Enabling North West Talent Scheme Success

THE Enabling North West Talent (ENWT) scheme, designed to support people with disabilities into the media industries, is now drawing to a close. The scheme has been a great success, enabling some of our talent from around the North West to gain experience of production through a six month on the job placement at ITV Granada.

“Getting your foot in the door and progressing once you have is difficult for anyone, however if you are disabled the barriers are even more complex and impenetrable,” explains Janette O’Carroll, Training and Development Manager at Media Training North West. “Less than 1.5% of the UK audio visual industry is represented by people with a disability and it is well known that the term Disability in the workplace starts to become synonymous with CAN’T DO. Thankfully ENWT has helped everyone focus on the CAN DO – the CAN DO if differently, the CAN DO it better, the CAN DO it the same.”

For Nadia O’Connell in particular, the scheme provided much needed support. The traineeship boosted her skills and confidence so much that she has now secured an additional 12 months of training on the Media Foundation Placement Scheme, also run by Media Training North West.

Nadia says, “the Enabling North West Talent Scheme has been a wonderful spring board for me. Without it I wouldn’t be a Trainee Researcher for Religion and Ethics at the BBC on the Media Foundation Placement Scheme which I’m doing today, my dream role, and it’s all because Enabling North West Talent opened up the opportunity for me.”

“Working in partnership has been key to the success of this scheme.” Adds Janette. “The commitment and dedication of all scheme partners has been fantastic. We hope this is just the start of a long-lasting relationship.”

To say thank you to all involved, there will be a brunch at Bar 38 on Tuesday 12th June. It will be an invaluable forum for the trainees and others to share their thoughts on the scheme, and their aspirations for the future.