Talent & Business
Opportunities
& Resources
We’ll post opportunities from across the industry, business resources from local and combined authorities here. This page is updated regularly, please check back.
SuperSizer Development Programme – TRC
SuperSizer is a professional development programme for ambitious Development Executives based in the Nations and Regions who want to win high value commissions.
SuperSizer, which first launched in 2017, equips Development Executives who produce factual, factual entertainment or specialist factual programmes with the skills, knowledge, and connections to create bold, inspiring ideas and formats that have the potential to scale and return and transform indies in the Nations and Regions. Previous contributors to the programme have included the BBC, Channel 4, Channel 5, ITV, Sky, Netflix, UKTV and Disney+.
Closing Date: Monday 5th August
Looking Glass Survey – Film + TV Charity
The conversation about mental health in the workplace has started to change. But financial stresses, a production downturn, the impact of strikes, and widespread redundancies are all adding to the pressures many people in our industry are facing.
The Looking Glass Survey is your chance to tell us how these and other factors are impacting you and, crucially, where our support is needed the most.
Closing Soon
Funny Features – Glasgow Film Festival
Are you developing a comedy feature? Is this your first or second feature? Our new talent development lab, Funny Features, is designed to support producers, writers and writer/directors looking to develop and finance comedy projects.
Closing Date: 21st August 2024
Developing Your Creative Practice – Arts Council England
Applications for Round 21 of Developing your Creative Practice (DYCP) are now open!
If you’re a creative practitioner, DYCP could help you take time to focus on your development and take you to the next stage of your practice. This could include things like undertaking a period of research, networking, or creating new work.
Closing Date: 22nd August 2024
The Essential Employment Law/ HR Masterclass – Delivered by Cultura HR Limited
Learn the skills and get the knowledge you need to ensure your business is adequately protected from day 1 of the employment relationship.
This Employment Law/HR Masterclass will walk you through how to draft adverts, carry out the recruitment and selection process, draw up legally sound contracts of employment through to offering the correct salaries, benefits and reward systems, all aligned to your business strategy.
Tuesday 10th September 2024
Story for Screenwriting – New Writing North
Our professional development course with Professional Writing Academy and John Yorke Story is based on the techniques BAFTA-winning storyteller John Yorke developed to train new writing talent on the BBC Writers’ Academy scheme. Alumni of this course have gone on to work on award-winning shows which have won Emmys, Oscars and BAFTAs.
Online course starting 11th September 2024
North of England Mentoring Scheme – WFTV
WFTV is accepting applications for the 2025 WFTV Four Nations Mentoring Scheme. We are seeking 20 mentees from the South of England and 7 each from the North of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
Open to mid-career women in film, television, and digital media, the six-month scheme offers one-to-one mentoring with senior industry professionals, peer-to-peer training, and bespoke career development workshops.
Closing Date: 16th September 2024
Start Screenwriting with Chess Tomlinson – New Writing North
Start Screenwriting is an introductory six week writing course for those interested in trying screenwriting for the first time or transferring their skills from prose or theatre writing. You’ll work with writer and performer Chess Tomlinson to learn more about writing for the screen. Throughout the course you will experiment with genre and build towards a final written scene.
Every Wednesday for six weeks, starting 18 September 2024 – Tyneside Cinema
Making Finance Work For You, Newcastle – British Business Bank
This event offers businesses a valuable opportunity to gain insights into funding options in light of recent local and national governance changes. Key focus areas include workshops for startups and scale-ups, opportunities to engage directly with investors and funding sources, and a closed roundtable discussion for stakeholders.
Wednesday 25th September 2024
Your level of experience doesn’t matter: we want to see your narrative comedy’s first 10 pages. Studio audience sitcoms, single camera comedies and comedy drama scripts are equally welcome. Nor are we bothered by the theme – what we care about is the content: we want to see great characters, great stories, and, of course, great jokes.
Closing Date: 30th September 2024
We’re funding six writers’ rooms led by experienced showrunners to originate the next big UK sitcom with mainstream appeal.
We’re looking for sitcom treatments from UK based-production companies that have been originated and developed by an accomplished showrunner.
Closing Date: 30th September 2024
Call for Entries – Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival
The New Cinema Awards are a celebration of the most distinctive works of new cinema being made around the world today. Alive to this moment, they transcend boundaries of genre, form, and convention. Since ending jury and competition selection in 2020, BFMAF offers a unique spotlight on feature length and short films. Each film receives a £400 cash award.
Closing Date: 1st October 2024
As a Creator, My SMASH free tools help you create the professional film and television pitch presentation your idea deserves.
Our SMASH Pitch Protector ensures your IP is safeguarded, giving you peace of mind.
Once your Snapshot Pitch is ready, you can upload it to one of our active Call-Outs or share a QR code or link with commissioners and financiers, knowing your IP is secure with SMASH.
Sunderland Business Support Fund – NECA
NBSL, in partnership with Sunderland City Council, have launched the new Sunderland Business Support Fund (SBSF) thanks to funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
This Grant programme will help local growing businesses to access high quality external expertise to deliver business improvement projects.
SBSF will provide up to 40% funding for projects that cost between £3,000 and £6,000 (VAT costs cannot be funded).
The North East Combined Authority’s website showcasing their business support and funding. Includes toolkits for Starting Up, becoming Net Zero and lots of financial advice and funding opportunities.
Tees Valley Business Support – TVCA
Tees Valley Business Support website helps businesses based in Tees Valley access support, advice, programmes and contacts to help establish your business and make it thrive. Includes advice on finance and funding.
Resources for businesses based in the North East Combined Authority. Access useful downloads, guides, and other resources to help you with your net zero journey.
Resources for businesses based in the Tees Valley Combined Authority. Get fully funded consultancy support and up to £2,000 grant funding for your business, alongside easy access to online tools and regular webinars and workshops.
Intellectual Property Support – NECA
Book an IP Surgery to ascertain how IP applies to what you do; understand the different types of IP; take action to avoid future IP infringement and get started with using IP protection.
You will also learn how to search IP registers and look at the application process to obtain registered IP protection.
BBC Comedy Short Films are designed to give up and coming talent an opportunity to bring their comedy ideas to life. They’re a way for writers, directors and producers to develop and showcase exciting new worlds and memorable comedy characters.
We’re currently prioritising ideas that align close to our genre brief so we’re keen to hear comedy-first ideas that feature high gag rates and strong comic characters.