Application Deadline: April 29th 2021
Start date: January 2022
Scheme duration: 18 months
Locations: England (London/ Salford/ Birmingham/ Bristol/ Blackburn/ Liverpool/ Sheffield/ York/ Leeds/ Newcastle/ Middlesbrough/ Carlisle/ Hull/ Lincoln/Coventry/ Worcester/Shrewsbury /Stoke-on-Trent/ Nottingham/ Derby/ Leicester/ Cambridge/ Norwich/ Ipswich/ Northampton/ Dunstable/ Chelmsford/ Tunbridge Wells/ Guildford/ Oxford/ Reading/ Southampton/ Gloucester/ Swindon/ Taunton/ Plymouth/ Truro), Channel Islands (Jersey or Guernsey)
Typical roles following the scheme: Runner, Junior Researcher, Production Management Assistant, Team Assistant (radio); Content Assistant
If you’re bursting for the opportunity to bring your content ideas to life…maybe you know what could work brilliantly on BBC Three, or in a podcast; maybe your idea is for local, or network radio (e.g. Radio 1/1Xtra/Asian Network); perhaps websites and games, or apps and social media are your thing?…Or maybe you’d love to develop your technical skills so that you can get content made and shared…Either way, this scheme could be right up your street.
And, if you think the BBC isn’t the place for ‘someone like me’, we’re here to convince you otherwise! Whatever your story is, we’d love to hear from you, so please consider the scheme and think about joining us…You’ve made the first move already – it’s not by chance you’ve landed on this ad!
In a nutshell, if you’re full of enthusiasm and energy about content, of all kinds, on all sorts of platforms; if you’re creative, engaged and resilient and if you think you can help the BBC be better for its audiences, then this scheme is definitely for you!
Over the course of 18 months, you’ll get first-hand work experience and hands-on training in a wide range of production skills. You will also be working towards a qualification, a Certificate in Creative Content and Production, and the completion of a Level 3 Apprenticeship (Broadcast Production Assistant or Junior Content Producer apprenticeship) delivered by our experienced external Training Provider.
While you’re on the scheme, you might be helping to come up with ideas and stories for content (editorial), or learning how to make a production actually happen (production management), or you might be developing your technical skills and learning how to use kit to capture audio or visual content (craft skills). You might even be working in a post-production area using specialist software and technology.
Whichever path you choose to take, and wherever you are on placement, by the end of the apprenticeship, you’ll have a broad understanding, as well as the technical skills and knowledge, of the different stages of the production process – right through from how an initial idea becomes a final piece of content.
In your application form you can select which production skills you think you’d be most interested in/suited for. You can also select a preferred location and content type. But don’t worry, your choices at this stage aren’t binding. The options are there just to help you start thinking about the different areas of production. Unfortunately, we can’t guarantee that your preference will be fulfilled, but, if you are successful, we’ll do our best to offer you a placement in your preferred area.
For the 2022/23 Production Apprentice Scheme we plan to have placements in local radio:
North
BBC Radio Manchester (Salford)
BBC Radio Lancashire (Blackburn)
BBC Radio Merseyside (Liverpool)
BBC Radio Sheffield (Sheffield)
BBC Radio York (York)
BBC Radio Leeds (Leeds)
BBC Radio Newcastle (Newcastle)
BBC Radio Tees (Middlesbrough)
BBC Radio Cumbria (Carlisle)
BBC Radio Humberside (Hull)
Midlands
BBC Radio Lincolnshire (Lincoln)
BBC Radio WM (Birmingham)
BBC Radio Coventry (Coventry)
BBC Radio Hereford & Worcester (Worcester)
BBC Radio Shropshire (Shrewsbury)
BBC Radio Stoke (Stoke-on-Trent)
BBC Radio Nottingham (Nottingham)
BBC Radio Derby (Derby)
BBC Radio Leicester (Leicester)
South/ South East
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire (Cambridge)
BBC Radio Norfolk (Norwich)
BBC Radio Suffolk (Ipswich)
BBC Radio Northampton (Northampton)
BBC Radio Three Counties (Dunstable)
BBC Essex (Chelmsford)
BBC Radio Kent (Tunbridge Wells)
BBC Radio Sussex & Surrey (Guildford)
BBC Radio Oxford (Oxford)
BBC Radio Berkshire (Reading)
BBC Radio Solent (Southampton)
BBC Radio London (London)
West/ South West
BBC Radio Bristol (Bristol)
BBC Radio Gloucestershire (Gloucester)
BBC Radio Wiltshire (Swindon)
BBC Radio Somerset (Taunton)
BBC Radio Devon (Plymouth)
BBC Radio Cornwall (Truro)
BBC Radio Jersey (Channel Islands)
BBC Radio Guernsey (Channel Islands)
As well as placements across BBC Three (London); Children’s (Salford); Audio (London and other bases in England); Natural History Unit (Bristol).
Wherever you’re on placement, however, you’re likely to be doing some/all of the following whilst you’re on the apprenticeship:
- general administrative and logistics tasks in the production office, in studio, on location or in the edit suite
- helping to make content for social media – coming up with ideas and creating your own content to publish online
- basic research for locations, contributors, props
- booking and collecting kit; assisting with camera and sound recording kit
- getting hands-on experience in how a radio studio works (pre-recorded/live); running on a TV studio floor or on location
- learning how to film and edit audio and/or visual content
- booking transport/accommodation and travel for crew and contributors
- looking after crew and contributors in studio or on location
- compiling and distributing call sheets/scripts and other production paperwork
- answering phone calls and emails; photocopying
- …you might also be making cups of tea!
Who are you?
If working in the media is something you’d love, and you’re creative and passionate about storytelling, then you’re the right candidate.
If you’ve got loads of imagination, the potential to learn, and the drive and determination to succeed, then this scheme is for you….
If you’re someone who’s especially interested in sound and radio as a way of reaching the audience, or if you’re excited by using new technologies and connecting with people in a digital space/on radio/in podcasts, or perhaps social media/apps/games are your thing, then read on…
Whoever you are, please don’t rule yourself out of the running – your ideas and perspective might be just what we’re looking for!
Benefits
- A starting salary of £14,400 per year (pro-rated), those based in London will receive £19,082 per year, followed by an annual increase
- 25 days holiday a year. As well as national bank holidays, you’ll also get an extra day-off between Christmas and New Year
- Gold-standard industry training delivered by the BBC Academy from specialists and senior BBC and freelance production staff
- Completion of a Level 3 production apprenticeship supported by an experienced and established training provider
- A defined contributions pension scheme and discounted dental, health care, gym and much more
Application process
The most important thing to remember throughout the application process is that we are looking for your potential and passion. Be prepared to demonstrate what you have to offer, but don’t second-guess what you think we’re looking for – just tell us about you and why you feel the BBC is where you need to be!
There are a number of different stages in the application process…First, you will complete an application form which will help us to get to know you a bit better and to understand why you’d like to work at the BBC and be on the Production Apprentice Scheme. Remember to mention anything that will help you get a place on the scheme, so that you can bring your unique voice to the BBC. Also remember to highlight any content areas that you’re particularly interested in or excited by.
If you demonstrate some of the things we’re looking for then you will be invited to a second stage application and then, perhaps, to an assessment centre (in some cases, this may be followed by a final stage interview).
At the assessment centre we will have a chance to meet in person (or virtually) and you’ll have a chance to get a better feel for whether this scheme is right for you. Of course, it’s normal to feel a bit nervous or anxious about this stage, but we’re on-hand to help you through it all and to get the best out of you on the day, so try not to worry too much. Concentrate on answering the initial set of application questions first and letting us see your true self!
Due to the volume of applications it is a long process, and it could be up to three months until you hear from us about the final outcome of your application.
Official Website: BBC 2022/23 Production Apprentice Scheme
