The RTS is delighted to announce that British television presenter AJ Odudu will be an Ambassador for the scheme, which will see her meeting and mentoring the scholars and attending bursaries events, as well as using her platform to highlight the importance of the RTS bursary schemes for up-and-coming talent in the television industry.

One of the core goals of the RTS is to support the television industry in reflecting the exciting and diverse voices of Britain today, and across all three of the RTS bursary schemes – the TV Production and Journalism (TVPJ) Bursary, the Digital Innovation (DI) Bursary and the Steve Hewlett Scholarship – they will now give applicants the option of providing application responses via video to help further accessibility efforts. As part of the TVPJ scheme, one of the successful bursary recipients will receive the Beryl Vertue Scholarship, which was first introduced in 2022.

This year the RTS is celebrating 10 years since the launch of the bursary schemes, which have now supported around 350 talented students since their inception. Of the bursary recipients,  82% have gone on to forge careers in the television and media industries in a variety of impressive roles, from production management at Netflix, to development at Sister Pictures and multi-media journalism at ITV and Channel 4.

Theresa Wise, CEO of the RTS, said: “The RTS Bursaries shine a spotlight on the wide range of talented young people that make our industry thrive. We are proud to continue supporting students from all backgrounds as they join the RTS family of previous scholars and alumni. It’s also a privilege to have AJ Odudu on board as Ambassador to the scheme, who has reached impressive heights in her career and will be an inspiration to current and future scholars.”

British television presenter, AJ Odudu, said: “It's an honour to be on board as an Ambassador for the RTS bursary schemes. As someone who worked their way up and started my career with no connections in the TV industry, coming from a working-class background in Blackburn to finding my feet in the industry, I know how important being supported by such a prestigious institution will be for the recipients, and look forward to meeting the talented students and hearing all about their aspirations for the future.”

Grace Hynds, 2023 RTS bursary recipient, said: “My first year as an RTS Bursary Scholar gave me plethora of opportunities to network and meet like-minded individuals, such as through the annual Patron’s Dinner. The bursary also supported me greatly financially – I was able to contribute funding towards my university short film, television programme, and editing software for my coursework. The RTS has been unparalleled in helping me to form connections with my peers in the television industry.”

The schemes attract widespread support in the form of donations to fund bursaries and industry engagement through mentoring, hosting networking events, and offering internships and work experience. Donations from STV, Apple TV+, All3Media, Steve Hewlett Fund, Hartswood Films, ITV Daytime, as well as in-kind support from many other companies and individuals, have enabled the scheme to grow and flourish.

For more information on eligibility and how to apply please visit: https://rts.org.uk/education-and-trainingpages/bursaries  

RTS Bursary Schemes Background Information:

The programmes aim to:

• Increase the diversity and inclusivity of the workforce by recruiting people from diverse backgrounds.
• Demonstrate to scholars that the TV industry can offer them a wealth of interesting and inspiring career opportunities.
• The Digital Innovation bursary aims to address skills gaps in the industry through recruiting scholars studying subjects including but not limited to VFX, IT systems, Engineering, Cyber Security and Virtual Reality.
• The Television Production and Journalism bursary aims to address skill gaps in the industry through recruiting scholars studying subjects including but not limited to TV Production, Journalism, Animation, Costume Design and Set Design.

Additional information:

• The RTS runs three main schemes - the TV Production and Journalism Bursary, the Digital Innovation Bursary and the Steve Hewlett Scholarship.
• The RTS introduced the Beryl Vertue Scholarship in 2022. From the pool of applicants being considered for the TV Production and Journalism bursary, one additional scholarship is to be awarded to an exceptional candidate with an interest in producing. The successful scholar will receive additional support and funding from Hartswood Films, the company run by the daughters of the late Beryl Vertue.
• All bursaries are awarded to talented students from lower-income backgrounds studying an undergraduate degree or HND Level 5 or 6.
• The RTS considers candidates studying all subjects: including but not limited to TV Production and Journalism; Humanities and Social Sciences; and STEM related courses, provided that the student demonstrates an evident interest in pursuing a career in television, film or related media industries.