BBC Scotland Production Apprentice Review

I am very fortunate to gain such wide and varied experience as a Production Apprentice at BBC Scotland. I go to seven different departments throughout my year, taking on different roles in each. These include Digital, Childrens, Factual, Media Central, Radio Music, General Programmes, and News. Within each five week placement, I might even work with several different teams in order to meet as many people and get the best possible experience possible. So far I have predominantly undertaken roles and responsibilities that a Researcher would, and when in Factual a Producer even advised me to say I am a Researcher when working with him due to the tasks he was asking me to do.

Not even halfway through my year as an Apprentice, but I have already developed a wide range of skills and learned a lot. I now known hot to edit video and audio, and research and approach contributors for involvement in various programmes. Overall, I have generally learnt a lot about television production.

I enjoy the programme when I am in a department that respects me, and hands me a fair workload. The departments I have not enjoyed working in as much have been those which I haven't had all that much to get on with. All teams of staff, bar one, have been wonderfully friendly, encouraging, and helpful to work with. I find working for such a prestigious company such as the BBC incredibly positive.

I feel incredibly valued as an Apprentice at the BBC. Every staff member I meet is interested to know me, and to assist me in any way that can with my future aspirations. The work I produce is always to the highest standard possible and my work ethic and skills have been recognised by others.

There is still room for improvement with the programme. As previously mentioned, there are some departments that don't have an awful lot of work for you to do for them. The mentor system is wonderful, I can rely on my mentor to the absolute fullest and I meet her for regular meetings. I have passed on my feedback internally on how the programme could be better structured for future reference.

I receive adequate support from my tutor, although the college work we undertake is not particularly taxing so I do not regularly have many queries for him. He is helpful and reliant when seeking any college work assistance.

I receive as much support from my employers, including scheme managers, mentors, and other staff as I need.

The salary for me is not an issue. To gain such experience and to be paid on top of that is really satisfying.

There are plenty of company events and activities, it's really up to me how I take and make the most of them.

Yes

The BBC is the very best in the media and broadcasting industry, and the scheme is highly beneficial for anyone that wants to find a way of starting off at the bottom and learning and harvesting their interests into work following on from the scheme.

I would say to anyone that they should be their self when applying and if successful enough to be interviewed, because the BBC is interested in who you are. I would also advise anyone in the group assessment activity to be confident enough to speak aloud and say their thoughts, as well as listening to others and avoid taking control of the group.