Business Apprentice Review

I am a business apprentice working in the BBC popular music network business team. My team look after all the network and indies staff as well as on air talent in terms of payments, health and safety and leave. My role currently involves making sure freelancers are paid, arranging access to the building in terms of ID cards and training.

I have developed my communication in most in terms of understanding how to approach people depending on what you need E.g. formal vs informative vs persuasive emails. I have also developed my self management skills including time management and balancing work and university modules and essays. I have also taken part in smaller managements tasks with live events teams were I was given responsibility o look after accreditation with involved looking after a few people and ensuring accreditation went smoothly.

I enjoy the variety in my current placement as doing various things has allowed me to pick up new skills from each tasks. I also find the rotation aspects in the programme very exciting as I think 8 months is enough time to take full advantage of everything your placement has to give before moving onto something new.

The programme is fairly well organised in terms of a general structure as you know that you will do a certain amount of placements along side your degree modules. However, I don't believe there is enough communication between the scheme and line managers about what is expected of us and what kind of experience we need to meet the university module needs.

My line manager has set very high standards as far as managers go. She has supported my very well throughout my placement as always understood that the degree side is just as important as my everyday work. She has allowed me enough study time and been understanding when I needed more time due to extra modules and deadlines.

We have been provided with a skills coach who is helpful with any queries we have related to the course. They book in meetings with us to ensure that they can support us with the modules. However, when looking at QA as a whole I think they could teach the course's better.

I do not think there is any relation in terms of my course and BBC work. The course is a business management course with modules like managing and leading and fiance and accounting but my role is very junior so does not allow to put any theory into practise which is understandable.

Yes there are multiple things which include a variety of talks and networking events open to all. We have a thing called the BBC club which you can buy a membership for which allows you to use the gym and extra access to other events and activities, although I am not a memeber

Yes

I have found that my team are super inclusive and very supportive to everyone personal and professional development. The BBC as a whole is a very interesting place to work as they are able to create brilliant content on a tight budget. This shows that they are invested in the content and their audiences most.

Make sure you understand the role you are getting yourself into so that you don't have any surprises. Also, you want to really prepare for your interview and make sure you give ti your all because their are people out there who's genuine life dream it is to work for the BBC so definitely give ti your all.