rad Scotland 2026/7: Meet the Trainees

rad is a paid eight-month traineeship within a Scottish independent television production company which includes full training throughout the placement.

The programme is aimed at those who are underrepresented in the TV industry: those who are either deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent, from Black, Asian or minority ethnic communities or from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

The programme is funded by Screen Scotland, BBC Nations, Channel 4 and BBC Studios.

Find out more about the selected trainees below.

Ben has been passionate about working in the television industry since he was a kid. After studying Television Studies at College and participating in Rig Arts film school project, he studied Film & Media and Journalism Studies at University of Stirling. It was here through his time with the television society, AirTV, that he discovered a specific passion for factual and unscripted TV during his time as Head of Features. He especially enjoyed making the Scran or Pan food taste-testing series for AirTV. Ben is excited to develop his current skills and build new ones during his time at rad and take his next step into the world of Television production.

Cal’s filmmaking journey began with the BFI Academy in Belfast, hosted by Cinemagic, where he discovered a passion for storytelling, made short films, collaborated with other young filmmakers, and learned from industry professionals. He later developed his editing skills through a placement at Corish Productions, gaining hands-on experience with DaVinci Resolve, Premiere Pro, and professional production workflows. After studying Film at

Edinburgh Napier University, Cal found a real love for both editing and cinematography, taking on roles as Director of Photography and Editor on graduate films. Alongside his studies, he filmed at the Edinburgh Fringe and completed a placement at MTP in Glasgow, shadowing an offline editor on a feature film. Since graduating, he’s continued to build experience as a camera assistant on independent productions while actively pursuing opportunities in editing and post-production.

Chloe Bell is beginning her career in television as a Trainee Production Researcher with STV Studios. She has a degree in Events Management and has since built experience across a range of creative industries and live events. Most recently, she worked as a Content Management Assistant with charity Scottish Love in Action, where she helped develop a Digital Asset Management system. Alongside this, Chloe volunteers backstage with local theatre productions, and sells houseplants and candles with their partner in Glasgow’s famous Barras Market. Outside of work, Chloe is a big film and TV fan who still collects DVDs and loves discovering how programmes are made behind the scenes. (You don’t get the behind-the-scenes extras without the DVD!) She is excited to develop her skills and gain practical experience in unscripted television.

Lucy has loved television and cinema for as long as she can remember. She first explored her passion for storytelling at 13 by creating fan edits of her favourite shows and films, becoming fascinated by how pace and narrative come together in post-production. After moving to Edinburgh, she turned that passion into building community by co-hosting a local film club. Bringing a wealth of experience from a prior career as a senior researcher, Lucy combines sharp analytical skills, attention to detail, and a deep interest in real-world stories. She is thrilled to join the rad traineeship to blend her professional research background with her creative drive and launch a career in TV.

Growing up in a small town outside Edinburgh, Sabeela has always loved film, television and storytelling. From making short films at home to pursuing a degree in Media at Robert Gordon University, she has always known she wanted to build a career in the TV industry. During her studies she produced a student short film and gained industry experience through an internship at Tern TV. Sabeela is excited to begin her journey through the rad Scotland programme, where she looks forward to developing her production skills and seeing what exciting opportunities the traineeship will bring.

After attending an episode recording of CBBC’s Copycats in 2010, Callum found his true career calling within the television industry. Throughout college and university, Callum studied the practicalities and theories of television to expand his knowledge and skills on how to work professionally in the TV field. That expertise was put to the test when he did work experience as a games tester for Tern TV’s The Inner Circle in 2025, where he gained the insight of how programmes are created from an industry professional’s perspective. With his meticulous organisational skills gained during his time at further and higher education, Callum is really looking forward to being on TRC’s rad Scotland to implement his abilities as a production assistant at Lion TV.

Originally from a small village in Austria, Emma has always been curious about the stories that connect us all. Rarely without a camera in hand, she loves capturing genuine moments and the characters behind them. After moving to Scotland to study Film and Media, Emma found her place within the creative scene, particularly in production and developed a passion for documentary and unscripted storytelling. She is fascinated by the unpredictability of everyday life and loves working within a dynamic atmosphere. Balancing a full-time job, working on independent short films and volunteering at film festivals, Emma continues to develop her own ideas through writing and editing. Curious, adventurous and passionate about authentic storytelling, she is excited to begin her television career through rad and discover the stories yet to be told!

Telfer has always enjoyed storytelling to give a platform to those who are underrepresented. He holds a BSc in Sport & Recreation Management from the University of Edinburgh, gaining experience as a Media Officer with the Volunteer Zambia Foundation and as a Project Officer for the University of Hertfordshire. This year he has completed an MA in Sports Journalism at Edinburgh Napier, winning the Student Features Writer of the year. As a keen runner he can be seen representing Corstorphine Athletic Club and loves watching travel documentaries led by Michael Palin & Simon Reeve. He is really excited to aid the production of entertaining TV during his placement with Mentorn Media.

Carly graduated from the University of Stirling with a BA (Hons) in Film & Media with Journalism Studies. Passionate about fair representation and telling meaningful stories, her dissertation explored the treatment of women and non-binary people in the Scottish music industry, a subject she hopes to revisit in future projects. A huge TV fan, Carly loves everything from nature documentaries to reality competition shows like The Traitors. She also loves travelling and thinks she’d give Race Across the World a decent shot! She’s excited to begin her career through the rad programme, where she hopes to learn from experienced production teams, develop her research skills, and help bring compelling, meaningful stories to the screen.

rad Scotland is funded by Screen Scotland, BBC Nations & Channel 4