In 1960 Howard Thomas, then the Managing Director of ABC Television, introduced the Regional Theatre Young Directors Scheme to help further the careers of those seeking to make theatre production and direction their profession. It was his belief that television had reason, then as now, to be grateful to the theatre for its supply of creative talent to the new medium and the Scheme was a way of repaying the debt.

The Scheme continued to be run by Thames Television but, envious of its success, other network companies asked to contribute so it eventually passed to the ITV Fund, supported by all the ITV Companies. However, following the reallocation of ITV contracts in 1991, the Scheme gradually lost the support of the ITV Fund and was eventually discontinued. In spite of having lost its own contract, Thames Television asked that the Scheme be returned to its administration and invited individual ITV companies to sponsor trainees in their local theatres. As a result, the Scheme was re-launched in 1993 with the financial support of Scottish Television, Central, Channel 4 and Thames Television itself.

Thames ultimately passed the administrative responsibility to Channel 4 who now provide the main-core funding supported each year by bursary contributions from major companies and charitable organisations (e.g. The Mackintosh Foundation and the Harold Hyam Wingate Foundation).