Trainee researcher (Leeds and Manchester)

Salary: £25,000-£30,000

Location: Leeds and Manchester

Start your journey in the screen industries, gaining hands-on experience with leading production companies in the North of England.

Being a researcher in the TV industry requires you to watch a lot of TV... reckon you could handle it?!

But it's not all play and no work, you're watching with a purpose! To be a great researcher you need to be highly observant, able to spot tiny details and use your creative eye to solve problems.

What you might be doing as a Researcher

• Conducting thorough research: Assist in gathering information for projects, including fact-checking, sourcing materials, and compiling data for presentations and other production needs.
• Supporting senior team members: Provide research assistance for various topics and content areas as directed by senior researchers, producers, or writers.
• Organising research materials: Help to organize and manage research findings.
• Assist with sourcing media: Help find relevant archival footage, images, audio, or interviews to support the production’s needs.
• Collaborating with the team: Work closely with other team members to ensure the research aligns with the project’s goals and creative direction.
• Finding contributors: Helping to find and interview contributors who take part in programmes.
• Assisting on location: You may be required to help out on a shoot whether in the studio or on location. Travel may be required.

Convince Us You Could Be A Great Researcher!

• In your application (in reference to question 1), tell us about how you demonstrate these characteristics. Make sure you use examples including anything relevant you did in any work experience, a part-time job or even in your personal life.
• You will be a great researcher if you:
• have a curiosity about the world and people and are well-informed
• have strong attention to detail
• are comfortable managing tight deadlines and handling multiple tasks simultaneously
• are a good communicator
• love being a team player who thrives in collaborative environments, while also being able to work independently when needed
• are tenacious and want to get the job done

• are excited to build a career in TV and Digital Content production

Opportunities Available

True North Productions - Trainee Researcher

• True North Productions, based in Leeds West Yorkshire, is one of the UK’s most prominent non-scripted production companies.
• They make compelling content that's watched in almost every territory in the world - from distinctive daytime television to headline-grabbing reality and hard-hitting documentaries.
• Current titles include Top Guns: Inside the RAF, A New Life in the Sun, Help We Bought a Village, Warship – Life on the Frontline, Murder Scene: The Incident Room, Forensics: Catching A Killer, Ashley Cain into the Danger Zone, and Teen Mom UK.
• The company prides itself on a supportive and inclusive culture, fostering an environment where creativity thrives. Our values emphasise trust, diversity, and a commitment to excellence, guiding our approach to both content creation and workplace dynamics.
• True North's headquarters are situated in Marshall's Mill, a historic building just a five-minute walk from Leeds city centre and the train station.
• The office operates from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., with a one-hour lunch break, and supports a hybrid working model, typically involving three days in the office and two days working from home, depending on production requirements.
• As part of its commitment to employee well-being, True North offers a dedicated Welfare Supervisor to support production teams, along with various initiatives such as diversity training, mental health sessions, and participation in events like Leeds Pride. These efforts underscore the company's dedication to maintaining a positive and inclusive workplace culture.
• https://www.c4productiontrainingscheme.com/opportunities/researcher/trainee-researcher-true-north-productions

Air TV - Trainee Researcher

Air TV is one of the fastest-growing independent TV and digital production companies in the UK with an unrivalled reputation for creating high-impact, award-winning factual TV and exciting online content.

From the hugely popular classic car show Bangers & Cash to returning favourites Yorkshire Air 999 and Helicopter ER, popular history format Warplane Workshop and the new YouTube series First Landings, our programmes are hits in the UK and around the world. We also specialise in property shows with Derelict Rescue and Dales for Sale, and series that celebrate the British landscape such as Cumbria: The Lakes and The Coast.

Air TV works closely with the BBC, Channel 4, Channel 5, Warner Bros Discovery and UKTV - as well as having a thriving digital content division, making new digital series for YouTube. We recently won the “Gamechanger Programme of the Year” award at the Broadcast Digital Awards for Bangers & Cash. We’re also proud to have been officially recognised as one of the UK’s best places to work in TV for six years running.

We invest in our people and our amazing team members are some of the most highly trained in TV. Many are qualified to work in the most challenging environments alongside emergency service teams on the ground – and in the air. We have regular team events, a renowned mentoring programme and a brilliant team atmosphere in our unique and modern production offices overlooking the runway at Leeds East Airport.

Our office hours are generally 9:00am to 5:00pm, Monday to Friday, although this can vary by production. Hybrid working options are available for some roles. Before applying, please make sure you’re happy to travel to our office location if your application is successful.

https://www.c4productiontrainingscheme.com/opportunities/researcher/trainee-researcher-air-tv

Workerbee - Trainee Researcher

Workerbee is a Manchester based TV Production company specialising in premium unscripted content both for UK and global networks and platforms. Part of the Banijay UK family, we live for inspirational stories told using the highest production values.

We operate across two divisions – Formats (which include Peacock’s no.1 alternative series Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge, The Bridge for HBO Max and Channel 4 and Idris Elba’s Fight School for BBC) and films (Janet Jackson for A&E, Lifetime, Hulu and Sky, That Peter Crouch Film and Four Kings for Amazon.)

At Workerbee, we create happy teams who can do their best work. We have a collaborative ‘no blame’ culture, giving people real opportunities to shine and thrive, whilst being properly supported by experienced staff. We are dedicated to helping our employees grow through training, support, and mentoring.

We are a Real Living Wage, Class Confident and Disability Confident Employer.

Our office hours are 9.30am to 6.00pm, Monday to Friday. Hybrid working options are available with all staff in the office 3 days a week on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

https://www.c4productiontrainingscheme.com/opportunities/researcher/trainee-researcher-workerbee

We welcome and encourage applications from candidates who are under-represented in the creative industries.

Please make sure that you state in your application that you found this role via Creative Access.