Channel 4 launches programmes to boost commissioning talent and indie growth in the Nations and Regions

Channel 4 has today announced the launch of two Nations and Regions initiatives to strengthen commissioning talent and help production companies maximise their potential. 

The schemes – the Junior Commissioning Editor Programme and Business Boost – are run by Channel 4’s development and training programme 4SKills and form key parts of the broadcaster’s ongoing strategy to champion creativity, inclusion, and opportunity throughout the UK’s Nations and Regions. 

The Junior Commissioning Editor Programme is a strategic, new initiative designed to develop the next generation of commissioning talent outside of London. The Business Boost scheme has been bolstered and overhauled to provide practical, bespoke training for leaders of N&R based production companies and help enhance their business skills and acumen.

Sinead Rocks, Channel 4’s Managing Director, Nations and Regions, said: “The Junior Commissioning Editor Programme is a strategic and meaningful investment in regional creative leadership. It not only helps us nurture and broaden the range of voices shaping our content but, coupled with our Business Boost programme, it will help build long-term resilience in the UK’s production ecosystem outside of London.”

Funded and led by Channel 4’s training and development arm, 4Skills, the Junior Commissioning Editor Programme offers producer level professionals the chance to take the next step in their editorial careers. Over the course of up to 18 months, trainees will be fully embedded within Channel 4’s Commissioning teams, gaining hands-on experience in content development, editorial decision-making, and production oversight.

Each participant will be mentored by a Senior Commissioning Editor, providing valuable insight into the commissioning process and the broadcaster’s editorial vision.

And 4Skills’ Business Boost scheme will launch in June and has been reconfigured to offer bespoke training programmes to improve leadership and business skills among N&R-based independent production companies. 

It will offer two key programmes, the Indie Business Builder designed to support early-stage indies and the Indie Scale Up Programme which will focus on established businesses poised for growth. Across both programmes, 4Skills expects to support around 20 indies in total.

Emma Hardy, Channel 4’s Director of Commissioning Operations, said: "Commissioning Editors play a vital role in shaping the content we offer to audiences, so it’s essential that these key decision-makers come from a diverse range of backgrounds, both in terms of who they are and where they’re from"

“And the Business Boost scheme will provide practical support and targeted training for indie leaders across the UK. By enhancing the business capabilities of creative leaders, this initiative aims to help companies maximise their potential, build resilience, and thrive in a competitive and rapidly evolving industry.”

The first three Junior Commissioning Editor roles are now open for application: two within Lifestyle (based in Glasgow and/or Leeds) and one within Factual Entertainment & Documentaries (based in Bristol).  Up to three additional placements will be recruited bringing the total cohort to six junior commissioning editors.

The Junior Commissioning Editor Programme forms part of a wider 4Skills programme that reflects Channel 4’s ambition to transform access to careers in TV and enhance business sustainability across the independent sector.

Last year Channel 4 announced a range of measures to increase commissions from independent production companies in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, reinforcing its commitment to regional representation and industry growth. The initiative included £35 million, ringfenced to support Nations-based producers, strengthening their role in shaping UK television content. 

The strategy, launched in October, focuses on three key areas—skills, content, and people—to better serve audiences across the country. Additionally, under its new 10-year licence, Channel 4 will raise its main channel content spend in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales from 9% to 12% by 2028, surpassing Ofcom’s 2030 quota requirement. To achieve this, £10 million will be allocated to Nations-based producers in 2026, increasing to £15 million in 2027.

Channel 4 is also strengthening its commissioning strategy and has appointed lead commissioning editors for each Nation, ensuring deeper engagement with key suppliers in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales. This approach is designed to foster stronger creative partnerships and collaboration.