Software Engineering Degree Apprenticeship - Level 6 - Salford

An apprenticeship at the BBC gives you the opportunity to kick-start your career in a job you’ll love. We’re the industry leaders in early careers and are committed to your skills and talent development. As one of the world’s most creative and technologically advanced organisations for the last 100 years, an apprenticeship at the BBC means the opportunity to learn from the most respected and experienced professionals in the business. 

We have an amazing opportunity for anyone with a Software Engineering background who’s looking to develop, maintain and deliver apps and websites used by millions every day – with first class training and career development available, in a truly supportive environment!

We’re on the lookout for people with a passion for coding and software development to work alongside our Software Engineers and Team Leads, supporting them along with developing software and services for our journalists, producers and corporate teams, helping them to work and deliver content and products efficiently.   

You’ve got to be interested now, right? 

 
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

What will you be doing on the apprenticeship?

As a Software Engineering Apprentice, you’ll be placed in a front-end, back-end or full-stack team and learn to use agile planning and delivery practices like pairing, code, documentation reviewing and continuous delivery. 

You’ll practice quality control, write automated tests and work with others to integrate software with monitoring and support tools. 

We’ll need you to help troubleshoot and resolve issues throughout the product life cycle, including out of hours support (with support from others in the team). Learn and use the team’s agile planning and delivery process. 

All of this while also studying for a Level 6 Software Engineering qualification from a UK University. You’ll complete specialist modules such as: 

• Introduction to JavaScript, C# and Java
• Software development methodologies – waterfall vs agile
• Web development – HTML, CSS and SASS
• Data structures and algorithms
• Testing
• Project engineering skills

What will you be studying?

You’ll study for your industry recognised apprenticeship qualification, learning both on and off the job. This involves…. 

• Computer technologies
• Object Oriented Java Programming
• Web Technologies
• Web, Cloud and mobile Technologies 

Where could the role take you?

On successful completion of the apprenticeship, you will be awarded an Undergraduate Degree in Digital and Technology Solutions Professional (Software Engineer pathway) from a UK University and you will be supported to find a job role within the BBC’s Technical or Product delivery team. 

This scheme starts in September 2025, and you will be on a fixed term contract which means your contract is for the duration of the apprenticeship only.  The duration of this scheme is 40 months. 

 
ARE YOU THE RIGHT CANDIDATE?

We’re interested in your passion for working at the BBC and your enthusiasm for delivering world-class content and operational excellence to our audiences. We look for positive people who live our values and ensure our culture remains inclusive and full of opportunities. We’re not focused on your qualifications; instead, we look for potential and offer you the opportunity to apply your transferable strengths and experience to work in different ways.  

Throughout the selection process, we’ll be looking for evidence of how you demonstrate each of the BBC’s values and behaviours. Our values guide everything we do. They define what you can expect from the BBC and what the BBC expects from you. 

Great Software Engineering Apprentices are those who can demonstrate they: 

• Have brilliant organisational skills and are great at problem-solving and negotiating  
• Can manage multiple deadlines and demands on your time
• Have a calm and focused approach to changing circumstances  
• Have a keen interest in the BBC and how people consume content, bursting with fresh ideas to introduce new perspectives   
• Are an enthusiastic self-starter, flexible and adaptable to out-of-hours working 
   

This scheme is aimed at non-graduates. If you do have a degree and you’re interested in production roles at the BBC, we recommend applying for jobs at careers.bbc.co.uk or having a look at our other apprenticeship schemes.

To be eligible for an apprenticeship at the BBC, you must:  

• Be aged 18 or over when the apprenticeship starts in September 2025
• By the start of the apprenticeship in September 2025, have lived in the UK or European Economic Area (EEA) for a minimum of 3 years.
• Be eligible to work in the UK full time for the duration of the apprenticeship contract.
• Not currently taking part in an apprenticeship scheme supported by the BBC or another organisation. 
   

To apply for this scheme, you must also:

• Have achieved, or expected to achieve, by the start of the scheme Maths and English GCSE at Grade 4/C or above or National 5 (Scotland) at C or equivalent qualification.  
• Not have completed or hold qualifications in the apprenticeship subject at the same or higher level
• Have some experience of coding and/or software engineering is desirable. Whether that is from an A Level/BTEC course, coding boot camp or personal projects. A basic coding test will form part of the assessment for this scheme. 

WHAT YOU GET

During your Apprenticeship:

• A starting salary of £21,840
• Industry-leading training through the BBC Academy and our learning providers (this may involve travel to locations across the UK)
• A dedicated Team Manager and Scheme Specialist to help with your development
• Training and Mentoring by industry professionals 
• A 35-hour working week, 25 days of annual leave and a defined pension scheme. Plus discounted dental, health care, gym and much more.
   

Towards the end of your apprenticeship:

• An industry recognised qualification
• Lots of experience to help you seek out new challenges and work opportunities within the BBC and wider industry
• Employability and networking training to help you secure your next role
    

NEXT STEPS
 Don’t leave yourself thinking ‘what if?’ — this is your chance to be part of something special. Think you’re the right candidate? Click on ‘Apply Now’!  

Once you’ve set up your candidate profile, you just need to complete the questions in the job specific information section on the application. We don’t require you to upload a CV or Cover Letter. We are looking for your potential to bring difference to the BBC.  

If you’re eligible for the scheme, you will receive more information about the stages of the process and what to expect.

This advert is for roles in Salford based office locations. Please note that you must live a commutable distance from the BBC location to which you are applying for this apprenticeship. This scheme SED25 is also being offered in other locations, please see the corresponding adverts if you wish to apply for these locations. Please only apply to one location.  

Apprentices starting at BBC from September 2025 will be placed on a ‘Fixed Term’ contract. This means your contract is for the duration of your apprenticeship only. The BBC is committed to investing in new talent and as you approach the end of your apprenticeship, we will work with you to support you and offer you employability and networking training to help you secure your next role – this might be a job here at the BBC, or somewhere in the wider media industry. 

Applications for this role/scheme SED25 are due to close on 28/11/2024 

 
ABOUT THE BBC
 Diversity matters at the BBC. We have a working environment where we value and respect every individual’s unique contribution, enabling all of our employees to thrive and achieve their full potential. 

We want to attract the broadest range of talented people to be part of the BBC – whether that’s to contribute to our programming or our wide range of non-production roles. The more diverse our workforce, the better able we are to respond to and reflect our audiences in all their diversity. 

We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief.   

Support with your application

Our ambition is that the BBC is for everyone and should include everyone. We are proud to be a Level 2 Disability Confident Employer and committed to removing disability-related barriers.  

We take inclusivity seriously and want to ensure all candidates who are disabled or have long-term health conditions receive the support and adjustments they need. If you require reasonable adjustments for the application process or have access needs, you’d like to let us know about, please contact us here and we’d be happy to have a conversation in confidence to discuss how we can support you through the process. The job requisition ID for this role is 19247.