Performing schemes
Schemes for on-air creatives including musicians, presenters, actors and more
BBC Open Music Trainee Scheme - apply now
Training scheme bringing musicians and creatives across all genres and styles together to develop skills and explore collaborations across BBC orchestral and classical music. Trainees receive industry training and hands-on experience across audio, digital and live event production along with presenting, sound recording and engineering. Deadline for applications: 1 March
BBC Introducing - send your music now
Bringing together all of the BBC's supporters of unsigned music. Upload your music at any time via the BBC Introducing website, get played on BBC radio stations across the country and take part in our live showcases at events including the Glastonbury festival.
BBC Asian Network Represents
Asian Network is looking for 12 brand new, undiscovered voices who live and breathe British Asian culture, music and entertainment and have the confidence to draw in new and existing listeners across the airwaves.
BBC Upload - send your content now
Showcase your creativity on the BBC by uploading any kind of content - audio, video, text or images - and what catches our attention will be broadcast on BBC Radio stations and BBC digital platforms. Upload is open to submissions all year round based around the creators location. Find out more on the BBC Upload website.
BBC Young Musician
The long-running competition to find the UK’s most promising up-and-coming classical musicians with the grand final broadcast on BBC television, iPlayer, BBC Radio 3 and BBC Sounds. More information is available on the BBC Young Musician website.
BBC New Comedy Awards
Nationwide comedy search to find the best new stand-up performers. Shortlisted entries compete in televised regional heats across the UK with the winner from each performing at the final, broadcast on BBC One. The winner will receive a prize of £1,000, a paid commission to write and perform in a 30-minute audio pilot mentored by a BBC comedy commissioner. Further information on the New Comedy Awards website.
The Norman Beaton Fellowship
Audio Drama acting initiative to broaden the range of actors available for audio drama producers across the UK by offering a minimum of two fixed-term five-month bursary contract with the Radio Drama Company for aspiring actors from non-traditional training backgrounds. Applications open yearly via the BBC Soundstart website.
BBC Words First
Development scheme to enhance the skills and confidence of spoken word artists aged between 18 and 30 including rappers, MCs and poets. Participants attend workshops with established artists to help develop their work with a shortlist then performing in front of a live audience at the Contains Strong Language festival. The scheme was last open for applications in spring 2025. Find out more on the Words First website.Carlton Hobbs Bursary
Acting bursaries for graduating drama students to support the next wave of distinctive new audio voices, offering five-month contracts in the Radio Drama Company to work with the best actors and writers in the country on a wide range of contemporary and classic plays. Applications open yearly via the BBC Soundstart website.
BBC Sounds Audio Lab
Podcaster programme to accelerate the next generation of audio creatives, helping to develop under-represented voices and turn fresh ideas into exciting new BBC podcasts. Each programme runs for seven to eight months offering funding, training, mentoring, production expertise and promotion. Applications open annually via the BBC Sounds Audio Lab website.
BBC Comedy Collective
Comedy bursary scheme offering emerging writers, producers, directors and editors paid shadowing opportunities on BBC comedy productions, production mentors and £5k grants to help develop new material. Previous winners have received script commissions, produced successful TV and radio shows and won BAFTAs. Applications will be open in Spring 2026 via the BBC Commissioning website.
BBC Short Stuff - send your content now
Year-round opportunity for comedy writers and performers from or based in Scotland to develop new ideas and characters via experimental short-form sketches published on the BBC Short Stuff website. Send the BBC Scotland commissioning team ideas for new sketches at any time.
BBC Horizons Gorwelion Launchpad Fund
Financial support for emerging musicians and bands producing original contemporary music in Wales. The fund focuses on taking careers to the next level and is a key part of the BBC Cymru Wales and Arts Council Wales Horizons partnership. The fund will be opening for new applications next year.
BBC Sport New Voices
Identifying and nurturing the next generation of sport commentators and presenters. Winners receives training from the BBC with the aim of joining their pool of freelance sport commentators to be considered for on-air roles across the BBC’s sport output. Applications open annually and advertised across the BBC website.
New Generation Thinkers
Offering the UK’s most promising arts and humanities early career researchers the opportunity to share their pioneering research with BBC Radio 4 listeners along with unique access to training and support from AHRC and the BBC. Applications open yearly via the UK Research and Innovation website.BBC Introducing Scottish Act of the Year
Search to uncover the best new and emerging talent in Scotland’s music scene with winners receiving recording sessions, a spot at Scotland’s largest music festival TRNSMT and a bespoke PR campaign. Applications open annually via the BBC Introducing website.
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