C4 delivers opportunities to grass roots talent

The first cohort of 4Skills trainees is set to join 4Studio, Channel 4’s Leeds based digital content production unit, as part of the broadcaster’s on-going commitment to deliver opportunities to grassroots talent in the Nations and Regions.

The group of six aged between 18-24, all hail from Yorkshire, and have secured places on a tailor-made programme designed to help develop and hone their skills on all aspects of digital content creation.

During the six-week paid placement, the group will experience all aspects of creating and delivering digital content having undertaken a range of courses covering skills such as production techniques, digital storytelling, ideas generation and pitching skills.

The participants are Ryan from Wakefield, Ellie from Keighley, Albina from Leeds, Aslan from Dewsbury plus Leodensians Neve and Rachel.

Janine Smith, 4Studio’s digital content director said: “Offering young regional talent specialist training, real-life paid experience and skills can open a totally new career to people in the Nations and Regions – it is the perfect example of what we want to achieve with our 4 All The UK strategy.

“Through our unique 4Studio programme, we’re particularly keen to nurture talent from right across the Yorkshire region and seek out people who might otherwise have never considered a career in the broadcast industry. I really hope this acts as a springboard for these six young people and leads them on to careers they’d never imagined possible.”

The 12-week programme saw the group undergo six weeks of specialist training organised by SharpFutures, the Manchester-based social enterprise that supports diverse talent into employment in the creative digital and tech sectors. The group joins 4Studio for the final six weeks when they will put all their skills and training into practice.

Lee Stanley, CEO of SharpFutures, said: “It has been great to work with Channel 4 and the 4Studio team to recruit and develop such a talented group of young people. We’ve really enjoyed helping each of the cohort grow their creative and digital skills ahead of what will be an amazing six weeks for them at 4Studio. It’s an exciting time to be a content creator and I hope this experience gives each of the group the opportunity and confidence to develop an exciting career, whatever they chose to do”.

The programme is one of many initiatives overseen by 4Skills, Channel 4’s specialist training and development team, which will also undertake a range of further activity in the Nations and Regions which includes:

The relaunch of Channel 4’s Production Training Scheme with a 100 per cent focus on the Nations and Regions

Virtual industry events from Bristol, Glasgow and Leeds for independent productions companies providing a mix of commissioner sessions and workshops

Bespoke tailored training to address skills gaps in the Nations and Regions, working with key partners such as the National Film and Television School (NFTS), ScreenSkills, TRC and PACT

Provision of specific schemes focused on talent development such as the Factual Fast Track scheme in Wales, or the De Montfort University investigative journalism MA.

All of the participants said they were excited to be part of the course.

Neve, who was previously working for Wakefield Council Covid-19 communications team said: “I hope to learn new technical and personal skills that will support me in my development. I’m also really looking forward to meeting other young content creators from Yorkshire and learning from industry experts. I hope the course will teach me skills that I can use to develop my career and future. I also hope to connect with other people in the creative industry to build relationships for after the course has finished.”

Ellie added: “Before I was accepted onto the course, I was working with a beauty training academy on their social media platforms and did a lot of their content creation. I’m super excited for every aspect of this journey but I’m specifically looking forward to improving my idea generation skills; my favourite thing to do is come up with concepts and stories, it’s a dream to learn the professional side of idea generation and more skills along with it. I’m hoping this course will lead to my career in media and open my eyes to the endless possibilities within the industry!

Albina said: “As an upcoming graduate, it feels amazing to be selected, I am super excited about this opportunity! I can’t wait to learn about Adobe Photoshop, copywriting and digital editing in efforts to produce amazing content for Channel 4.”

The 4Studio scheme follows on from 4Skills apprenticeships, which saw the broadcaster take 12 people take up apprenticeships in Leeds and Manchester. The apprenticeships cover a wide range of skills such as content production, finance, agency sales, social media, programme management, IT support and cyber security.

In addition to providing career, training and development opportunities in the Nations and Regions, at the heart of the 4 All The UK strategy is a commitment to significantly increase the amount of Channel 4’s commissioning budget spent in the Nations and Regions with a target of 50% by 2023.