 | Press ReleasesBBC and TRC select top television producers for talent initiative |
The BBC has extended its partnership with Glasgow-based TRC (formerly The Research Centre) by jointly creating a new year-long Series Producer Programme for 14 BBC and independent producers. For the BBC, it marks another major investment in developing senior network production talent outside London. For TRC, it will be the latest in a series of training initiatives with broadcasters and development agencies to strengthen the creative production base in key centres around the UK. Following the success of four previous Executive Producer Programmes, which involved 42 in-house and independent producers from the Nations and Regions, the BBC has invested a further £130,000 in this new scheme to develop the next generation of series producer talent. BBC Director of Nations and Regions Pat Loughrey, who leads BBC Out of London initiatives including the proposal to move to Salford, said: "The BBC's commitment to developing talent across the UK has never been stronger and investment in training is a crucial part of the mix. "This scheme helps us to create more opportunities for more senior producers, inside and outside the BBC, to flourish outside London." Krishan Arora, the BBC's Independent Executive, added: "Independent producers and freelancers find this a really useful scheme to move careers onto another level. "The training and networking offered by TRC will prove invaluable to them, and the BBC is proud to support this scheme." The Series Producer Programme, which will be run from Manchester, will include a range of high level masterclasses focussing on honing skills across areas including multi-platform production, understanding audiences and trends in technology, team leadership, managing talent and diversity. The programme also offers unprecedented access to top BBC decision-makers and commissioners. Carol Sinclair, Managing Director of TRC, said: "We've been working with the BBC for a number of years on developing key talent in the nations and regions. "It's great to be announcing the launch of this latest initiative. The Series Producer Programme addresses a real need in the skills mix across the Nations and Regions. "It will deepen our relationship with the BBC and enable us to continue developing the next generation of network programme makers." The programme is an evolution of the Executive Producer Programme, which has benefited 42 network producers since 2002 - 23 from BBC centres in the Nations and Regions, and 19 from independent production companies outside London. The 14 delegates who will begin the 2006/07 course on 14 December are: Scotland Paul Tucker - Freelance Tony Followell - BBC Scotland Jane McWilliams - BBC Scotland Birmingham Teresa Bogan - BBC Birmingham Andy Vernon - BBC Birmingham Wales James Smith - Freelance Andrea Dixon - Freelance Manchester Matthew Laza - BBC Manchester Victoria Roye - BBC Manchester Northern Ireland Brendan Byrne - Independent (Hot Shot Films) Andy Bell - BBC English Regions Jon Sen - Freelance Charlotte Wheeler - Independent (TwoFour Productions) Charlie Robinson - Independent (Imago, Norwich) Notes to Editors TRC (The Research Centre) is an independent charity working in partnership with international and UK broadcasters, producers and public agencies to provide high end training, original research and business support to the creative content industry. | 
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