Apprentice Broadcast Engineer Review

As an Apprentice Broadcast Engineer, my time is split between uni work and placements. If on a uni stint, day to day would be lectures on a variety of topics, last semester we studied Audio and Video coding, processing and editing and Databases (SQL etc.) When on a work placement, day to day would depend on where I am. Currently, my day to day tasks involve doing checks across the BBC's services, ensuring that they are 'going out ok' and flagging if there are any glitching/distortion/subtitle issues/lip sync issues.

Yes, studying for a BEng degree, I am learning a lot about a variety of topics, ranging from Cisco networking, to databases and data mining. Also, whilst on placement, I am learning about the systems that the BBC use, and the way the company works, and different processes that happen.

I love my job - working for the BBC is interesting, but the management of my scheme really do care about us. Check in with us most weeks to make sure everything is ok and if there's anything they can do to make it better. I enjoy the work placements a lot - you get to meet a variety of people and work in many different areas. The uni part of the course is very very intense, in lectures most days from 9am-6pm. I would say that these are the times i enjoy the scheme least. but the placements are so amazing I have had some very enjoyable moments!

I feel very valued, especially by the scheme management, as I have said above, they really do care about you and check in regularly to ensure that everything is ok.

Very, if you want to go on a placement to a certain area, they will do everything they can to get you there or as close as they can. You know your schedule at least 6 months ahead, and management are always there to answer any questions.

We have training from 2 unis - Birmingham City Uni (BCU) and University of Salford (UoS) BCU are available to support whenever, even when we are on placement they are happy to reply to emails with questions/problems. UoS are ok, but from my experience, will only really help if you are in Salford, which when I work in London, is only when we are on a uni stint.

They provide BBC trainers who will build upon the stuff taught by the unis and help us with revision weeks before exams etc/...

Very much. When at uni, all we have to pay for is snacks, lunch and any alcohol. Living around London, I receive London weighting which covers my travel costs when on placement and commuting into the city.

Some, when on uni, our year is all together so spend most if not all evenings together. Management will try and organise events for us to meet other years and schemes. As for volunteering, there are a number of events which we are asked to help at, most of which are advertising the schemes that BBC academy offer. Along with that, we are asked to participate in BBC School Report each year, helping school children produce news articles etc.

Yes

They Really care about you and the training is second to none. Also, in this industry, I have found it is not necessarily what you know but more who you know. The variety of placements let you build up your knowledge and also contacts who will be useful in the future.

There is no 'template' BBC employee - if you can show that you are passionate and have a drive to learn and love what ever the scheme is about, that is what they are looking for. Someone who they can help mold into what they need, but also what you want to do and become.