Initiative for 12 trainees to cover three years

999: Critical Condition indie Brinkworth has partnered up with 5 for a production training and mentoring programme.

The initiative will be based in Bristol, where the indie is opening regional hub Brinkworth West, and will provide training and mentoring in unscripted TV for 12 trainees, over the next three years.

Two trainees will go through the programme each six months over the period, working on unscripted content produced by Brinkworth for 5 over a range of genres.

The programme will launch for applications in October, with outreach across the industry. A particular focus will be concentrated on educational and relevant institutions in the South-West and West of England.

Brinkworth’s chief executive Malcolm Brinkworth said: “Together with the opening of Brinkworth West, this reflects our commitment to build a sustainable production base in the region offering new opportunities for young talented people to enter the industry.”

5’s chief content officer Ben Frow added: “Access into this industry is getting harder, and nowhere is that felt more than in unscripted, especially if you’re not based in London.

“Partnering with Brinkworth to open this scheme in Bristol is exactly the kind of investment we should be making as a public service broadcaster: backing new talent outside the capital to help us keep making distinctly British shows our audiences love.”

The partnership follows 5’s work around its drama anthology strand Play for Today, which supports entry into the sector for people from low-income backgrounds to break into TV writing, directing and production.