Edinburgh TV Festival Launches New Division

The Edinburgh TV Festival is expanding its charitable remit with the launch of The TV Foundation, a new division that is set to be ushered in by a campaign exploring living wage.

The TV Foundation has tied with the Living Wage Foundation to work toward increasing the number of employers in the industry that pay staff a real living wage. The campaign is spearheaded by Festival Director and CEO Lisa Campbell.

The TV Foundation has uncovered just seven Real Living Wage-accredited employers in TV—ITV, Channel 4, CPL Productions, Maverick, North One Television, Objective Media Group and Whisper Films—and is urging other companies which meet the requirements to apply for accreditation. The campaign will also put pressure on companies that have working conditions that fall short of expectations.

As part of the launch, The TV Foundation has unlocked a £150,000 dedicated development fund for the initiative.

The Edinburgh TV Festival will also launch nationwide talent labs, alongside TV Foundation Bursaries for industry schemes, including writing initiatives backed by Thousand Films, Kudos and Hartswood West.

The TV Foundation will take control of long-running talent schemes The Network and Ones To Watch, supported by YouTube, as well as more recent year-round initiatives including the Social Mobility Summit and New Voice Awards.

The TV Foundation’s director of education and talent development, Campbell Glennie, said: “If we can demonstrate to tomorrow’s diverse workforce that the television industry is fair, transparent and pays appropriately, it will send a powerful message to the next generation.”

Graham Stuart, executive chair of the TV Festival and managing director of So Television, said: “The Edinburgh Television Festival is a charity and these additional funds will help further deliver our stated aim—to make the industry more open and inclusive. They will help us continue our commitment to opening routes into television for all young people and also target those mid-level colleagues, the ‘lost middle’ who need practical help to reach the next level in their careers.”

Campbell added: “We’re committed to tackling the big issues as well as reaching those who don’t believe a TV career is possible for them.”