Royal Television Society Launches Film & TV Mini MBA with Support from EP’s FLB Accountants

The Royal Television Society (RTS) – a leading UK educational charity which promotes the art and science of TV – has launched its Mini MBA, a unique online course that will help to close the TV skills gap and fast track careers in the UK production industry.

The first-of-its-kind course, which is CPD accredited, is aimed at media professionals who want to broaden their skillset and progress their careers, as well as those in adjacent sectors who are seeking a thorough grounding in TV and streaming media. The new initiative follows the UK government’s Creative Industries Sector Vision report, which highlighted a vital gap in professional training in the media sector.

The course spans four main strands: Industry Context, Programme Making, Business Functions and Future Outlook. With 24 carefully crafted modules comprising more than 80 hours of interactive learning, topics range from how a programme is developed, commissioned and made, to how money flows within the TV industry, and how the UK TV landscape is likely to change over the next five to 10 years.

FLB Accountants (an Entertainment Partners company) was delighted to contribute to the course’s Production Accounting module. As well as helping to validate the scope of the module and QA the content, Chanchal Panwar, Partner – Production Accounting, and Ryan Nelson, Production Accountant provided subject matter expertise, including filming video contributions with practical insights across a number of production accounting topics. These interviews are supplemented with webinars, high-profile case studies and practical assessments which participants can access on demand to learn at their own pace.

Other industry leaders who contributed to the course include All3Media, Banijay UK, BBC Studios, Fremantle UK and ITV.

Theresa Wise, CEO of the Royal Television Society, said: “Education is a core pillar at the RTS and, through our bursary programme, we have been able to provide support to hundreds of individuals over the past 10 years, who are now thriving in all aspects of the industry. However, there’s currently a gap in the UK for an in-depth professional higher education course covering the business side of the television industry. Thank you so much to the industry leaders who have generously provided their insights and time to contribute to this course. We are proud to have developed an invaluable and unprecedented new Mini MBA, which we hope will provide the next generation of leaders with the tools to succeed.”

Chanchal Panwar, Partner – Production Accounting, FLB Accountants (an Entertainment Partners company) said: “Both Entertainment Partners and FLB Accountants are committed to partnering with the industry to provide training and employment opportunities for individuals looking to embark on or further their career in production accounting. We were delighted to support the RTS with the development of this one-of-a-kind course, which will help to open up the industry, bridge the skills gap and shine a light on the oft-overlooked business side of the film and TV industry.”

Find out more about the Mini MBA and how to apply here.

A version of this article was previously published by the Royal Television Society.