Design runner

Closing date for applications: Sunday 27th July at 11.5pm

Salary: £25,767

Duration: 12 months

Start date: August 2025

Are you passionate about interiors, storytelling, and hands-on creativity? Love the sound of transforming spaces into immersive sets? If you thrive in a fast-paced, physical environment and have an eye for design, keep reading...

Since producing the now legendary Brookside, Lime Pictures has gone on to deliver some of TV’s most iconic programmes. Its shows cover a wide range of genres from reality to scripted drama. For over 30 years the production company has pioneered new formats, using TV not only for on-screen storytelling but as an off-screen platform to reach younger audiences. Shows have also won countless awards including the Double Daytime Emmy winning Free Rein for Netflix, Multi award winning Hollyoaks and of course, the BAFTA winning reality series The Only Way is Essex for ITV.

The purpose of the design runner role is to provide help and support to the Design department, specifically working closely with the set dressers to ensure all sets are dressed correctly and de-rigged accordingly.

Your primary objective is to aid the set dresser in the smooth running of operations and logistics – undertaking tasks to ensure all sets are dressed correctly and punctually, ready for the arrival of the crew. Similarly, you will help de-rig sets and return dressings to the appropriate areas often under tight time constraints. Therefore, strong time management skills and an ability to cope with physical and strenuous work are vital to this role.

Good communication skills are also important as building effective working relationships across departments (shoot crew, site managers, construction, painters etc.) is imperative when working together to create the vision of the production.

The design runner should have a creative eye and a keen understanding of the sets, characters and storylines in order to offer creative input wherever required. You will report to the head set dresser on the Design team led by the head of design.

Key activities

• Follow direction from the set dressers to assist with dressing sets
• Carefully match dressing continuity to set dresser’s photos
• Assist the set dressers to prepare, create and build character dressing props
• Provide creative ideas and input into set and location dressing
• Collect dressings and furniture from storage areas
• Assist with the de-rig of sets and dressings
• Assist with admin jobs in the set dressing office
• Potential for the temporary cover of the set dresser position
• Working early and late shifts with the potential of more responsibility in the set dressing role
• Manual handling and heavy lifting
• Liaising with and maintaining good working relationships with shoot crew, day store team, graphics, buyers, production, construction/painters and designers
• Being able to understand and process information from call sheets and production schedule boards
• Updating dressers of schedule changes throughout the day
• Assist with general design duties as and when required.

Knowledge, skills and experience

Essential

• Keen interest in interior design, television production, theatre or film
• Design/media related degree or NVQ level (or higher) qualification or relevant experience
• Creative flair and meticulous eye for detail
• Good time management skills
• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to use own initiative
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Following directions/instruction thoroughly
• Good organisational skills
• Ability to problem solve.

Desirable

• Knowledge of programme compliance and understanding importance of continuity
• Knowledge of programme specific style
• Experienced in driving vans
• Prop making skills
• Painting/Creative skills e.g. breaking down dressings, drawing, sign writing,
• Experience of erecting backing flats correctly and safely
• Hand and machine sewing skills e.g. making table clothes, lining curtains
• Experience using tools correctly and safety e.g. drills and staple guns
• Experience using materials correctly and safely (COSHH) e.g. spray paints and glues
• Experience working at height correctly and safely
• An understanding of basic health and safety issues relating to a television environment
• Production Health and Safety qualification
• Manual Handling Certification
• Full Driving License.

To apply

• Log in to your Creative Access account or register today to apply for this opportunity
• Upload your CV and cover letter as one document (applications without a tailored cover letter will not be accepted)
• Once submitted, you can no longer amend your application, so proof-read carefully
• Do not contact the company directly
• Please email any queries about this role to Creative Access at this address: recruit@creativeaccess.org.uk

This opportunity is open to individuals from groups that are under-represented in the creative industries. This includes, but is not limited to, individuals who identify as Black, Asian, or from other ethnically diverse backgrounds, or people of any ethnicity who belong to the following under-represented groups: disabled people, people with the characteristic of gender reassignment, individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, carers and asylum seekers.

The successful candidate for this opportunity will also participate in a Creative Access support programme that sits alongside workplace training. This includes a programme of induction training, monthly masterclasses, wellbeing support, buddying / mentoring and more.