Apprentice Broadcast Engineer Review

My role involves a wide variety of broadcast engineering placements across the business including a range of operational and support engineering roles. This can include being part of a front line support team and responding to support requests as well as more planned engineering works such as project engineering and planned changes. In addition to this, operational engineering roles exist such as newsgathering.

I have learnt many new skills and expanded my general technical knowledge whilst on the course. This has included learning through both formal and informal tuition as well as independent research and fault finding. It is useful when on placement to use knowledge base articles and previously resolved support requests to inform furture work.

The programme is highly enjoyable both during the work placement portions and uni study portions. The process of selecting candidates not only focuses on ability but also on the social skills and ability for co-operation and the formation of friendships within the cohort. This allows for a fun and highly productive atmosphere that encourages learning.

As an apprentice you feel highly valued by the BBC both by your fellow peers on the scheme and by the colleagues that you work with on placement. Everyone is very willing to answer your questions and queries as well as demonstrate things to you. There is a culture of knowledge sharing and apprentices are treated with respect.

The programme is very well structured with an excellent management team and support structure that allows you to really succeed and get the most of the opportunities presented to you. Issues are inevitable an when they occur this management structure allows for them to be solved quickly and efficiently with a positive outcome for all involved.

Whilst the training provider is good at giving support it is sometimes necessary for aspects of issues to be escalated to the scheme management. This always results in a positive resolution as the university understands that we all wish to make the most of our training and receive the best possible outcome.

The employer provides a significant amount of support to all apprentices and they are the first point of contact for any training or placement related issues. Any issues that do arise are dealt with swiftly and with a positive outcome. This makes you feel well supported and enables you to do well and achieve your best.

The salary meets the costs well with London based apprentices receiving London weighting. Even with this, however, it can sometimes be difficult to meet the ever increasing costs of travel. This can be offset though with careful budgeting and ensuring that you save money when the opportunity allows especially during university portions of the course where expenditure is lower.

There are many opportunities outside of work both socially and for professional development. On the social side the BBC Club has a wide variety of activities and events that apprentices are welcome to take part in. In terms of professional development, apprentices are encouraged to join relevant industry bodies such as SMPTE, RTS and the IET.

Yes

The BBC broadcast engineering apprenticeship scheme is a brilliant program for those interested in a career in broadcast engineering. It offers fantastic industry experience from the largest public service broadcaster in the world, experience that would be impossible to gain on a traditional university course. This is incredibly valuable and in addition to the university course and content provides for a diverse learning environment.

Take your application seriously, bear in mind that it is for a job rather than a university place and tailor it accordingly. Whilst you may little or no engineering experience talk instead about competencies and experience you do have. Try and apply scenarios you've faced in the past to your application and demonstrate these if you are invited to an assessment centre. If you are invited to an assessment centre it is important to thoroughly prepare beforehand and guidance is given as to how it is best to do this.