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21st September 2025
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  • Have you always wanted to earn your living making Unscripted TV shows but not known how to get started and have no media experience?

  • Do you dream of working on local shows such as MasterChef, Late Night Lycett, Shop Smart Save Money, Great British Menu, TikTok: Murders Gone Viral, Guy Martin’s Proper Jobs, or I Can Do It You Can Too?

  • Resident in the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA)* region?

  • Aged 19 or over?

If you answered yes to these questions, then this FREE training course is for you.

*This includes residents of Birmingham City Council, Coventry City Council, Dudley Metro Borough Council, Sandwell Metro Borough Council, Solihull Metro Borough Council, Walsall Council and City of Wolverhampton.

What is Unscripted TV?

Unscripted TV is the name for a genre of TV shows that don't start with a script. Instead, these shows feature real people, real situations, or formats with loose structures. It includes a wide range of sub-genres, such as: 

  • Reality TV – e.g. Love Island, The Apprentice, The Great British Bake Off 
  • Documentaries & Docuseries – e.g. 24 Hours in A&E, Louis Theroux's investigations, Meet Marry Murder, Killer Kings 
  • Factual Entertainment – e.g. Dragons' Den, First Dates, DIY SOS 
  • Game Shows & Quiz Shows – e.g. The Chase, Taskmaster, The 1% Club 
  • Lifestyle & Makeover Shows – e.g. Grand Designs, Queer Eye, Come Dine With Me 

It takes a team of people with lots of different skills to make an Unscripted TV series. Many of the skills needed are transferable from other industries. You can find out more about Unscripted TV roles on ScreenSkills Unscripted Job Profiles. 

What is the opportunity in the West Midlands?

The West Midlands screen industry has seen a number of big brand TV shows (Great British Menu, Garden Rescues, MasterChef, Late Night Lycett) and production companies (Shine TV, Optomen, Spun Gold) set up bases in the West Midlands in recent years as well as having a cluster of local production companies (Full Fat TV, North One, Common Story, First Look TV, Acclaimed Content, Gosh TV) who all regularly make shows for BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, and Netflix etc.  

The sector is supported by the Mayor of the West Midlands Richard Parker who has said he "wants to attract more film and television productions to the region" and the digital and creative industries have been identified as a key growth sector in the WMCA Plan for Growth which was published in July 2025. 

TV and Film Fusion: Unscripted Edition

This is a refreshed version of our successful TV and Film Fusion training programme which is part of the Create Central Skills Accelerator Programme. For this iteration of the training course, we are focussing on training for specific Unscripted TV roles and are keen to hear from applicants who work in other industries and are looking to pivot and make their career in unscripted TV locally. 

We have consulted with local producers and identified 5 pathways where there are skills needs in Unscripted TV:  

  • Casting and research (for contributors / members of the public) 
  • Art department 
  • Technical 
  • Production Management 
  • Digital and Branding (coming soon)

As part of the application form for the course you will be asked to pick a pathway that you feel best matches your skills, experience and interests. We recommend researching the roles on ScreenSkills Unscripted Job Profiles and the ScreenSkills Unscripted Skills Checklists to assist you with deciding which of the pathways is the best fit for you. 

The course will consist of 4 modules: 

  1. Practical multi-cam studio and VT/location filming training. This will be a mix of whole group practical/hands-on training in a TV studio and on location as well as bespoke pathway learning sessions. (4 days) 
  2. Professional skills – translating your existing skills and experience into value for a TV show. Demystifying Unscripted TV including the process from idea to screen, jargon busting, call sheets, radio etiquette and more (2 days) 
  3. Employability – what does it look like to have a career in Film and TV? what is the local opportunity? Writing a TV CV, how to network, what does it mean to be freelance, interview prep and practice (1 day) 
  4. Pathway specific – shadowing on a local unscripted production in your chosen pathway – exact dates TBC. (3 days) 

Each pathway will have an industry champion who is a local TV industry professional who works in that pathway and will be supporting their pathway learners through the course. 

Pathways 

We do not expect any applicants for this training to have previous experience in Film and TV. This is what the course is here to teach you. We are looking for people who have a passion to pivot into Unscripted TV and have transferable skills and experience that they bring from other sectors. 

Casting and research (for contributors / members of the public)

Casting and research (for contributors / members of the public)

Call centres, Estate Agent, Hospitality and Bar work, Hairdressing, Beauty therapy, Hotels, Sales or client/account management, Recruitment, Digital Marketing

Art department

Art department

Painting and decorating, interior design, crafting and making, woodworking and carpentry, retail merchandising, point of sale displays.

Technical

Technical

Theatre or live events technician, venue or conference technician, IT support, technical retail support and sales (e.g. Apple Store), technical rental companies,  content creation, or social media content creator

Production Management

Production Management

Project management roles, administration, Travel agent or experience in booking complex travel arrangements, logistics, operations, hotel / events / wedding planner, personal assistant.

Digital and Branding (coming soon)

Digital and Branding (coming soon)

Influencer content creation, digital marketing (agency or in-house), marketing and/or brand management role (in any sector), advertising agency, PR.

Casting and research (for contributors / members of the public) 

Casting in Unscripted TV is all about finding members of the public who would make amazing contributors on TV. You could be casting for a contestant on MasterChef, someone to have their outdoor space 'rescued' on Garden Rescues, or delicately encouraging a patient to appear on The Bad Skin Clinic. 

People who are good in a casting role are likely to have: 

  • A strong rapport with people, make them feel comfortable and be genuinely curious to find out their personal stories 
  • Not afraid to pick up the phone and talk to people 
  • Demonstrate persistence and determination  
  • An ability to navigate setbacks and find a way through 
  • Resilience to deal with dropouts and changes 
  • A nose for people with interesting personalities 
  • Strong written skills 
  • Attention to detail 

Sectors you may have previous experience in could include: 

  • Call centres 
  • Estate Agent 
  • Hospitality and Bar work 
  • Hairdressing and/or Beauty therapy 
  • Hotels  
  • Sales or client/account management 
  • Recruitment
  • Content Creation  

Art department 

The Art department in unscripted TV is the department responsible for the design, build, dressing and management of the TV set. In unscripted TV this is commonly on TV studio shows, local examples are MasterChef and Great British Menu. On these shows the art department is responsible for the day-to-day management and dressing/styling of the studio set as well as making or buying props. 

People who are good in the art department are likely to have: 

  • An eye for aesthetics (colour, styling and design) 
  • Continuity and organisation
  • Forward thinking
  • Practical problem-solving skills 
  • Working to tight deadlines 
  • Attention to detail 

Sectors you may have previous experience or interest in could include: 

  • Interior design
  • Styling and dressing
  • Warehouse management
  • Hotels / hospitality housekeeping
  • Facilities management 
  • Retail merchandising / point of sale displays 

Technical 

The technical departments in Unscripted TV are Camera, Sound, Lighting, Data Wrangling and Engineering. The technical teams are responsible for making sure that what is being filmed is recorded, all the tech is functioning and that it is well framed, lit and has clear audio. 

People who are good in a technical role are likely to have: 

  • Good attention to detail 
  • A passion for working with technical equipment 
  • An ability to think logically and troubleshoot technical problems 
  • An ability to stay calm under pressure 

Sectors you might have previous experience in could include: 

  • Theatre or live events technician 
  • Venue or conference technician 
  • IT support 
  • Technical retail support and sales (e.g. Apple Store) 
  • Technical rental companies 
  • Content creator
  • Social media content creator

Production Management 

Production Management is the operational centre of a TV show. The production management team make sure all presenters, contributors and crew get to the right place, at the right time, safely and without spending too much money. They handle all the travel and accommodation logistics; they book crew and equipment and manage tight budgets and ever-changing schedules. 

People who are good in production management are likely to: 

  • Be highly organised and have a strong attention to detail  
  • Have strong administrative skills including use of Office software suite 
  • Find satisfaction in setting up complex operations and/or logistics 
  • Can be across multiple tasks simultaneously and manage multiple deadlines 
  • Keep calm under pressure 
  • Can think on your feet/ problem solving  
  • Good communication 

Sectors you might have previous experience in could include: 

  • Project management roles (in any sector) 
  • Administrative roles (in any sector) 
  • Travel agent or experience in booking complex travel arrangements 
  • Logistics and/or operations 
  • Hotel / Events / Wedding planner  
  • Personal Assistant 

Digital and Branding (coming soon)

Digital and branding is a growing skills need in Unscripted TV. Digital and branding teams create and manage the social media output of a TV show's brand to build awareness and engagement of shows platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. An example of a show doing this with great impact is Love Island. TV producers are also looking towards advertisers and brands to collaborate with and fund their shows. 

People who are good in digital and branding are likely to have: 

  • Experience creating engaging social media content
  • Understanding of social media platforms and analytics
  • Knowledge of managing a brand
  • Skills at finding clips from shows that would work on socials
  • An understanding of how advertisers and brands think

Sectors you might have previous experience in could include: 

  • Influencer content creation 
  • Digital marketing (agency or in-house) 
  • Marketing and/or brand management role (in any sector) 
  • Advertising agency 
  • PR 

Course information

KEY DATES  

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We encourage early applications as this course is often oversubscribed and there is no guarantee that there will be places remaining after the early bird application deadline. 

  • Early bird application deadline: 31st August 2025 at 23.59  
  • Early bird online interviews will take place on 8th and 10th September 2025 
  • Final closing date for applications: Sunday 21st September 2025 at 23.59  
  • Final Online interviews will take place on 25th and 26th September 2025  
  • Notifications will be sent out after interviews. 

The course dates are designed to be accessible for those who are working. However, it is expected that all learners on the course are able to make themselves available for potential full time work from January 2026. Places on the course are limited and priority will be given to those who are able to make this commitment. 

Course Dates 

The course will be delivered as a mix of in-person training sessions interspersed with online masterclasses. The training will be offered at weekends and evenings to ensure that it is accessible to working freelance crew in region.  

  • 7 x one day in-person workshops in Birmingham  
  • 5 x 90 mins online masterclasses  
  • 3 x 60 mins CV/employability support sessions  
  • 3-day placement on a production 

7 x In-person training sessions will happen on:   

  1. Saturday 11th October 
  2. Sunday 12th October 
  3. Saturday 18th October 
  4. Saturday 8th November 
  5. Sunday 9th November 
  6. Saturday 22nd November 
  7. Sunday 23rd November 

Online sessions – a mix of pathway champion check-ins and masterclasses. 

  • Tuesday 14th October 
  • Tuesday 21st October 
  • Tuesday 4th November 
  • Tuesday 11th November 
  • Tuesday 18th November 

Beyond the classroom 

All learners will receive ongoing employability support following completion of the training programme until end of March 2026. 

By the end of the training course 

Learning outcomes   

By the end of the course, we expect that learners will: 

  • have been trained by local industry professionals  
  • understand what the roles and opportunities are for them 
  • are familiar with the different sub-genres in Unscripted TV and their production processes from single-camera setups to studio productions  
  • have written an industry focussed CV 
  • have a bespoke and actionable career pathway in the local TV industry 
  • be ready to work in unscripted TV in the pathway of their choice

By the end of this course, you'll have the confidence and know-how to pursue roles in Unscripted TV and build a fulfilling and sustainable career in the fast-paced world of TV. 

Funding criteria and eligibility 

Eligibility is a requirement of our funding and means that we can offer this training FREE of charge. 

This course is open to all residents in the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) region who are: 

  • Aged 19 years or over* 
  • Not currently in full or part time education 
  • Not taken another WMCA funded course in the WMCA financial year (the financial year runs from September through to August) 

There is absolutely NO experience or previous qualifications required to be eligible for this course, just a passion to work in Film and TV in the West Midlands region and/or be a new entrant looking to make their career in unscripted TV. 

However, if you are a graduate from Higher Education with either: 

  • an arts and humanities degree including Film, TV, Radio, Animation, Communications, Journalism, Visual Communications, Production Design then you are NOT eligible for this course, but you are likely to be eligible for Create Central's Rock Up Ready training course. 
  • or you graduated up to 3 years ago from any discipline AND you have experience in the film, television and screen industries then you are NOT eligible for this course, but you are likely to be eligible for Create Central's Rock Up Ready training course. 

*AGE: To be eligible you need to have turned 19 on or before 31st August that precedes the start date of the course. 

Where will I learn? 

The training based for this programme will be BOA Stage and Screen Academy, 48 Stour St Birmingham B18 7AJ 

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Who will teach me? 

OUR TRAINING TEAM DELIVERS IN COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS 

On each practical training day we collaborate with industry professionals who are experts in this area of Unscripted TV production to share their knowledge and bring current best practice to our training. For this programme we are planning to work with professionals on local unscripted shows currently in production. 

Industry professionals who work with us regularly include:

Perjit Aujla 

Maria Needle 

Danielle Watkeys 

Danielle McGirr 

Naomi Webb 

Jack Richardson 

Sarah McCaffrey, Solas Mind 

Ellie Ashton 

Kurtis Taylor  

We also work closely with the participants on our Step Up to HOD Programme and our Mid-level course who are also WM-based industry professionals. 

Mission Accomplished Course Team 

Alison Grade | Course Leader

Alison founded and runs Mission Accomplished. The company regularly delivers training courses for ScreenSkills. Alison is an experienced Line Producer and Production Manager as well as a Nesta Accredited Creative Enterprise Trainer. She regularly delivers training that enables creatives to take their careers to the next level. Alison is the author of Penguin published book, The Freelance Bible and offers many workshops and training programmes to support freelancers.

Piper Jady  | Course Facilitator

Piper enjoys supporting learners through our courses: TV and Film Fusion and Early to Mid-level upskilling. Trained herself in TV, Film and Radio at BOA Academy she has an aptitude for helping others finding their path in TV and Film. Creative and organised she is here to help you through your time on this course. 

Delivery team

Our Funders

ScreenSkills Unscripted

This programme is delivered by Mission Accomplished, with the support of the BFI, awarding National Lottery funding, and The West Midlands Combined Authority.

Mission Accomplished is particularly keen to receive applications from traditionally excluded groups especially those from: 

  • People from racialised identities
  • People that are (d)Deaf, Disabled and/or Neurodivergent
  • Those who are care-experienced.
  • People from a refugee or disadvantaged migrant community
  • Those from a Gypsy, Roma or Traveller community
  • People from LGBTQI+ Communities
  • People from a working class/low-income background (or if you have identified as such in the past)

We welcome applications from all individuals. If you would like support completing the application form and/or would like us to send it to you in an alternative format, please email fusion@mission.guru. 

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