Dr Neil Percival

Neil worked in the TV industry for fifteen years, starting as a production trainee for a small independent company in Newcastle, and progressing to work as a freelance broadcast documentary producer/director for some of the UK's biggest factual TV producers. He ran an online community for freelancers in the UK TV industry, and created a successful networking group for media professionals in the North East.

In January 2007 he joined Northumbria University in Newcastle. He taught professional practice modules on the BA Film and TV Production programme and held managerial roles supporting student experience, learning and teaching, and employability. As the University's Director of Cultural Partnerships he worked with organisations such as the BFI, Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, New Writing North, Live Theatre, and Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums to build collaborative activities benefitting students, partners and the sector more widely.

He moved from Northumbria to the Open University in February 2026 as a Senior Lecturer in Film & Media, as part of the team writing a new BA Film & Media programme.

His research and publication focuses on employment practices, sustainable careers and working patterns in the UK film and TV industry, and the implications for educators. He recently produced a teaching resource pack focused on employability and career launch in the screen sector, in association with the Screen Industry Growth Network; this has been rolled out to around 60 universities so far, in the UK and abroad. He is currently writing a book on careers in film and TV for Edinburgh University Press.