Grierson DocLab: New Entrants training programme - supported by National Geographic

UK-based people aged 18-25 have until 17:00 on Thursday 19 February 2026 to apply for this prestigious training programme. Grierson DocLab: New Entrants aims to help people without connections to the factual TV and documentary industry take their first steps into securing the work experience and networks to succeed in the sector.

About Grierson DocLab
Grierson DocLab: New Entrants is a training programme that helps UK-based new entrants aged 18-25 thrive in the world of factual TV and documentary filmmaking. It has been running since 2012 and, coupled with our specialist training programmes supported by Netflix and Prime Video Pathway, has seen over 200 trainees go through the programme.

The initiative takes place over approximately one year and aims to equip 12 successful trainees with the skills, knowledge, confidence and connections to pursue a career in the UK factual TV industry. Grierson DocLab has an established track record of supporting those from under-represented backgrounds in the screen industries and especially welcomes applications from those backgrounds.

Successful applicants to Grierson DocLab: New Entrants will receive:

• An intensive training programme delivered by industry professionals (more details below)
• A bursary-supported work placement at a production company for up to four weeks
• Full registration for Sheffield DocFest, with all associated costs to attend covered
• Mentoring from an industry professional
• Matched with a Grierson DocLab Alumni buddy
• Networking opportunities
• Unique access to Grierson DocLab webinars hearing from industry professionals
• A ticket to the Grierson Awards ceremony
• Access to and membership of the Grierson DocLab
• Alumni network
• Bespoke, ongoing support to help career progression within the sector

The training programme will include:

• An outline of the variety of routes into the industry including editorial and production management roles
• An overview of different documentary and factual genres, their grammar and conventions
• How to find and develop ideas
• An overview of how broadcast commissioning works
• How production works, along with how production management works with editorial departments
• Practical exercises to hone pitching and teamworking skills
• Talks from guest industry speakers
• Hearing from Grierson DocLab Alumni about how their careers have progressed since being on the programme

 

Cost
All expenses associated with participating will be covered by the Grierson Trust, including travel, accommodation and food, and it is free to apply. All placements will be supported via bursaries to help with living costs.

 

Who should apply?
Grierson DocLab seeks young people aged 18-25 who have a demonstrable passion for factual television, from nature documentaries to reality TV, short-form content to feature docs and everything in between. We are looking for applicants who have ideas about how they can contribute to the industry, and who can offer fresh perspectives that are not currently reflected on-screen or behind the scenes.

In addition to the creative team roles (editorial), we welcome applications from candidates who are strong communicators, who have excellent collaborative skills and are brilliant organisers who can multi-task; all key skills to work in factual production management.

If you don’t know the difference between editorial and production, get up to speed with ScreenSkills’ careers maps, and their skills checklists or further useful information can be found on the Royal Television Society website.

The programme is open to any UK resident with the right to work here, who is aged 18-25 at the time of applying. It aims to help new entrants become job-ready to take up opportunities in the factual programme-making industry.

Applicants may be in full-time education at the time of applying but must be in their final year of studies to be eligible. Candidates will not be eligible if they have undertaken an industry placement or work experience that lasted more than three months.

Grierson DocLab: New Entrants is aimed at helping those without connections get their first foothold on the factual TV and documentary industry career ladder.

 

Diversity, Inclusion and Access
The Trust is an inclusive organisation that has a long-standing track record of supporting under-represented groups in the factual TV industry.

We actively encourage applications from individuals from lower socio-economic/working class backgrounds, people from global majority backgrounds; disabled people, those from the LGBTQ+ community and candidates from geographical areas across the UK that do not have many opportunities in the screen industries to apply.

This is not a definitive list and those applying will have the opportunity to make their case as to how they meet these criteria. This is in line with the positive action provision of the Equality Act 2010.

Read more in our guidance document about how we ensure candidates are considered fairly and are supported.

In return, this industry-supported training initiative will give successful applicants the knowledge, tools and networks to take that first step towards a rewarding career in factual programme-making.

 

Application process
Before starting your application, please carefully read the essential reading for applying and FAQs which includes guidance around using generative AI. Once you have done so, complete the online application and upload your CV as a PDF file.

If you are reapplying to the programme, please be aware that there have been changes to the guidelines and application questions since last year.

Please ensure you have the name and email addresses of two references (either both professional referees or one character reference and one professional reference, neither to be a friend or a family member), ready on applying.

Please ensure you have your CV ready to upload. Please save it as a PDF with your full name included in the file name.

If you have accessibility requirements, would like help with your application due to a disability, would like to submit your application answers via video rather than written form, or require any other reasonable adjustments, please email training@griersontrust.org or call +44 (0) 1462 630310.

Applications will close at 17:00 on Thursday 19 February 2026.
Please ensure you have received your confirmation email on submitting your online application.

You will be notified by Thursday 19 March if you have been shortlisted for an interview.

Due to the high number of applications, we regret that we cannot provide feedback to individual applicants who aren't successful. No late applications will be accepted.

Bursary applicable

There are ScreenSkills bursaries available to cover some or all of the costs of this training course - including travel, accommodation, subsistence, care or disability access support to attend this course. To find out more about the support you may be eligible for, click the button below:

Apply for a bursary

About this listing

This training course is not funded or commissioned by ScreenSkills, but has been reviewed to ensure it is meeting agreed standards such as industry-led diversity targets, appropriate business insurance, and evidence of previous quality training provision.