BBC Radio to launch Indie Development Fund
November 4, 2021
Charlotte Moore, BBC Chief Content Officer, has announced the launch of a fund specifically targeted at the audio Independent Production Community.
The Radio Indie Development Fund will see £250,000 annually allocated to back talented independent production companies, specifically supporting the BBC’s strategic priorities, with a current focus on its Across the UK plans and ambitious diversity commitments.
The fund is designed to boost the development capacity of the sector as well as create a pipeline of potential commissions from indies who may not already have sizable or regular commissions from the BBC. Successful indies will receive funding for a specific development idea or aspect of their work, and will also receive regular mentoring from the relevant BBC commissioning team.
The fund will be available to companies working across pop, classical, speech and podcast, granted on a company by company basis – based on the strength of creative potential and the ability to deliver to the BBC’s priorities.
Moore says: “The independent sector is booming with creative ideas and there are many small to medium sized companies who can help us to deliver more for our audiences. This development fund will support indies with their plans, feeding directly into the BBC’s commitments to champion new talent, increase diversity and be more representative of the UK as a whole.”
Chloe Straw, Managing Director of AudioUK, the trade association for audio production companies, says: “We welcome the launch of this fund which will help independent production companies from all over the UK grow and develop, enabling them to reflect a more diverse range of voices, perspectives, stories and ideas in the BBC’s radio output.”