This latest training programme has been designed to diversify talent working in development teams. The programme will offer intensive training and work placement opportunities for successful candidates who can demonstrate their strong passion for development. It will provide them with the support to build their skillset and networks to become leading, senior professionals working at the forefront of premium documentary development.

The Grierson DocLab: Development programme is aimed at individuals who have three-to-five years’ professional experience of working in documentary television, film and online content production. If you have taken a career break, we will accept applications from those with up to eight years’ experience.

For those who have entered the industry in recent years, we are aware that opportunities to gain experience, and access training for career development, have been more difficult given the impact of Covid and the challenges of being a freelancer. This scheme has therefore been created to help those who have faced multiple barriers for progression to work in an area they are passionate about.

Many people working in development have learnt on the job on an ad hoc basis. This programme is structured and informed by leading industry experts in the field, and will provide a solid grounding for participants; filling in knowledge gaps, foregrounding skills that trainees need to have under their belt and dispelling misconceptions about how creative concepts translate to the screen to become compelling, unique premium documentaries that audiences love to watch.

The Grierson DocLab: Development programme will provide eight successful applicants with:

• An intensive online training week
• In-person training based at Netflix offices in central London
• An eight-week paid placement within a UK based production company
• Mentoring from an industry professional
• An invite to the 2025 Grierson Awards (the British Documentary Awards), Tuesday 18 November, at Roundhouse, London

Together with ongoing support from the Grierson Trust, trainees will also have access to networking events, professional development opportunities and will join the Grierson DocLab Alumni network which provides continuing peer to peer support.

All costs associated with participating in the scheme will be covered, and it is free to apply.

What does the programme cover?

The programme will involve an intensive hybrid training schedule, with leading industry professionals contributing to sessions, covering a range of areas including:

• Finding and developing a story and research methods
• Conceptualisation
• Ethical considerations and responsibilities; giving and receiving feedback

Industry professionals actively working in the sector will deliver masterclasses, share case studies, offer insights from their experiences in panel discussions; with group and individual exercises included to consolidate the learning.

Who Should Apply?

The Grierson DocLab: Development programme is aimed at individuals who have three-to-five years’ professional experience of working in television, film and online content production If you have taken a career break, we will accept applications from those with up to eight years’ experience.

We are not restricting applications solely to those with a singular track record of working in development. If your career has included a variety of roles alongside development, you will need to explain why you are pivoting to this focus in your application.

The Grierson Trust has an established track record of supporting under-represented groups in the documentary industry and therefore particularly encourages applications from those from working class/lower socio-economic backgrounds; returners to industry after a career break; disabled people; those from ethnic minority backgrounds; people from the LGBTQ+ community; and more.

Applications will close on Thursday 3 April at 5pm.

To hear more about the programme, ask questions and meet the team delivering the training, the Grierson Trust will be hosting a Discovery Webinar on Tuesday 25 February at 6pm. Register now.