Ben Bridges has been selected as one of 30 recipients of the bursary in 2025 by the RTS, Britain’s leading forum for television and media. The RTS has a mission to diversify and futureproof the TV industry, and the Television Production and Journalism bursary supports undergraduate students from low-income backgrounds with an interest in pursuing a career in the screen industries. First made available in 2013, it has supported over 400 students so far.

Through the bursary, Ben will receive financial support to assist with his expenses and living costs, a personal industry mentor, a free RTS membership, and access to all RTS events, networking opportunities, screenings and lectures. Upon graduating, he will also be given complementary access to the RTS Mini MBA, a pioneering industry-led online course which provides a comprehensive business understanding of the television and streaming media sector. 

Ben said: “Receiving a call to confirm that my application had been successful was a complete shock, I never expected it. I applied as a first-year student who wasn’t at a dedicated film school and had no experience in the industry outside of the work I’d done at Leeds Trinity, so becoming an RTS Scholar felt like a fantasy.  

“I truly could not have done it without the support of my lecturers. Their mentorship and encouragement to push myself played a big part in me getting the bursary. All the lecturers I have worked with at Leeds Trinity treat a degree like the bare minimum a student should leave with – they want us to leave with everything we need to get a foothold in our desired industry. Now, receiving even more support from the RTS and an industry mentor on top of that will be fundamental in turning my love for film and television into a career.” 

Ben plans to channel the funding into creating personal projects, including a short political thriller film he is already writing, which will help him build experience and work towards his long-term goal of becoming a writer and director of original short and feature films. 

To secure the bursary, applicants must demonstrate a passion for pursuing a career in television, film, digital content production or related media industries. Ben submitted work from the LTYou Show – a 30-minute live broadcast produced as part of his end of first year assessment. He was the Studio Director for the project, which focussed on budget friendly activities for students in Leeds. His application also contained examples of his videography, photography, sound editing, and social media content creation. 

Theresa Wise, CEO of the Royal Television Society, said: “Education remains a key focus for the RTS and continuing to widen access to the television industry goes hand in hand with this.  We look forward to working closely with the new scholars and watching them flourish and join the ranks of our ever-growing community of bursary scheme graduates thriving as industry practitioners.”  

For more information about Creative Industries courses at Leeds Trinity, visit the University website.