BBC Radio has launched a new fund to support independent producers making audio programming. The Radio Indie Development Fund will make available £250,000 each year, with successful production companies receiving "funding for a specific development idea or aspect of their work" as well as "regular mentoring from the relevant BBC commissioning team".
The scheme will seek to support people making pop and classical music programmes, as well as speech and podcast content, while also contributing to the BBC's wider commitment to boost diversity and regional reach in its productions and commissions.
Announcing the scheme, BBC Chief Content Officer Charlotte Moore said: "The independent sector is booming with creative ideas and there are many small to medium sized companies who can help us to deliver more for our audiences. This development fund will support indies with their plans, feeding directly into the BBC’s commitments to champion new talent, increase diversity and be more representative of the UK as a whole".
The fund was welcomed by AudioUK, the trade association for audio production companies in the UK. It's MD Chloe Straw said: "We welcome the launch of this fund which will help independent production companies from all over the UK grow and develop, enabling them to reflect a more diverse range of voices, perspectives, stories and ideas in the BBC's radio output".