Air TV has been named as officially one of the best places to work in TV for 2026. This is the sixth year in a row that Air TV has made the list.
Managing Director Matt Richards attended the prestigious 2026 awards run by Broadcast magazine in London today and was also asked to take part in a panel discussion about the best ways for companies to support freelancers.
For the award, Air TV was reviewed and rated on criteria such as staff satisfaction and rewards, training, fairness and work environment. The judges particularly noted the company’s highly acclaimed internal mentoring scheme, overall staff satisfaction and a wide range of additional benefits such as free electric vehicle charging for all staff and visitors to their production offices at Leeds East Airport.
Here, Matt Richards answers some of the key questions asked as part of the survey:
Why is your organisation a great place to work?
Air TV is proud to be a great place to work and takes this seriously. This year’s social events have included wild swimming, Tough Mudder events, pub quizzes and a string of celebratory parties. Everyone is invited, including all staff, freelancers, remote workers, cleaners, and crucially their contributors.
The summer parties have become legendary for packed dancefloors filled with paramedics, pilots, used car dealers, home renovators and engineers – as well as the UK’s finest TV producers. New perks this year include the use of the Air TV camper van which staff can booked for trips away with their friends and family.
How do you recruit and retain a diverse workforce?
We actively recruit from underrepresented groups. Some of our most successful recent hires have been people who have no previous TV experience or contacts in the industry and have joined us directly from other professions such as construction or teaching. Some also come to us straight from school.
As Air TV offers longer contracts and permanent roles rather than just short freelance contracts, we are generally able to attract a wider range of talented people to come and join us. We also work closely with diversity schemes such as Creative Access and Screen Yorkshire’s diversity programme.
What mentorship programme do you offer?
The Air TV mentorship scheme is now well-established. It means members of the team are paired up to help promote development and cohesion, as well as offering more informal support and guidance.
