Broadcast Operator Aprentice Review

As a Broadcast Operator, my job description and the roles I undertake on a day to day basis are wide ranging. From ingesting footage and setting up down-the-lines on Newswire to vision mixing in the gallery. I've even floor managed a miniature guide horse, so, you cannot predict what your day is going to hold. Everyday I interact with colleagues from all across the business playing my part in getting Breakfast, North West Today and North West tonight on air.

For the college part of the course, I am taking a IT technician/infrastructure course which has allowed me to develop skills I already had in areas such as coding and also learned more in depth networking applications. On placement and at Wood Norton - the BBC training facility - I've had the chance to work on broadcast studio and PSE cameras, sound desks, vision mixers and various operating systems, to name but a few. I also feel that I have developed further my interpersonal skills as I have had to get to know and fit in with groups all over the country.

I'd be lying if I said the college portion of the apprenticeship wasn't a struggle. After a intense start with BBC induction in Birmingham, training in Salford and two weeks thrown in the with pretty much free reign of television and radio studios, college was a break-neck halt. However, the light of placement on the horizon kept my whole cohort looking forward and working hard. On placement, the BBC - company and colleagues - were more than I expected by all that I hoped.

I feel very valued by the BBC. The money alone that they put into us as apprentices is quite staggering when you add it up and though sometimes it can make me worry if I'm worth it, it makes you realise that the BBC was and is willing to put faith and investment into you. Everyone in my management chain and my colleagues never treat me like an apprentice - in a good way. I am a fellow worker who is capable. I am suppose to be a shadow but they treat me as very much a whole person.

The overall apprenticeship is very well structured as are my placements as I have a very committed and involved placement manager. We have had many problems with Newcastle college and the organisation and structure there left a lot to be desired. However, when my cohort came together and discussed our misgivings and voiced these to our Scheme Manager a dialogue was opened with the college and slow incremental changes began to take place. We were provided with all the appropriate induction and training at the very beginning of the scheme to make sure we could get going with work as quickly as possible and these were well structured and organised in themselves so it wasn't mind-numbingly boring.

The BBC is very good at offering support that is appropriate for you as an individual. Everyone receives the same regular check ins from our placement advisors and at anytime we can get in touch if there is any additional support that we need. Newcastle college however, is worse than terrible at this. We receive basically no support and when our apprenticeship coordinator does get in touch, it's with demands for information with tight deadlines and cryptic instructions. The BBC has had to fill in for where the college fails, but, lucky they have fulfilled this admirably.

In the workplace, the BBC offers first aiders as you would expect but also has Mental Health first aiders which I think is a brilliant scheme to have in place to support all employees. In terms of the wider apprenticeship, the BBC is very good at offering support that is appropriate for you as an individual. Everyone receives the same regular check ins from our placement advisors and at anytime we can get in touch if there is any additional support that we need.

I consider my salary to be very generous. As an apprentice, you almost expect to be getting a pittance in exchange for training but this is not the BBC's mentality. They want to value you and understand the value you can add to their company if properly financially supported to do so. On top of my salary, I also receive generous expenses/meal allowances with all travel and accommodation costs covered when I am away from base.

The BBC offers a wide variety of events and leisure activities to get involved with both inside and outside of working hours. The company as a whole is very supportive of it's employees so offers opportunities outside of your job description. They all also very open to giving you experience in other areas of the BBC if it is something that interests you and will add to your knowledge.

Yes

The BBC is a well regarded and respected company to work for whose name alone will open doors, but beyond that, they are supportive, engaging and willing to invest in you as a person a develop you to be who you want to be within the company. The BBC has fulfilled its element of the apprenticeship whilst also filing in for where Newcastle college has offered nothing, and with that it becomes just how clear they are to making sure apprentices get the most out their schemes as they can.

Probably something no one wants to hear, but, be yourself. However much experience you've had, no matter what your passion is, sell it. You never know if your specific skill set in something you think is completely off topic is actually what will set you apart and make you memorable. Be prepared to stick out the process as it does take a long time but you have to keep in mind just how many people have applied and how long that selection process takes. Take every opportunity you are given - there will be a lot of them - you don't know where the next one will take you.