BBC Elevate

About Elevate

BBC Elevate aims to progress the careers of mid-level deaf, disabled and neurodivergent TV production talent who have faced barriers within the industry which may have limited their progression so far, offering six to 12 month placements within production companies along with tailored training, coaching and/or mentoring and support for the company. We fund a substantial part of the salary and support the process of reasonable adjustments needed within the placement company.

The initiative is talent-led, so we get to know the candidates’ skills, experience and goals, and look at how we can help reduce the barriers to find the right placement match for them.

The majority of Elevate candidates have stayed in their elevated role and have continued to progress their careers across the industry. We are proud to have welcome back two researchers who had given up on the industry, support a key talent move from factual to scripted comedy, encouraged a production coordinator to move into an editorial role and supported a director in factual to move to drama on a long running series.

Placements on Productions

We have arranged placements on productions including Strictly Come Dancing, Great British Menu, The Wheel, Holby City, Eating with my Ex, Ready Steady Cook, The Repair Shop, The Rap Game UK and Two Doors Down.

Elevate Objectives

• A greater pool of off-screen disabled talent regularly working across the industry - on productions with no or incidental disability portrayal, as well as integrated and landmark disability representation.
• Host production companies growing in their confidence working with disabled talent, to see the benefits and opportunities, and to go on to actively seek and include disabled talent beyond BBC Elevate
• BBC leading the way in the broadcast industry when it comes to ensuring the best disabled talent can truly develop and progress in their careers.
• Audiences, disabled and non-disabled alike, consuming a greater amount of content that includes more authentic, engaging and impactful storytelling around the lives and experiences of disabled people

Meet Georgina Bobb, a previous BBC Elevate candidate:

"When I noticed the BBC Elevate scheme was advertising and offering support for people like me I had no option but to apply. I have 15 years of experience working within television and media with over 50 broadcast credits within production, and also have bipolar disorder.

Knowing that the scheme provided additional training and a work buddy really enticed me to apply.

As part of my placement I was given first-class production management training on all aspects of production by various top industry leaders which I absolutely loved, and was supported so much by my work buddy and the Elevate project manager.

My placement was on The Repair Shop as a production coordinator. Since then I have secured a junior production manager role on another production. I want to thank everyone at BBC Elevate for being so inclusive and supportive of my career. I definitely recommend you apply."