Production Apprenticeship - Level 3 - BBC Radio Cumbria

Contract Type: 17 Months Fixed-Term Contract

Location: Carlisle

Salary: £21,840

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. 

The Production Apprenticeship Scheme helps you to gain experience with our BBC production teams across the UK, making world-class content for our audiences on radio, TV or digital platforms. You’ll learn on-the-job as part of a BBC production team, developing your knowledge and skills in an area that interests you, while working towards your Production apprenticeship qualification with one of our learning providers.

You’ve got to be interested now, right? 
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
 What will you be doing on the apprenticeship?

As a Production Apprentice, you’ll learn a wide range of skills and gain a breadth of real life experience which may include helping to develop ideas and stories; learning how to use technical equipment and specialist software; assisting your team on location/in studio; finding guests and participants; researching content; creating content for social media; helping out/’running’ on the studio floor; in a TV gallery or in a radio studio. All the while, you’ll be learning content-making skills from experienced production team members as well as expert BBC trainers.  

What will you be studying?

You’ll study for your industry recognised apprenticeship qualification, learning both on and off the job. This involves learning about audiences, how production teams work, content making in audio and video as well as skills to equip you for a career in production at the BBC or in the wider creative industry.   

Where could the role take you?

On successful completion of your apprenticeship, you will be able to look for job opportunities inside or outside the BBC such as Runner, Junior Researcher, Content Assistant or Edit Assistant, Technical Operator (depending on your placement choice).

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 17 months.  

A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PLACEMENT
BBC Local Radio’s stations across England and the Channel Islands celebrate everything that is great about where we live. Communities are at the heart of our programming, we have a unique connection with our audience and love finding and telling their stories. Whether it’s covering a breaking news story in our area, speaking to someone about something extraordinary they’ve achieved or reporting on the highs and lows of local sports teams, no day is ever the same. You could be working on live radio programmes, editing audio, producing video for our social media content and regional TV output, as well as crafting audio for BBC Sounds.

Please note that the placement you choose will determine the department you will work in for the duration of your apprenticeship if you are selected. You are only able to apply for one department/placement per location for this scheme and any subsequent applications for that location will be withdrawn.

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 Production Apprentices are those who can demonstrate they: 

• Are passionate and curious about content and the production process at the BBC
• Brimming with new ideas and fresh perspectives for BBC content
• A great team player who can deal with unexpected challenges
• Flexible and have an adaptable approach to work. 
   

This scheme is aimed at non-graduates. If you 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:

Not have completed or hold qualifications in the apprenticeship subject at the same or higher level.

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.  

Please note that you must live a commutable distance from the BBC location to which you are applying for this apprenticeship – there is an expectation for you to be working in the office. This scheme PRA25 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 the 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 are due to close on 17/01/2025.

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 20325.