Our SuperSizer delegates recently took a three-day trip to London, where the 14 development executives from across the Nations & Regions had the opportunity to visit the BBC, Channel 4, Channel 5, Netflix and UKTV headquarters to meet with commissioners and business insights staff.
On Tuesday 5th March, the cohort attended a panel discussion with Channel 5 Commissioning Editors Federico Ruiz, Denise Seneviratne, Kate Ansell and Kit Morey. Following that, the delegates took part in a 5-minute pitching challenge to Ben Frow, Chief Content Officer, UK, at Paramount, and Federico Ruiz, Commissioning Editor, Channel 5 & Paramount+. This session allowed them to pitch their brightest ideas with passion, building upon all the skills the SuperSizers have been working on during the past 6 months, from developing personal impact and influence to the art of the perfect pitch.
The cohort also visited the BBC headquarters and attended three insight sessions with Daytime & Peak Commissioning Editor Linsday Bradbury, iPlayer’s Senior Designer Ash Williamson and Producer Helen Groom, and lastly Head of Science Tom Coveney.
The following day, the SuperSizer delegates visited Channel 4 for a busy schedule of insider sessions. They attended a Business Insights and Production Finance session with Julie Hobbis, Production Finance Manager, and Isi Ewah, Legal & Business Affairs Manager; additionally, they heard all about Access & Disability Inclusion from Ally Castle, Creative Diversity & Disability Consultant and Nicole Steven, Creative Diversity & Disability Project Manager. This was followed by sessions with Interim Head of Entertainment & Events Steve Handley and Commissioning Editor Cimran Shah, Dispatches Commissioning Editor Jo Potts and Commissioning Editor Janine Thomas and Factual Entertainment Commissioning Editor Timothy Hancock.
Lastly, our SuperSizers attended two more commissioning insight sessions: first with Netflix’s Ben Kelly, Director of Unscripted Series, and Sam Crack, Unscripted Series Commissioner, and then with UKTV Commissioning Executive Emile Nawagamuwa.
The SuperSizer programme, which is currently in its seventh edition, supports the growth of Development Executives to win high value commissions and develop ideas of scale for the next big returning series, with the aim of transforming indies in the Nations and Regions. As well as gaining exclusive access to leading broadcasters and commissioners, the delegates receive exceptional training on a variety of topics such as pitching, personal branding and how to lead a creative team.
Find out more about SuperSizer and sign up to our mailing list to hear more about any upcoming opportunities.
SuperSizer 7 delegates at UKTV 
SuperSizer 7 delegates with Tim Hancock 
SuperSizer 7 delegates at Netflix 
SuperSizer 7 delegates at Netflix 
SuperSizer 7 delegates at Channel 4 
SuperSizer 7 delegates at Channel 5 
SuperSizer 7 delegates with Ben Frow 
SuperSizer 7 delegates at Channel 5
