The Julie Burnell Scholarship:

WFTV Production Management Programme

In partnership with

Women in Film and TV (UK) (WFTV) is proud to announce the launch of the 2026 Julie Burnell Scholarship: WFTV Production Management Programme, in partnership with ScreenSkills High-end TV Skills Fund.

This initiative reflects WFTV’s ongoing commitment to supporting women in Production Management and helping them advance their careers in in High-end TV and in film, with a particular focus on those from underrepresented backgrounds.

Applications for the 2026 scheme are now open until 17th April

Which cities fall under the North of England scheme?

Manchester (including Salford)
Leeds (including Wakefield)
Hull
Newcastle
Liverpool
Bradford
Sheffield
Carlisle
Chester
Durham
Lincoln
Lancaster
York
Sunderland

About the Programme

This initiative is tailored for women based in the North of England who are working in production management, line producing roles production executives and heads/directors of production, particularly those from lower socio-economic and underrepresented backgrounds.

The scholarship will provide four selected women with an unparalleled opportunity to accelerate their careers and develop as future industry leaders.

The programme will be led by WFTV Mentoring Producer, North of England, Helen Bullough.

Career and personal development workshops

Access tailored career and personal development workshops designed to help you build essential skills, boost your confidence, and advance your career.

Exclusive masterclasses

Gain insider knowledge and expert insights through exclusive masterclasses led by leading industry experts.

Mentoring

Receive personalised guidance and advice through one-to-one mentoring with senior industry professionals, helping you navigate your career with confidence.

The application form

Please note that you cannot save your progress on this form and return to it later. We recommend preparing and saving your answers in advance before completing the form.

For help with filling out the form, contact admin@wftv.org.uk or 020 7287 1400. You can also submit your answers via an audio file to admin@wftv.org.uk.

About Julie Burnell

This initiative is made possible with the generous support of ScreenSkills, in tribute to the late Julie Burnell, former Head of Production for Drama at ITV Studios, who passed away in 2023.

Julie was a highly respected production executive, instrumental in bringing acclaimed dramas such as Vera, Lewis, Mr Selfridge, and Poirot to the screen. She was also a passionate advocate for developing female talent in the industry.

The 2025 cohort:

Pictured from left to right: Fahima Chowdhury, Helen Bullough, Melanie Rainbow, Lynsey Palmer and Nicole Forrest. Photo Credit: Claire Dixon.

Thank you to our partner ScreenSkills

Launched in 2013, the High-end Television Skills’ Fund has invested over £40 million in skills and training. Alongside independent production companies, the five major broadcasters support the Fund along with streamers including Acorn Media, Amazon, Apple, Disney, Netflix, Sony and Warner Media and since launch over 1,200 productions have contributed to the Fund.

ScreenSkills is the skills body for the UK screen industries. An independent charity, industry funded and business-led, it helps to train people at every career stage who make UK content which everyone loves and trusts. By identifying key skills gaps using industry data and insight, ScreenSkills plays a leading role in the creation of high quality, accessible and standardised training and development programmes that creates and sustains a skilled and inclusive workforce, enabling growth and future innovation, and actively contributing to the future creativity, health and prosperity of the sector. ScreenSkills is evidence-based and data-informed, a respected thought-leader across the sector, and an agile delivery partner embedded throughout the entire cycle of content production.