Pitch to Pilot is here! Enter now to make your podcast idea a reality
We just launched our first ever podcast Pitch to Pilot competion, in front of a packed house at glitzy Berlinkys in Glasgow.
The premise is simple: anyone in Scotland with an idea for a podcast is invited to share that idea with us.
A selected shortlist of 5 will then get to pitch their ideas live to an industry panel (think: Dragon’s Den!) on the evening of 2nd February 2027.
One idea will win a £3,000+ package of support to make that idea a professionally produced reality; a pilot for their concept.
Pitch to Pilot has been developed as a collaboration between AudioUK’s Audiotrain, our Bespoken Media team, and the founders of the Scottish Podcast Awards.
What is Pitch to Pilot for?
There are so many brilliant, passionate creators in Scotland.
However, it is often not clear to those people how they can unlock the access, knowledge, and support to turn that idea into a reality.
This is a huge shame and a big waste of talent; you never know whose passion project or flash of inspiration could be the next global hit.
Pitch to Pilot is a first step towards trying to make things better; to create the pathways to success that will allow us to grow and embolden Scotland’s podcast and audio sector.
At the moment it is a one-off experiment, itself a pilot. I really hope we can find a way to make it a returning event in all our calendars.
Creators don’t need to have made the podcast already. Pitch to Pilot is looking for a great original idea with the potential to be developed.
The winning package includes:
- 10 hours of executive and production support
- Full pilot production in Scottish podcast studio
- Editing support
- Industry mentoring
- Pilot published on Bespoken's Made in Scotland podcast showcase feed
- An invitation to the 2027 Scottish Podcast Awards, including a special on stage spotlight
- £1,000 cash to allow the creator time to work on their pilot
The winning creator will also receive a professional podcast brand identity from Maven Media, who are supporting Pitch to Pilot by providing creative direction and practical brand assets to help the new podcast launch with a strong and distinctive identity.
Who can apply?
Pitch to Pilot is designed to support new podcast ideas withthe potential to be developed into a pilot.
Applicants must:
- Be aged 18 or over
- Be based in or have a connection to Scotland, or be creating content focused on Scottish stories, audiences or communities
- Have an original podcast idea that has not already been commissioned or developed
- Be available to take part in the live pitch event if shortlisted
- Be available to participate in the development and mentoring process if selected
- Be willing and able to work towards producing a pilot within an agreed timeframe
Applications are open now, and close at 11.59pm on Sunday 10th January 2027.
Shortlisted applicants will be contacted later in January,with five creators invited to pitch their ideas live in Glasgow on the evening of 2nd February 2027.
What Makes a Great Podcast Pitch?
We launched the competition on Tues 4th Nov in Glasgow, with a panel discussion answering exactly this question.
The panel was hosted by the fantastic Nicola Meighan, arts journalist and host of Scottish culture podcast 'A Kick Up the Arts'.
I was on the panel representing Bespoken, alongside Mark Hunter, Scottish podcast veteran and co-founder of Podcast Studio Glasgow; Dr Pamela Jenkins, host of parental mental illness podcast My Family, Mental Illness and Me, and Flora Zajicek, senior producer at Big Light productions.
We shared practical advice on developing an idea, understanding its audience, and communicating what makes a concept stand out.
Guests who attended the event said:
Ford Kiernan:
“It’s fantastic to see the podcast sector in Scotland continuing to grow. It feels like only yesterday that more than 500 creators,producers and studio owners were coming together at the Old Fruitmarket for the Scottish Podcast Awards.
Every podcast starts with an idea, and that’s what makes tonight’s launch so exciting. Pitch to Pilot will give more of Scotland’s brilliant and imaginative creators the opportunity to take that first idea andturn it into a professionally produced pilot.”
Dylan Kelly, Founder of Maven, who are providing the winning pilot’s brand identity:
“Pitch to Pilot is a fantastic initiative that gives emerging podcast creators the opportunity to bring their ideas to life. Supporting people with the passion and ambition to take that next step is something we’re proud to be part of."
Chris Baughen, CEO of AudioUK, said:
“Scotland has no shortage of great ideas and creative talent. Pitch to Pilot is about giving creators the practical support to takeone of those ideas further, developing it, learning how to pitch it andultimately getting it made.
Corrinne Gardiner, Co-Founder of the Scottish PodcastAwards, said:
“When we launched the Scottish Podcast Awards, our ambition was always to do more than recognise and celebrate thefantastic talent already working in Scotland's podcast industry. We wanted tohelp create opportunities, build connections and support emerging creators.
“Pitch to Pilot is a great example of how we can put that ambition into practice. There are so many people with brilliant ideas who simply don't know where to start or how to get their podcast off the ground. By bringing together industry expertise, mentoring and practical production support, we're giving someone the opportunity to turn their idea into something real.
“We're delighted to be part of the initiative and can't wait to see what Scotland's emerging podcast creators come up with.”
How to apply
Applications for Pitch to Pilot are open from 11.59pm onTuesday 3rd November 2026 until 11.59pm on Sunday 10th January 2027.
Five shortlisted creators will be invited to pitch live inGlasgow on 2nd February 2027, with one winning idea selected to receive the full Pitch to Pilot development and production package.
Submit your idea to Pitch to Pilot
Photographer credit: Tom Foden
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