blog.gov.jeITV Channel Weather Presenter Lily Carter reflects on how the Jersey Bursary helped her secure her dream job
Government support for those considering extending further education studies does not end at undergraduate degree level, with funding available for courses that fill skills shortages in the Island.
Student finance is available for professional qualifications required by certain careers, such as the Postgraduate Certificate in Education or legal courses. Those wanting to complete a master’s degree or doctorate can apply for the Jersey Bursary.
One such recipient of the Jersey Bursary is ITV Channel weather presenter Lily Carter.
The bursary allowed her to enrol in a TV Journalism MA at City University in September 2021 where she studied core journalistic principles such as Media Law and Ethics, while honing her craft by learning to film and edit news reports and documentaries.
“The course was also a huge foot in the door when it came to work opportunities. During the year I was selected as a BBC climate reporter in the run-up to COP26, worked freelance at ITV’s Good Morning Britain and shadowed at a national documentary company,” Lily explained.
Once the MA was completed, Lily was one of a dozen across the UK to join ITV’s trainee scheme in 2022. She said: “My work was based in the newsroom in Jersey, but I had monthly training opportunities learning from industry experts across newsrooms throughout the UK – including how to produce television bulletins, write digital articles, use a camera, edit and create news reports.”
Lily was then offered a permanent job as a production journalist at ITV Channel in Jersey which involved working behind the scenes generating news ideas, producing television bulletins and occasional reporting and presenting programmes.
“I have a particular interest in climate and environmental reporting, so when our weather presenter left in November 2023, I applied and was offered this role. It is genuinely the best job in the world,” Lily enthused.
She added: “I deliver the weather forecasts and am live in our studio or on location every day – while also writing blogs and continuing to film news reports on climate and environmental matters.”
Among her highlights, Lily lists meeting a NASA astronaut, going to the Ecrehous to film a new seal monitoring project and delivering a live segment from a paddle board in St Brelade’s Bay.
Maintenance grants payable in September 2025 have been increased in line with the UK Consumer Price Index for December 2024, while tuition fee grants have been increased to align with the new higher cap in England and Wales. The means tested household income thresholds to qualify for Student Finance were also increased by 5.2%.
Changes were also made to the criteria for applying for a Jersey Bursary:
• There is no longer a need for a 2:1 degree to apply; accepting an offer of a place is sufficient
• Courses that are part-time or delivered via distance learning are now eligible
• The requirement for two academic references has been removed; applicants only need to provide one reference, which can be from their employer
These changes were made by the Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning, Deputy Rob Ward, who is a champion of the long-term benefits of investing in sustainable and meaningful lifelong learning and skills development, which is one of the Government’s top strategic priorities.
For Lily, the forecast is bright: “I am really grateful for the Jersey bursary and so glad I went on my course as it helped me to get to work in a job I love and is very fulfilling.”
Information on support for those considering postgraduate courses is available here.
Information on the increases to higher education grants and thresholds is available here.