Screen Scotland, BBC Two and BBC Scotland have announced a new joint initiative to encourage Scottish independent production companies to develop factual series ideas for commission and broadcast.

BBC Scotland and BBC Two are seeking proposals for 8 x 60 factual series which have the scale to return.

Following shortlisting, a development fund of £15,000 will be shared across a number of successful proposals from independent production companies, jointly funded by Screen Scotland and the BBC. The successful series will be broadcast on BBC Scotland and then at 8pm on BBC Two.

Interested production companies are invited to submit proposals via BBC Pitch by midnight on 7 January 2020.

Dani Carlaw, head of unscripted at Screen Scotland said: “This joint initiative offers Scotland based production companies a compelling opportunity to not only develop up returnable factual propositions that could go to series, but to supercharge already held relationships with BBC Scotland and BBC TWO.

“This is also a unique chance for newer indies to take the leap at getting vital relationships like these off the ground for the very first time.

David Harron, commissioning executive, factual at BBC Scotland said: “This is a really exciting opportunity for the factual sector in Scotland to have a substantial series commissioned for BBC Scotland and BBC Two, with the aim of establishing a potentially returnable brand.”

The initiative comes as BBC Two is working with all the UK nations to create a portfolio of 32 documentaries, with the potential for some to go to a second series.