BBC Studios, a global content company and commercial subsidiary of the BBC Group, has today launched a new six-month disability mentoring and training programme as part of its commitment to attracting, developing and retaining the best talent both on and off screen.

Run by BBC Studios’ drama and comedy production departments, the programme is offering ten places to help with the development of disabled talent from across the creative industry, as well as supporting the career progression of disabled colleagues within BBC Studios. It is available to both internal and external applicants and aims to ensure greater visibility as well as creating a natural pipeline of talent. It will be led by Oliver Kent, Head of Continuing Drama.

And, as part of this initiative, BBC Studios is guaranteeing that the next vacant researcher positions on both Holby City and Casualty will go to a disabled person.

Oliver Kent said: “We need different voices and perspectives to inspire and develop ideas and support our vision of inspiring audiences. This is a key piece of work that will enable this to happen and ensure we create a pipeline of talent for the future.”

Ralph Lee, Director of Content, BBC Studios said: “In my experience, mentoring is one of the most effective ways of widening people’s networks and helping them develop their careers in the long term, so we are very happy to be supporting this scheme.”

BBC Studios is committed to drawing upon talent from around the UK, so it can support the BBC in properly reflecting and representing audiences and maximise its creativity.

Recruitment for places opens on 22nd November and candidates can apply here.

About BBC Studios

BBC Studios, a global content company with British creativity at its heart, is a commercial subsidiary of the BBC Group. Formed in April 2018 by the merger of BBC Worldwide and BBC Studios, it spans content financing, development, production, sales, branded services and ancillaries. BBC Studios’ award-winning British programmes are internationally recognised across a broad range of genres and specialisms. It has offices in 22 markets globally, including seven production bases in the UK, and a further nine wholly-owned and production partnerships internationally.

The company is a champion for British creativity around the world and a committed partner for the UK’s independent sector.

BBC Studios has revenue of £1.4bn, and returns around £200m to the BBC Group annually, complementing the BBC’s licence fee and enhancing programmes for UK audiences.

About BBC Studios Productions

BBC Studios’ production teams make 2500 hours of content annually and have received over 100 awards and 200 nominations in the last year, making it the most awarded producer in the UK. Credits range from world-class dramas like Luther and Doctor Who and much loved entertainment and comedy shows such as Strictly, Top Gear and This Country, to landmark Natural History like Blue Planet II and an extraordinary range of factual programming including Mother’s Day, Louis Theroux, Trust Me I’m a Doctor and The Met: Policing London.

Since launching as a commercial business, BBC Studios has won commissions from a range of UK and international broadcasters, including Channel 4, Discovery, PBS, UKTV and Channel 5, as well as the BBC.

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