Launched in 2009, the BBC Vision Intake Pool (VIP) recruits candidates for paid jobs as runners and production management assistants “as a way to source new candidates, refresh talent, have an available pool of excellent candidates and to curtail the nepotism of bringing in the same people”, Simon Wright, talent executive, Multiplatform Productions, Production Talent Network, told Recruiter.

The project-orientated, fast-paced nature of the industry meant that people to fill runner and PMA roles were often needed on short notice. And, added Helena Gardner, head of production talent, factual production: “It was not easy for people from outside to access these jobs. We needed a much fairer system to get the best people.”

In its first year, in which VIP was offered only in London, 3,000 applicants sought to participate and 80 were placed. This year, its second, the programme drew 7,000 applicants UK wide, which were then trimmed to 800 for potential shortlisting, leading to interviews with 270 people.

Finally 110 were selected for the year-long programme to work in London, Birmingham, Bristol and Manchester.

After an admittedly initial “tough sell” to production teams to use workers from the scheme, Wright said the scheme has earned support from those clients. A contributing factor to their support is their involvement through a steering committee to develop the scheme and in helping to interview and assess candidates. “This helped enormously with buy-in,” Wright said.

Selection for the scheme is no guarantee that the candidates will get work, although “our aim is for everyone to have work”, Wright said.

And like working with a typical temporary agency, the candidates must demonstrate, when offered work, that they can be available, respond quickly to calls with offers of work, “and all the quite obvious stuff”, said Wright. Once a candidate has had some work, s/he must be proactive to build on that experience, demonstrate their capabilities and network to obtain more work.

Florence Ogunbowale was in the 2009 group of candidates, and was hired this year to help organise the 2010 cadre. She will move on this month to work with the BBC World Service on a project in Nigeria. “It was varied experience, and that’s what I wanted,” she said. “This gives you the chance to work in different areas, and it was really good for me to get this kind of responsibility.”