The indies behind BBC1’s rebooted Waterloo Road are to use their Manchester base to launch a training scheme for young talent in the region.
Rope Ladder Fiction and Wall to Wall Media are to select eight individuals to undertake a six-month production development trainee scheme from February.
The producers have teamed up with Screen Manchester for the scheme, which will cover skills including sound, camera, make-up, costume, electrical, locations, art and music supervision.
The trainees will be based in Salford and will undertake full working days for the duration of their placements.
Former Sky drama chief Cameron Roach set up Rope Ladder this autumn with a mission to support emerging talent with training and development opportunities in a bid to grow the drama production sector.
“We are keen to offer experience of the shooting environment to a wide variety of new entrants to the industry and by working in conjunction with industry partners,” he said.
“We hope to build a reputation for encouraging and educating individuals to all aspects of the television production process and enhancing the skills in their chosen area.”
Screen Manchester crew and facilities manager Elli Metcalfe said the scheme “will address the crew shortages the industry is experiencing in the UK as a whole.”
The scheme is open to applications until 7 January, with online interviews taking place later that month.
Wall to Wall won the order to revive Waterloo Road in 2020, with Roach signed on as executive producer. BBC1’s midweek school drama, previously made by Shed Media, last aired in 2015.
