WFTV announces Julie Burnell Scholarship
March 23, 2026
Women in Film and TV has announced the Julie Burnell Scholarship: WFTV Production Management Programme, supported by the ScreenSkills High-end TV Skills Fund, will return for 2026 following its inaugural success last year.
Now in its second year, the scholarship offers specialised development opportunities to women based in the North of England and working in production management or line producing roles, particularly those from lower socio-economic and underrepresented backgrounds.
Offering career and personal development workshops, exclusive masterclasses with leading industry experts and one-to-one mentoring with senior professionals in the industry, the programme highlights WFTV’s ongoing commitment to empowering women in Production Management and advancing their careers within High-end TV (HETV) and film.
Led by Helen Bullough, WFTV’s North of England Mentoring Producer, this intensive four-month programme offers four women an unparalleled opportunity to accelerate their careers and develop as future industry leaders.
Applications for the 2026 WFTV Production Management Programme are open now. Applications close on April 17th.
Participant in the 2025 programme and line producer, Fahima Chowdhury, said: “Few programmes like this exist for mid to senior level crew, and it’s vital to have opportunities for career advancement outside the daily demands of production work”
Production manager Lynsey Palmer also secured a place in 2025, adding: “[The programme] allowed me to expand my network and gain advice from industry leaders whose guidance I found truly transformative”
The initiative is a tribute to the late Julie Burnell, former Head of Production for Drama at ITV Studios, who passed away in 2023. Burnell was a highly respected production executive and a passionate advocate for developing female talent in the industry. Before her passing, Julie was instrumental in bringing acclaimed dramas such as Vera, Lewis, Mr Selfridge, and Poirot to the screen.
Matt Clearly, Director of Production, UK Scripted, ITV Studios, said: “Throughout her career as a production executive and head of production at ITV Studios, Julie gave countless opportunities for people to develop their skills and realise their full potential. We’re thrilled that this bespoke programme is returning to support even more women in the North of England with their own career progression.”
Katie Bailiff, CEO of WFTV, commented: “Building on the outstanding success of last year’s Production Management Programme, we are thrilled to bring back the Julie Burnell Scholarship for a second year. We are proud to honour Julie Burnell’s remarkable legacy and hope that this year’s scheme once again delivers opportunities to empower more women in production management and line producing”
Hannah Green, Director of High-end TV Skills Fund, ScreenSkills, added: “This initiative acts as a fitting legacy to Julie and the values she helped champion throughout her work in the industry. We’re delighted to be a part of its story and help open pathways to support the next wave of production management talent in the North of England. The testimony of those who took part last year speaks to the success of the programme and we’re excited to offer a similar opportunity to support producing talent ready to take the next step in their careers.”
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