Fresh Cuts - Creating The Next Generation of MTB Content Creators

Fresh Cuts - The Next Generation of Mountain Bike Content Creators Launched

A new six-month paid trainee programme for six people of skills development for Mountain Bike (MTB) and Adventure media across Scotland

Scottish Cycling, through its Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland (DMBinS) department, is partnering with Screen Scotland and leading MTB media company Cut Media, deliver a collaborative six-month production skills development programme for MTB media crew across Scotland.

The programme aims to meet the skills development needs of Scotland’s growing mountain biking and adventure sports media sub-sector, which is widely recognised as a global leader in delivering creative content for international cycling/adventure audiences (direct-to-consumer) and branded content.

This pilot programme aims to develop a skilled pipeline of freelance crew, production leads, self-shooting directors, camera operators and/or content creators who can meet demand through cross-industry/industry supported training.

The programme is a six month (2 days per week for 22 weeks) Real Living Wage paid training placement for 6 people within DMBinS from October 2024 to March 2025.

Stu Thomson, Cut Media, said:

“We’re passionate about the future of content creation and its creators in Scotland. We often find it challenging to recruit content creators who have the broad skill sets we require to develop world leading content for cycling and adventure brands.

“We’re really excited to work with the successful applicants and share our knowledge and experience of what it takes to develop original and watchable content.”

Colena Cotter, DMBinS Communications and Business Support Manager, who will manage the work of the trainees, explains:

“We believe that this project will help us produce compelling, authentic and creative content which will showcase the amazing and accessible mountain biking we have in Scotland. We’re also really interested to see what new ideas and fresh thinking the applicants can bring to showing our work in advocating for improvements to Scottish mountain biking.

“I’m proud to be leading the project and look forward to welcoming a wide and diverse range of potential candidates applying for this opportunity and overseeing the trainee’s development and growth throughout the project.”

David Smith, Director of Screen Scotland, said: “Screen Scotland recognises that viewing habits are changing rapidly, and that creative people and production companies are increasingly working in direct to consumer platforms like YouTube, TikTok and other social media platforms, often with funding from brands rather than broadcasters.

“This exciting and innovative opportunity has been developed jointly by all involved to support Screen Scotland’s development plans for the screen sector in Scotland, but in the context of YouTube and that’s a first for us. “Scotland’s screen and mountain biking sectors are both growing rapidly. Working with DMBinS and Cut Media to develop the production, storytelling and audience engagement skills of filmmakers focused on mountain biking content offers a huge potential win for both sectors.”