5, Brinkworth partner on unscripted production training scheme
October 1, 2026


UK public service broadcaster, 5 and independent production company Brinkworth are partnering on am unscripted television production training scheme which will be launched from a newly established base for Brinkworth in Bristol, Brinkworth West – which opens in early October.
Initially launching over a three-year period, the new scheme will see 12 production trainees go through the programme – two people over each six months. The trainees will work on unscripted content produced by Brinkworth for 5 including across a range of genres and subject matter and will gain a broad spectrum of training and mentoring in production, development and commissioning.
The production training programme will launch for applications in October with outreach across the industry – and particularly around educational and relevant institutions in the South West and West of England. The intention is to draw a wide and diverse pool of applications into the scheme and to help address the shortfall in entry-level training schemes that exist in the UK’s television industry, particularly in unscripted television.
Launching the new scheme, CEO of Brinkworth, Malcolm Brinkworth said: “I am really excited to be launching this new training scheme in partnership with 5. Together with the opening of Brinkworth West, this reflects our commitment to build a sustainable production base in the region offering new opportunities for young talented people to enter the industry. Working on primetime 5 shows will provide a fantastic start to their careers.”
Chief Content Officer for 5, Ben Frow, added: “Access into this industry is getting harder, and nowhere is that felt more than in unscripted, especially if you’re not based in London. We wanted to do something about that. Partnering with Brinkworth to open this scheme in Bristol is exactly the kind of investment we should be making as a public service broadcaster: backing new talent outside the capital to help us keep making distinctly British shows our audiences love.”
The programme, which is focused on unscripted production, builds on 5’s ongoing commitment to the independent production sector around the UK and to nurturing new creative voices. 5’s existing initiatives supporting entry into the sector include Play for Today – which supports opportunities for people from low-income backgrounds to break into scripted TV writing, directing and production.