The BBC in the north of England is teaming up with Screen Yorkshire’s Beyond Brontës and aiming to help 18-24 years olds from diverse backgrounds break into the media industry.

The collaboration will kick off later this month when a group of Beyond Brontës recruits from across Yorkshire are invited to spend time at the BBC’s northern base at MediaCityUK in Salford.

They will meet news teams who work on local radio, regional TV and Radio 5 live in Leeds and Salford as well as hearing how to get involved in the BBC’s digital teams across the north, who develop new tech such as the iPlayer and Sounds. They will also be invited into the Breakfast TV studio and sit on the famous red sofa.

Each year 50 young people are recruited onto a 12-month programme where they are offered bespoke training packages, mentoring and work placements at regional production companies.

Sam Fray, Beyond Brontës Programme Manager at Screen Yorkshire, said, “We have had some great successes with our first group of trainees this year and it’s been incredibly rewarding to see them growing in confidence as they gain insight and experience working in the industry. I’m excited to be working with the BBC in the north to widen the opportunities that we are able offer to young people in Yorkshire and help promote the message that a career in the industry is possible for them".

Rozina Breen, Head of North, BBC England, said, “I’m thrilled to be working with Sam Fray at Screen Yorkshire who’s leading the Beyond Brontës programme. Diversity lies at the heart of our storytelling and the opportunity to work with such a strong group of diverse talent is both exciting and vital.”

Beyond Brontës trainee Nathan Carter, who is currently undertaking an internship at Leeds based True North productions said, "Over the past six months the Beyond Brontës programme has given me brilliant step-by-step guidance to find my feet on where I want my career to go. The support has been outstanding with the regular workshops and talks from industry-experienced speakers. The unique placements are too the most valuable opportunities to help anyone gain those precious first-steps into the industry."

Screen Yorkshire set up Beyond Brontës in 2019 in partnership with City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council supported by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

Screen Yorkshire opens its second round of recruitment to Beyond Brontës in April 2020.