The Beeb will support 50 Independent Companies to invest in TV & Radio Production across the UK…
As part of the corporation’s commitment to supporting the creative industries in all four nations and boosting production capabilities to deliver the most distinctive content for audiences, the BBC has today confirmed the independent production companies that will receive bespoke mentoring and over £1.7m in investment over the next year.
In total, 50 indies will receive support across three dedicated schemes: the TV Small Indie Fund, the Hot House co-commissioning scheme and the BBC Radio & Music Indie Development Fund. All recipients of these funds receive strategic investment, mentors from the commissioning teams across TV and Radio, and a programme of introductions to wider BBC teams, to help them grow and develop their ideas.
David Pembrey, Chief Operating Officer, BBC Content:
“In a global market which continues to see production consolidation, we remain committed to investing in new and smaller Independent businesses and the UK’s creative industries. We want to ensure our audiences get to enjoy the very best homegrown storytelling, for which investment in the roots of production across the UK is vital.”
Launched in 2020, the TV Small Indie Fund supports the growth of small independent production companies from across the UK with turnovers below £10m across Drama, Comedy, Film, Entertainment, Factual, Daytime and Children’s. Exceeding the original budget of £1m, this year 33 companies will be supported through the fund and receive a total of c £1.3m. The TV Small Indie Fund continues to focus support for companies based in the Nations & Regions with 76% of companies based outside of London, with 3 in both the West Midlands, and the North East.
The 2025 cohort also sees the highest ever number of diverse-led producers – with 79% of companies having at least two individuals in specific leadership roles from one of the following under-represented groups: Black, Asian or minority ethnic, deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent and/or Working class.
First piloted in 2022, the Hot House co-commissioning scheme is a joint initiative between BBC Unscripted and BBC Northern Ireland with support from Northern Ireland Screen, aimed at growing network production capacity in the region. The initiative provides Northern Ireland indies with advice and support from the network and Northern Ireland commissioning teams, and slate development funding to help them compete for BBC network factual commissions and BBC NI/ BBC network co-commissions.
Eight Northern Irish independent companies have now been chosen to receive £25k from the BBC, with the opportunity to apply for match funding from Northern Ireland Screen. The companies will focus their development work in three discrete Network genres – Documentaries, Factual Entertainment and Daytime & Early Peak.
Now in its third year, BBC Radio’s Indie Development Fund supports and champions indies who are based across the UK. This year for the first time, the 11 successful indies can work with commissioning teams across BBC Music or Speech, receiving support and insights from the entire audio division, not just one radio station. All the recipients of the Radio Indie Development Fund, worth £250k in total, are based outside of London and more than half (55%) are run by a diverse leadership team.
In addition, in the context of challenges across the industry we will be providing a series of monthly online insight sessions aimed at all smaller producers. These will include business and editorial sessions accessible to everyone to engage with the Beeb’s strategy and resources.
Eddie Doyle, Head of Content Commissioning, BBC Northern Ireland:
“The second phase of the Hot House scheme is now well under way with our network commissioning colleagues and Northern Ireland Screen and it’s been fantastic to see the passion and ambition that Northern Ireland independents have brought to the table. That eight separate local companies are now moving forward and benefitting from the scheme is a great thing for them and the creative industries here in Northern Ireland.”
