Apprentice Broadcast Operator Review

My role has been that of a Broadcast Operator, based in regional news outlets and across a variety of disciplines including Sound/Vision Mixing, Directing, Floor Managing, Graphics, Media Hub and Prompter Control. The role is intended to cover both creative and operational/technical aspects - deciding what makes a programme look and sound good, but also what is needed to get it on the air successfully. The course has been reasonable flexible in allowing coverage of areas we enjoy most, while still ensuring we target all areas adequately. I have worked closely with many people, including other operators, journalists, producers and camera crews, as well as with the public/outside companies when doing Outside Broadcasts etc. The role is varied and interesting, and requires you to become surrounded with the news environment and grasp what is going on each day, and each day is different and presents new challenges which creates an enjoyable work environment on placement. Alongside workplace placements, we have attended college to study technical modules including software development, networking and cloud technologies. This has been less successful and has caused some issues throughout the course of the apprenticeship, seeming somewhat irrelevant to the role we perform at placement, however it seems as if this is being worked on for future cohorts taken in.

I have learned lots of new skills and developed others related to broadcast. Before the course, I had never set foot in a production gallery or seen a TV studio, so the roles performed in there were all new to me, and I have received positive feedback on all of them signalling that this has been a successful aspect of the apprenticeship. I was also allowed to play to my strengths, having a prior interest in and knowledge of working with graphics, using Adobe Photoshop and After Effects, so have developed further in this. At times, it was frustrating to not be able to be MORE hands-on at placement due to operational routines or practices, and I would say that this occasionally hindered progress, and I did move to different regions to get more experience when it had stalled, which was slightly disappointing after settling in to one region. BBC training at Wood Norton in Worcestershire was extremely beneficial and enjoyable, and it was a pity there was not more of it. this training gave us the chance to simulate creating programmes and working across roles (cameras/mixing/floor managing etc.) while in a safe, off-air environment. Additional training here was cancelled part-way into the course which was disappointing. College modules have been of little success in teaching me new things, but the qualifications at least serve as a measure of knowledge.

It would be unfair to say I had not enjoyed the majority of the course. Working in news, and particularly for the BBC (the largest broadcaster in the world), has been exciting and varied, and a chance that I would never change. Teams I have worked with on placement have mostly been enthusiastic and welcoming, and keen to let me use skills I have learned, and overall the culture at the organisation is professional and positive. However, the structure of the course was sometimes vague and ill-fitting to particular regions, and could have had more specific objectives. There were periods later in the course that seemed slow, when I was unable to progress further because I was still "an apprentice", despite having obtained skills that effectively made me able to perform staff roles. College was fun at first, and put me in contact with other apprentices going through the same things as me, but eventually came to be seen as a distraction from valuable placement time and an inconvenience, which was not particularly enjoyable.

Mostly I have felt valued by the BBC. I have consistently received positive and valuable feedback relating to my work, and have been made to feel welcome wherever I have been working. However, there did seem a contrast, at times, between our contract, which stated we would be treated as staff (not apprentices), and what actually happened. There was occasionally a reluctance to let me work on "live" programmes, unless it benefitted the team at the time, which was not the most encouraging way to work.

The structure of the course has at times been a difficult area. The induction and beginning of the course were great, and gave us a broad overview of a lot of areas of the industry and news environment. However, for subsequent placements, while there were vague areas to focus on across placements, these were hard to adhere to within the differing constraints of different regions, and as the course progressed, it was difficult to figure out what needed more time spent on it. Our schedule was changed multiple times to accommodate extra time at college, which disrupted some placements, however, with hard work and revision while on placement, I was able to avoid some of this as I did not need to return to college. Although, this was difficult to fit in around long working days, and did create a daunting workload at times. Stints at college were long - sometimes a month or two at a time, meaning large gaps between placement, which then necessitated a lot of catching up to get back into the swing of things at work. Shorter, more focused periods targeting specific exams would have been better. Contact between myself and the learning provider (college) has been of little success. It was not clear at times which exams would be sat when, and what needed to be studied for each one. Dates were moved, exams were not booked and exam boards/curriculums changed mid-way through the course which was extremely frustrating.

Support from the learning provider was substandard. We did not receive adequate learning materials until far into the course. Our e-learning resources were also changed multiple time, meaning some of us did not have access for long periods which was not helpful. Staff/tutors were often late or absent, or unable to provide the right level of teaching, having been usually based in different departments etc. They often seemed uninterested in what we were actually trying to achieve, and only a handful were helpful via email while away at placement. It is unfortunate, but I would say that college is the main factor that has degraded the overall quality of the course. However, later cohorts are having more success as changes have been made to the learning provider arrangements.

Support from the BBC has been good. We were made aware on our induction of policies and strategies in place to provide multiple support networks and procedures for if we had any concerns. Managers on placements have been mostly encouraging and eager to get me involved, however, did at times feel unable to let me participate fully due to me being on an apprenticeship, which could be frustrating. Teams I have worked alongside have devoted time to teaching me skills which has been of unlimited benefit, though, so this can not be overlooked. Contact at all times with placement hosts has been easy and bidirectional and beneficial to both sides. Those overseeing the course could, at times, have tried to be slightly more flexible, as contact has support has mostly been present, but occasional queries about placements or future aspirations have resulted in a questionable amount of success or resolution.

The salary for the apprenticeship was low, but adequate and better than many others in the industry. We received a pay rise part way into the course, and a further small one under a salary review across the BBC, so we have been treated fairly. Personally, I struggled at times, as I joined the course and applied for a region quite a way from home, but this was my own choice, and I did receive support at times from the BBC. For people working close to home, I would consider the salary fair and worthwhile. We were allowed to claim expenses under the BBC's standard policies, which was a major help, however, this could sometimes take a significant amount of time, so cash flow could be difficult to manage.

There have been some opportunities outside of regular placements and college. I have floor managed an OB for a previous placement host, attended BBC staff events and also managed to do things in my home community due to people's knowledge of my work. Having secured a job in the BBC, I will have the opportunity of future attachments or "Hot Shoes" placement, allowing me to undertake roles in other departments and progress in my career should I wish. There are a range of additional training options, such as for Multi-Camera Directing, that can be organised through work, which are very appealing. I have also met a lot of people with similar interests through work, who have become friends as well as colleagues.

Yes

I am extremely proud to work for the BBC. Although there have been ups and downs to the apprenticeship, I cannot ignore the wealth of experience I've gained, and the fun I've had working in live, exciting news and television. I have also recently secured a staff position, meaning the apprenticeship was ultimately successful for me, and I have achieved what I intended.

There are often thousands of applicants, so your application must really stand out. Inject some of your own flair and personality into your application, CV and anything else you are required to submit: the BBC looks for enthusiasm and a zest for participating in the industry as equally as technical competence. Be prepared to travel and work hours different to a lot of people, but know that this will lead to great opportunities, should you grab the opportunity and make the most of it. Be open to talking to people - everyone is here because they share interests - making great content to educate, inform and entertain audiences!