Learning The Ropes with Tuskar & Thames 

 3-day workshop followed by industry-led mentoring for  anyone wanting to work in TV and production

Presented in collaboration with Dermot O’ Leary’s Tuskar Trust, Thames (a Fremantle label) and A New Direction, Learning The Ropes offers an intensive Skills Bootcamp followed by a mentoring programme for young creatives aged  18-24. The intensive fully-funded programme will bring together 20 young people who are currently underrepresented in the TV industry and are looking to get into production.

The programme will kick start with a 3-day industry Bootcamp led by Thames and hosted in their offices. Expect to experience industry talks from in-house staff and freelancers as well as a site visit to a leading editing house. You will also be given the exclusive opportunity to learn how TV production works straight from the source and be shown the variety of jobs that each help in the creation of some of your favourite shows.

The industry talks will cover the following:

  • Editorial
  • Production
  • Editing and Technical
  • Commissioning

The follow-on mentoring programme will take place over 6 months, from Feb–July 2023 via a series of five meet-ups. These will be held at Thames and hosted by Dermot O’Leary. The evenings will comprise time for the mentors and mentees to have 1:1’s as well as networking, before ending with an inspirational talk by someone at the top of their game from the world of Film & TV.

Find out more

  • Who's involved?

    The 3-day workshops will take place and run by the team at Freemantle.

    Mentors joining the programme include:

    • Alexia Edwards (Chief Operating Operator Expectation Entertainment)
    • Ali Naushahi (Writer & Director)
    • Andy Varley (Owner of Insanity Management)
    • Antony Thomas (Series Director, Director, Multi-Camera director)
    • Ashley Whitehouse (Executive Producer at Thames)
    • Ben Walker (Radio Producer)
    • Hector Dockrill (Director Pulse Films & Photographer)
    • Ivor Baddiel (Scriptwriter and Author)
    • Leilah Mason (Production Executive at Thames)
    • Martha Housden (Creative Director of Development BBC Studios)
    • Mary Hui (Line Producer BBC Studios)
    • Melony Smith (Executive Producer TV)
    • Meriel Beale (Freelance Series Editor Comedy & Entertainment)
    • Richard Greenwood (Producer)
    • Rob Davies (Director & Co-owner of Craft)
    • Ryan Hawkins (Line Producer This Morning)
    • Shurwin Beckworth (Series Producer, Exec Producer)
    • Simon Ward (Radio Producer)
    • Susan Maxwell (Music & TV Exec Producer)
    • Tamara Boakye-Ansah (Producer)
    • Yasmine Ali (Producer)
  • Who can apply?

    This opportunity is open to all levels, including anyone with prior production and content creation experience keen to access networks and hands-on training opportunities, to those interested in exploring a career in production with no previous experience.

    Eligability criteria:

    • 18-24 years old  
    • Living in a London borough (with emphasis on prioritising those from the boroughs of Waltham Forest, Newham, Hackney, and Tower Hamlets)
    • Available for 3-day workshop 25-27 Jan 2023 and once-monthly mentorship sessions Wednesdays 1 Feb, 15 March, 26 April, 7 June, 5 July 2023
    • Interested in working in TV and production
  • Key dates

    A 3-day in-person boot camp followed by a series of 5 facilitated sessions. Taking place at Thames Fremantle and hosted by Dermot O’ Leary featuring key industry speakers.

    Industry Bootcamp:

    • 25 – 27 January 2023 (3-days)

    Mentoring Dates:

    • 1 Feb 2023
    • 15 March 2023
    • 26 April 2023
    • 7 June 2023
    • 5 July 2023
  • Alumni stories

    Participants from this programme have gone on to take up numerous roles across the industry, including Camera Trainee at the BFI, internships at The Face, Production Assistant roles at Feed Me Light and Programme Assistant roles at Punchdrunk. Many have also since launched their own podcasts and are working in freelance roles across choreography, writing, directing, photography, and more.

Applications have closed

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CitiFoundation Logo .png Mayors Fund for London logo copy.jpg fremantle_logo_1 copy.pngTuskar trust_LOGO.jpg

This Programme is Funded by Thames with support from the Mayor's Fund For London & Citi Foundation.

The Tuskar Trust has been operating for over a decade with the purpose of offering graduates from Dermot O'Leary’s old sixth-form college in Colchester, work placements. Since 2021, Dermot has partnered with A New Direction’s Employment & Skills team to bring his mentoring programme to life, supporting underrepresented talent access roles and opportunities in TV and content production.

Thames (a Fremantle label) is the home of heart-warming entertainment produced with scale and style. For more than seven decades, the label has been renowned for producing some of the nation’s most loved formats, including Britain’s Got Talent (ITV), The X Factor (ITV), Family Fortunes (ITV) and Blankety Blank (BBC One). With an impressive catalogue of new productions, such as Too Hot to Handle (Netflix), Eating With My Ex (BBC Three), I Can See Your Voice (BBC One) and Game of Talents (ITV), Thames continues to set the standard for the British entertainment genre.

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This programme is powered by the Good Growth Hub – a creative careers hub in East London run by A New Direction. Sessions will take place at Thames Stephen Street located just behind Tottenham Court Road Underground Station.

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