Media Parents’ Back to Work via Edinburgh TV Festival Scheme

Media Parents' new scheme will help springboard parents and carers back into the TV workplace. For networking, jobs and great events please see www.mediaparents.co.uk

Media Parents will partner with GEITF, Channel 4, Endemol, ITV and the BBC to support parents getting back into TV – please apply!

Media Parents (a social enterprise set up to promote flexible working and help working parents balance the demands of media and childcare) is launching a new scheme to get parents and carers back in to the TV industry following a career break.

Four successful media parents / carers will be awarded sponsored places at this year’s Guardian Edinburgh International TV Festival (GEITF) in August. The places will be sponsored by Endemol, ITV, the BBC, and Channel4 and the successful candidates will be awarded a delegate pass, plus accommodation in Edinburgh, with bespoke mentoring sessions from the sponsors and Media Parents. The scheme is designed to reinvigorate careers and help talented individuals get back in to the workplace.

Amy Walker, founder of Media Parents, is delighted to be launching the scheme “Media Parents has always been about keeping experienced talent in television. The key objective of this scheme is that our delegates leave Edinburgh with new levels of confidence, motivation and a network of business contacts that will support their ambitions to get back into TV and keep the industry workforce diverse. Media Parents is delighted to be working with GEITF, Endemol, ITV Channel 4 and the BBC to deliver the scheme.”

Colin Campbell- Austin, People Development Manager, Channel 4 said: “At Channel 4 we pride ourselves on creating opportunities for passionate and talented people from all backgrounds and walks of life to maximise creativity. As a truly inclusive employer we are delighted to support parents returning to the TV industry.”

Miranda Wayland, Diversity and Inclusion Manager, ITV, which is also chairing the CDN this year, adds “Supporting Agile Working and diverse talent is important in our Industry, and the Media Parents ‘Back to Work’ scheme is a great way to help in attracting, retaining and progressing working parents.”

Bella Lambourne, HR Director at Endemol comments that “Endemol is delighted to support this scheme. Great talent is hard to come by and anything we can do to encourage good people to stay in the business is to be welcomed.”

Louise Benson, TV Festival Director said: “The Festival provides an intensive learning and networking experience for all delegates so we are delighted to offer this opportunity to time-pressured parents and carers.  I hope it helps provide the tools and confidence they need for a successful route back into TV”.

Media Parents was set up three years ago and works with a growing number of production companies and broadcasters sharing best practice on flexible working policies in TV production, listing flexible and standard contracts for experienced TV workers, and hosting networking events. Feedback from the production community has been hugely positive.  “Many people on Media Parents cannot be found on other jobsites,” adds Amy Walker, ”and we are delighted to be helping to retain and reintroduce experienced talent to the industry.”

Candidates will be asked to apply for a place via Media Parents and four successful candidates will be selected to take part. Amy Walker comments “It is so encouraging that we have such prestigious partners like Endemol, ITV, Channel 4 and the BBC mentoring, who have long been supporters of nurturing talent and championing the cause. The Edinburgh TV Festival is an unmissable event in the TV calendar, and attending will inspire people wanting to get back to work with a bang, and also help them to make great connections.”

Applicants are required to send a 300 word précis outlining their ambitions upon returning to TV and send CVs to admin@mediaparents.co.uk by end of July 2013 to be considered.

Candidates are required to have 3 years’ experience in TV and should not have worked continuously in TV for more than 12 weeks since their career break. This doesn’t mean you need to have been out of work for 12 weeks, it means you can’t have worked continuously for 12 weeks since you have returned to work.

See the Festival programme and dates here : http://www.geitf.co.uk/GEITF/programme

Applicants must subscribe to either the talent or network section of www.mediaparents.co.uk to apply for this scheme.

Applications close on July 31st 2013.

Visit www.mediaparents.co.uk to apply now. Follow Media Parents on Twitter @Mediaparents

For networking, jobs and great events please see www.mediaparents.co.uk