New Talent Apprentice Review

As a New Talent Apprentice at the BBC, I will have worked in a number of departments across the business which will have helped me to obtain a varied knowledge and experiences across the BBC. Currently, I am working in the Children's department. Within the Children's department, I have worked in planning and scheduling which has included me inputting schedules for BBC Iplayer and Youtube primarily. Furthermore, I have also worked in the presentation and production departments as well. My particular duties in this area have included writing script continuity links, working as a production runner, creating and producing risk assessments, health and safety for productions. Assisting freelancers and contributors with their pay and fees. Additionally, I have also participated in extra curricular activities such as networking and reporting for the BBC's internal staff magazine/website, Ariel.

I have developed my communication skills immensely since beginning my apprenticeship. I have also gained new skills such as the ability to network around the corporation. Furthermore, I have also gained specialist skills within my placement such as learning how to use and navigate software and IT/media systems to complete my job duties within my placement. I have also developed my confidence levels since commencing my apprenticeship journey.

Basically, the programme is the best thing to have ever happened to me in my whole entire life. I have learnt so many skills, gained so much knowledge and met so many people that I otherwise would not have met if I had not joined the programme/apprenticeship. Every day feels like an adventure rather than a chore and that is why I enjoy the programme 110%.

My apprenticeship is structured extremely well. My managers are always one step ahead of everything in the programme and will always help us manage our time effectively with studies and placement work. I have never felt too overwhelmed with the apprenticeship, we are always allocated study days as well which helps us meet the deadlines for our assignments.

My managers and employer in general are extremely supportive. We have an 'open door' policy where we can go and chat about anything to our managers at any time. I would daresay that our managers are just as invested in our journey, development and achievements as much as we are.

I would say that the support we receive from our training provider is good. We are allocated a skills coach who will guide us through assignments and work based learning tasks. Again, they are on hand at our disposable if ever we have any concerns or general questions. We can always seek advice and support on our academic tasks and assignments also which proves extremely helpful.

I feel that I am able to relate most of what we learn and complete in the qualification to day to day aspects in my role. I have also found that my placement will always accommodate my studies as well if needed to ensure that my work experiences stay relevant to my learning and studies.

I report and network for Ariel magazine which is an internal media outlet within the BBC. I have written several articles since joining Ariel and I have really enjoyed the experiences and networking opportunities that this placement has offered. I have also applied for other professional networking opportunities within the BBC such as applying for voluntary role within the people strategy/HR next generation scheme.

Yes

It's a great opportunity to learn a new industry/career whilst earning a salary and gaining a qualification. In all honesty, the apprenticeship has changed my life and I am having new and unique experiences and meeting new people that I would never have met, had I have stayed in my previous role. I would urge anyone to take the leap if they are considering doing an apprenticeship.

Be yourself but be your best self. I would really encourage other applicants to showcase their best skills, qualities and the different experiences that they have had in life prior to the application (no matter how mundane these experiences may seem). Never pretend to be someone you are not because the interviews/panel will see through this and if they do not see through this, that approach is not sustainable long term.