BBC, Channel 4, Paramount and UKTV Unite to End Production Manager Crisis

Broadcasters in the UK are teaming up to fill the country’s dire lack of production managers.

The BBC, Channel 4, Channel 5 owner Paramount and UKTV have joined forces to overcome the crisis that emerged as frustrated people left the industry during the Covid crisis.

Each broadcaster builds a pool of production management skills that will hopefully build a larger skill base. Together, their investment will be მილი1 million ($1.3 million) over the next 12 months, with financing available from this month.

Production companies will be able to raise funds to help young staff move into “step up” positions and to attract people with transferable skills from neighboring industries (such as theater or event management).

Broadcasters will pay at least 50% of these salaries for performances. Wherever possible, the focus will be on diverse recruitment based small and medium businesses in India and in countries and regions (outside London).

This comes after a study by ScreenSkills showed the extent of the problem that almost every manufacturing company in the UK struggles to find experienced production managers and coordinators.

As the UK manufacturing sector evolves and UK broadcasters, broadcasters and overseas projects fight for space, the lack of production managers is becoming a focus of attention.

BBC Content Operations Director David Pembry said: “Production management is an invaluable and vital part of our industry. “We want this funding to have a positive impact on products we know will meet growing demand, while also helping to develop the next generation of production management capability.”