Broadcast Operator Review

Every day is different when working in news and the whole team was very welcoming and took the time to explain the job to me. I am lucky to have had the opportunity to shadow across operations from sound assisting for several outside broadcasts, operating live during our regional news programme and floor managing on BBC Breakfast. The apprenticeship has exceeded my expectations.

Yes, lots! I have been trained in sound operations, floor managing, ingesting, editing, and studio cameras which I had no experience in before my apprenticeship began. When shadowing I am given the opportunity to work independently and have hands-on with all of the equipment. I am very supported by my team who are always on hand to answer all of my questions. I have worked on location, in the studio and the gallery which has given me a full insight into the fast-paced environment of working in news.

The apprenticeship is excellent and I couldn't recommend it more. I’ve wanted to work behind the scenes for the BBC for as long as I can remember and the scheme has given me the opportunity to get completely stuck in and work on national and regional programmes. I have felt a valued member of our operational team from the onset.

The apprenticeship is very well organised. I have regular meetings with my placement manager to discuss how I am and what I would like to shadow next. I also speak to my scheme managers frequently discussing my progress and what feedback they have received. Over the two years, we attend college courses and we are given the dates well in advance.

The BBC scheme managers regularly keep in touch to ensure I am getting the most out of my apprenticeship and are there to support, give advice and encourage me. I have weekly meetings with my placement manager to give me feedback, discuss my progress and decide what I would like to shadow next. I am very supported by all of the members of our operational team.

Due to Covid19 our training provider, Firebrand has had to move all of our learning online. I have had video meetings with my college mentors to discuss my projects and received some feedback. I have also attended online day courses and lectures which have been helpful but quite full on.

The Firebrand courses I have attended so far have been helpful as an insight into the engineering side of television however they could relate more to our role as Broadcast Operators. The projects given have helped me revise my knowledge and write about my experiences on the apprenticeship. I also had the opportunity to attend lectures at the BBC training centre Wood Norton which were excellent.

Yes! I'm kept busy with BBC Woman in News conferences, netball practise and pub quizzes! I volunteered at the BBC Academy stall at a Stem event at Manchester university. I was part of a team that included two of the tutors from Wood Norton training centre and three engineering trainees. We talked to school groups about our training with the BBC and showed them how to operate lots of studio equipment.

Yes

The scheme is a brilliant insight into working in the television industry and gives apprentices the opportunity to get hands-on and shadow across all of the operational roles. The management team support us throughout the apprenticeship and give us advice and feedback on how to progress and get a job at the end.

I’ve wanted to work behind the scenes for the BBC for as long as I can remember. I applied for the BBC summer work experience programme when I was still at school and was accepted to work with the Proms team in London. Through that I was offered lots of running jobs for live music events, like the Festival of Remembrance, The Queens’s birthday and I even got to work at the Royal Wedding but my highlight was most definitely working at Glastonbury. So, my first piece of advice to you is to use those school holidays or free time to get relevant experience; be prepared to work really hard and don’t be precious about starting off at the bottom. I learned so much about working in a team on running jobs and I met so many fantastic people. Then I heard about the Apprenticeship scheme through BBC Get In. I wasn’t successful with my first application and so went to university instead but I didn’t enjoy sitting in lectures all day; I prefer to learn on the job and the apprenticeship means you get to study for qualifications at the same time. I made the big decision to leave uni and reapply to the scheme and second time around I got in! Therefore, my next piece of advice would be – persist! If you really want it, find a way to make it happen and don’t be put off easily. I wrote to several industry professionals I had met whilst doing running jobs and asked if I could work shadow them. I also did serious research and wrote a lot of emails to people I had never met. They were incredibly helpful and happy to give me advice. During a tour of Quay house in Media City during a BBC Stem event, I met one of the Directors of North West Tonight and plucked up the courage to ask if I could shadow her one day. Next piece of advice - be polite, do your research and ALWAYS follow up with a thank you email.