Trainee Success Stories

Many of the individuals and companies we’ve supported have gone on to prosper and grow. Here are just a few of the success stories:

Daisy Yin Wang
Daisy has just returned from a super successful trainee placement in Hong Kong, where she was selling Programmes made by Granada to the Chinese Media. A full interview can be read on the CDNN website. Well done Daisy.

Youlanda Johnson
Media Foundation Placement Scheme trainee Youlanda has secured employment at the BBC North West Tonight Newsroom! Youlanda Johnson began the training scheme as a Team Assistant but it is testimony to the impact she made on her fellow colleagues, they decided to create a previously unrecognised role – just for her! In March 2008, Youlanda will be starting her new role as Broadcast Assistant which will give her more opportunity to develop her journalism skills.

When told she would be offered the position, she was understandably over the moon. "I’m really glad I have been able to get a job after the scheme in a sense I can start progressing with my career in the BBC and get more experience as a Broadcast Assistant."

Youlanda fully appreciates the role that the MFPS has had on her career up to date. She comments: "The scheme has played the biggest role in my career to date. The number of times I have tried to get through the doors of the BBC and being unable to do so… so to go straight into the newsroom on the traineeship was absolutely brilliant. I don’t think I would have been able to get here (BBC) without the scheme."
Carly Fenn
Media Foundation Placement Scheme trainee Carly Fenn has just begun work as a costume assistant for a new BBC programme called Trexx and Flipside at the Pie Factory in Salford Quays. Whilst on the scheme Carly was based at Lime Pictures as a costume assistant on Hollyoaks and Grange Hill. As part of her new role Carly is working on the set floor writing notes and watching for continuity as well as looking after the artists.

Ms Fenn was recommended for the job after working on Coronation Street as part of her attachment placement. Her colleagues were so impressed with her work that the supervisor called her and offered her a position outright! This is a great example of the type of job networking opportunity the MFPS offers its trainees, according to Carly:

“It has given me the opportunity to get on-the-job experience and to learn the nature of costume in TV, also it’s given me the chance to meet and network with the right people!” About her time on the MFPS as a whole Carly found it to be: “Amazing, I loved every minute of it, from the development sessions to working in extreme conditions! I have learnt so much!”
Tahira Dar
Media Foundation Placement Scheme trainee Tahira Dar has secured herself a fantastic employment opportunity - before the end of the scheme! Tahira began her year long training placement as a Broadcast Assistant within BBC Radio’s Drama Department. It is a testament to Tahira’s success that when a Broadcast Assistant role became available in her department both her line manager at the BBC Sue Roberts and the MFPS manager Michele Bentham encouraged her to apply for the contracted position.

“The scheme gave me the opportunity to work in the department as a trainee, where I got lots of experience by shadowing broadcast assistants and learning about what the role entails. It has really benefited me in lots of ways as I was able to put into practise the skills I had learnt. I’ve had a great time and would recommend the scheme as a fantastic start in the industry."

Tahira has now been working under her new contract since the New Year and is a clear demonstration of the real outcomes of the MFPS.
Aisha Khan
Winner of BANG writing competition
Aisha was a writer from Manchester who’d written for stage, but never broke into the world of writing for Television. Aisha entered the ‘BANG’ competition which Vision and Media supported with BBC Writers Room. Aisha won this and was then one of the 11 writers who went on a week long residency to Bore Place with the Writer’s Room supported by Vision and Media to be mentored and supported by BBC Writers, Script Editors and Producers. Vision and Media then support Aisha on a 10 week placement with 2 BBC Dramas – ‘Doctors’ and Radio Drama ‘Silver Street’. Because of this placement, she was then successful in getting a commission with the BBC to write 5 episodes of Silver Street. Aisha also attended as a guest of Northwest Vision and Media at the RTS Awards in November 2007.

Henry Ditchfield
Henry is a current participant in our digit-homme scheme. After completing a Plug-In placement with Title Role Productions in Manchester, Henry has worked with them on recently broadcast ITV programme The Consumer Police.

Lou Armer
As an ex digit-elle, Lou was appointed as the Project Co-ordinator for North Manchester FM, a new community radio station in August 2007. The project is administered by Radio Regen, and MANCAT are a key partner. Lou says: “I just wanted to share my recent success with you. The training I was able to access through you has undoubtedly helped me to get here, so thank you!”

Leon Seth
Leon has graduated from our Last Mile new entrant scheme to film, direct and edit his own film, Love Lane Lives, in conjunction with Liverpool University historian Ron Noon. Leon has followed his time on the scheme by working with local companies First Take and WFA, putting his new skills to use and developing his technical knowledge. The film enjoyed a special screening at the Tate Gallery Liverpool in October 2007.

If you have your own achievement to share, email johannaha@visionandmedia.co.uk with SUCCESS in the header