Where are they now?
Previous The Network at Work trainees tell us how it was for them and what they're up to now.
Pete Nichols was on a placement at Nickelodeon in 2005
It's impossible to say how much The Network has shaped my career in one paragraph!
After leaving Nickelodeon as their Junior Researcher and Music Booker, I went to work for the BBC in Music Entertainment (Reading and Leeds Festivals, Jools Holland, Girl Groups Rock Doc). I was promoted to Researcher at the BBC, and also given Celebrity Booking responsibilities for Jools Holland's New Year celebrations where I got to meet many of my music and comedy idols: Simon Pegg, Amy Winehouse, Terry Gilliam and many more!
I've just finished on Comic Relief Does Fame Academy at Endemol, and will be working on BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend followed by coverage of the Glastonbury festival . Music Television is an incredibly competitive sector of the industry, and the skills and contacts I have gained through The Network have been invaluable in providing me with an edge over other Researchers. It is the "TV Executive Uncle" that I never had!
Katie Mokhtar was on a placement at LivingTV in 2005
After completing my placement as a Development Researcher at LivingTV, one of the commissioners recommended me to ITV. I immediately began work as a Researcher on ITV1's daytime DIY show, 60 Minute Makeover. I then spent the summer travelling the country painting, blagging, painting and blagging some more until I had completed seven dramatic home makeovers! With the series complete I transferred to the brand new innovation unit, ITV Imagine.
The unit is designed to develop multi-platform television shows as well as boost creativity across the company. As Content Development Researcher, I am responsible for researching treatments and pilots as well as attending cutting edge exhibitions and events to keep abreast of cultural trends.
I have found myself in the most fantastic position at ITV and due to the credibility and guidance of The Network my journey here has been incredibly smooth. People are always astounded at how far I have come so quickly and for that I can only thank The Network and the huge, unparalleled opportunities it has given me.
Annika Allen was on a work placement at TalkbackThames in 2004
Since finishing the work placement I continued working at TalkbackThames as a freelance researcher on a pilot for Channel 4 called Fit As Four and then on a show called Re-Brand. Once my contract ended I then started working at RDF Media as a logistical researcher on the award winning series Holiday Showdown, which was my first opportunity to travel whilst working in TV. I then went to work at the BBC on the House of Tiny Tearaways and then back to TalkbackThames to work on the second pilot of Fit As Four.
I am now working at a new urban and lifestyle entertainment channel called Just Fabulous. I'm working as a researcher and getting trained to work as an AP once we go on air. I still get calls from other production companies asking if I'm available so all in all working as a freelancer isn't as hard as I thought it was and I owe my first major step into TV to The Network .
Jon Willers was on a work placement with Lion TV in 2004
After 'graduating' from the work placement, Lion TV asked me to come back to their Development department to work on new programme ideas. After developing documentary ideas for a few months, I was offered a Researcher's position on a new local history series within the same company. This was an amazing experience for me as I was given the opportunity to help shoot, script and schedule 10 half-hour programmes. It wasn't long into the production that I was promoted to Assistant Producer!
After a month off, I'm now about to start work on Channel 4's Time Team, finding new sites for the team to dig at. I can safely say that if it wasn't for The Network I wouldn't be where I am now.