5 and Brinkworth have announced a partnership to launch a new unscripted production training programme based in Bristol. The initiative, operating out of the Brinkworth West facility, will provide structured training and mentoring for twelve trainees over the next three years.
The scheme is designed to address the specific skill gaps in non-fiction television production by offering hands-on experience within a working broadcast environment. Trainees will be embedded in the production teams of 5's unscripted output, gaining practical exposure to the full lifecycle of a programme from development through to delivery. This direct immersion allows participants to understand the operational and creative demands of the unscripted genre, moving beyond theoretical instruction to active participation in current commissions. The focus on Bristol reflects the growing concentration of production infrastructure in the South West, utilising Brinkworth's local facilities to anchor the training in a real-world production context.
Brinkworth serves as the production partner for the programme, leveraging its existing infrastructure to host the trainees. 5 will provide the commissioning context and mentoring personnel, ensuring that the trainees are integrated into ongoing editorial and production decisions. This collaboration builds on the network's ongoing investment in workforce development and the production company's commitment to nurturing new talent within the unscripted sector. The first cohort of twelve trainees will begin their placements at the Brinkworth West base, marking the start of a three-year cycle aimed at producing a new generation of production professionals for the unscripted market.