for 2022 eight students have received the inaugural bursary.

The scheme is a key part of 4Skills, which aims to find and nurture talent from across the UK, and is designed to attract people into broadcasting and production from diverse backgrounds.

For the first time in its 15-year history, this cohort of the Production Trainee Scheme is entirely focussed on scripted production, with 12 roles available as either Trainee Assistant Script Editors or Scripted Development Assistants.