Production Co-Ordinator Apprentice Review

I am a Production Co-Ordinator Apprentice at the BBC, working across 4 areas of the BBC in 15 months on the scheme as a Team Assistant, Production Management Assistant or Production Co-Ordinator. Responsibilities vary between placements but can involve working in a management and production support role across some large productions and large-scale events.

As well as developing some of my own personal skills, such as computer skills, communication skills and all-round confidence, I have also been able to learn many new skills relevant and specific to the job role, most which was made possible through the training courses provided by the BBC Academy in the training blocks of my placement. My placements have also put me into courses relevant to the skills and knowledge I require for the role.

I am having the best time of my life on this programme. It is a joy to wake up and look forward to going to work. A huge part of this is working with a team of lovely, supportive and incredibly hard-working individuals who are equally as passionate about what they do. To work for one of the biggest and best-known brands in the world gives you a great buzz.

Very. As apprentices, we have been made very aware through conferences and our involvement in large projects that apprentices are becoming increasingly important and increasingly valued both in the creative industry but particularly at the BBC. To be given such a large amount of responsibility on some huge projects really makes you feel that your employers trusts you and values the hard work you've been putting in so far.

At the very start of the scheme, we were given a timetable of our placement dates and training blocks, so there has been a set structure from the offset. We are informed well in advance of our progress reviews and assessment visits and these tend to fall in the first month and final month of our placements, respectively.

Our college mentor is incredibly supportive and is always just an email or a phone call away to help us with any of the qualification or E-Portfolio work that we have to submit.

Our scheme manager has done a fantastic job of finding us some incredibly placements and ensuring that we are supported and worked within these placements. Similarly to above, she is always just an email or phone call away.

As apprenticeship salaries go, to my understanding this is better paid than many other schemes, and there is also London weighting which helps to cover the added costs for working in an expensive part of the country. The salary covers my travel costs, with around half of my monthly salary remaining for personal social costs.

Our scheme managers actively encourage us to get involved and stuck into as many opportunities as possible, including additional volunteering at work.

Yes

Applying for this apprenticeship was the best decision I have ever made and I find it hard to believe how far I've come in less than a year on the scheme. They are a great provider of apprenticeships, supporting us and giving us the best, industry-expert-led training. If you want to work in TV or radio, you can't start in a much better place than one of the best known broadcasters in the world.

Do it! You won't regret it! Don't rush your application - take your time and really sell yourself. Write a list of everything you've done and try to tick off everything whilst answering the questions. At your interview, be yourself and don't be discouraged by others. On the scheme, completely embrace it, enjoy it and do everything you possibly can!