FormatLab: meet the trainees

Abbie hails from Aberdeen where she completed a HND in Media. Realising her enthusiasm lay in the challenge of creating radio and television content, she moved to the central belt to complete a degree in TV and Radio Broadcast Production at the University of the West of Scotland. Whilst studying, she assisted with the production of live broadcasts for St Mirren TV and Sky News during the 2019 General Election. These experiences heightened her passion for media production and confirmed this was the field she wanted to pursue a career in once graduated. Abbie has a particular interest in light entertainment and live events. 

Hannah moved to Glasgow in 2018 to study Television at City of Glasgow College after completing a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice. Hannah has an interest in comedy and entertainment and wants to angle her career towards developing and casting entertaining returning formats. She is passionate about uplifting the LGBTQ+ community, creating a more diverse TV industry and using her voice to stand up for others. Hannah has created exciting and interesting student projects choosing stories that empower POC, people who are transgender and women. 

Malcolm graduated last year from the University of the West of Scotland with a degree in Broadcast Production. After a year spent working in the third sector, he is ready to begin his TV career and hopes to develop formats and entertainment programming that match his interests in quizzing and reality competitions whilst also allowing him to explore his love of rural Scotland and how it could be utilised for future Scottish productions. 

Born in Canada, Kate moved to Glasgow in 2020 to complete a Masters in Television Fiction Writing. She is currently part of Short Circuit's Sharp Shorts Programme and is a playwright and script editor. Also a performer and comedian, Kate brings her improvisation and passion for storytelling with her to every role. She's performed at Just for Laughs, the Edinburgh Fringe and is publishing a book later this year about how Bruce Willis is (possibly) her dad. Kate constantly strives to create community representation in order to tell the stories that need to be heard, From working on set to producing television, Kate will never forget her goat farming roots and is always minutes away from putting together a very nice cheese plate. 

Isla moved to Ayr in 2017 to study Broadcast Production: TV and Radio at the University of West of Scotland, graduating in 2021 with a First Class degree. She is a real telly addict with a particular passion for entertainment and comedy and she completed her dissertation on Who Wants to be a Millionaire? Isla has previously worked as a runner and camera assistant at COP26 and a results stinger for Sky News on the 2019 General Election night. She was proudly made a RTS Bursary Scholar in 2017. 

Prior to moving to Glasgow, Jordan lived in several locations including Leeds, Budapest, Valencia and Toledo. After graduating with a Master's Degree in Writing for Performance and Publication, Jordan has been working on his skill as a writer ever since. With roles working as a writer for television and film based website Ready Steady Cut. He had a self-written script receive a nomination for 'Best Role Written for a Male Lead'. He has past experience in academic writing and teaching. 

Anna's introduction to the world of TV was through acting. As a teenager she was cast in a BBC drama and later performed at the National Theatre as part of their Connections Festival. At university she studied English literature and French and travelled extensively across North America after graduating. An avid quizzer, she loves obscure trivia and has been writing pub quizzes for the pas five years. Since moving to Scotland she has worked as a sustainability researcher for a a London-based advertising agency during COP26 and has most recently finished work on a feature film in Glasgow. 

As a graduate of Queen Margaret's University and The Edinburgh Lighting and Sound School, Rhian pursued a successful career in technical theatre before transitioning into the world of television, where she connected leading global experts to broadcasters such as BBC, Sky News and Deutsche Walle. This was a critical role during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic given the rise of misinformation and unreliable sources. Her responsibilities extended to include the streaming of government briefings to leading broadcasters and the remote delivery of primetime television shows. Having tackled the hard-hitting and factual, Rhian is now changing gear and exploring her passion for using television as a means to spread joy.