Broadcast and Media Systems Technical Operator Apprenticeship - Level 3 - Salford - EXTEND

BBC; Salford; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

BBC Extend invites applications for a Broadcast Technical Operator apprentice role (BOA27) in Salford. This entry-level opportunity sits within the Media Operations team and offers hands-on learning across live and recorded broadcasting, including camera operations, studio roles, directing, lighting, editing, and graphic design for regional and national BBC programmes.

You will study for an industry-recognised apprenticeship qualification with National Film and Television School, learning across

Qualifications

• Passionate about media content and the technical production side of how that content reaches the audience.
• Can work calmly under pressure.
• Fascinated by how things work.
• Brilliant organisational skills and are great at problem-solving.
• Enthusiastic self-starter, flexible and adaptable to out-of-hours working.
• This scheme is aimed at non-graduates.
• If you have a degree and you’re interested in similar roles at the BBC, we recommend applying for jobs at the BBC careers site or having a look at our other apprenticeship schemes.

Responsibilities

• Gain practical experience across all aspects of live and recorded broadcasting, including camera operations on location, studio-based technical roles, directing, lighting, editing, and graphic design for regional and national BBC programmes
• Contribute to the delivery of high-quality content for BBC shows, using advanced broadcast technologies such as satellite trucks and IP systems for outside broadcasts
• Develop a strong understanding of how technical production, editorial decisions, and audience engagement work together to shape compelling content across TV, digital, and online platforms.

Skills

Media content passion

Calm under pressure

Problem solving

Organisational skills

Self-starter

Job description

Contract Type: Fixed-Term Apprenticeship, Full-time for 25 months

Department: Media Operations

Location: Salford - Media City Studios

Salary: £24,650

This role is advertised as part of our BBC Extend programme for disabled people. To apply for this role you should identify as deaf, disabled or neurodivergent and must meet either the definition of disability in the Equality Act (2010), or the definition of disability in the Disability Discrimination Act (1995) if applying in Northern Ireland. You’re broadly defined as disabled under both acts if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term negative or adverse effect on your ability to do normal daily activities. This definition includes both apparent and non-apparent conditions and impairments, and medical conditions such as Cancer, HIV or Multiple Sclerosis.

We are committed to making the process of applying for this role as accessible as possible. If you need to discuss adjustments or access requirements for the application process, or have any questions about our Extend programme, please contact us via the Early Careers Recruitment contact form and choose the ‘Reasonable Adjustments’ option.

The BBC are fully committed to providing workplace adjustments to help eliminate barriers in the workface that disabled people face. To do this, we have our own dedicated BBC Access and Disability Service that provides assessments and support throughout employment with us. If you are successful in applying for this role and require workplace adjustments, we will work with you to get your adjustments in place.

If you’d like more information on BBC Extend, please visit the BBC Extend webpage. EX2324

COULD A BBC APPRENTICESHIP BE THE NEXT ROLE FOR YOU?

Join us as an apprentice at the BBC to give yourself the opportunity to kick-start your career in a job you'll love. We’re committed to your skills and talent development. You’ll learn on-the-job, developing your knowledge and skills in an area that interests you, while working towards your apprenticeship qualification with one of our learning providers.

WHY JOIN THIS SCHEME?

Working alongside journalists and programme makers is a dedicated team of technical operators who make sure the broadcast equipment and technology side of our business runs smoothly. This apprenticeship is an exciting entry-level opportunity to join the BBC across the UK; working at the front end of technical operating in sound and/or vision in the newsroom ingest hubs, galleries, studios, post-production areas, and out on location.

Want to find out more? Watch recordings from our webinar series on our Life at the BBC YouTube playlist to learn more about this scheme and other opportunities we offer, and hear from current apprentices about their experiences.

WHY JOIN THE TEAM?

The BBC’s broadcast services are at the heart of communities across the UK; telling stories that matter to people, on TV, radio, online and via our wider digital services. Through this apprenticeship opportunity, you could be part of the next generation of highly skilled Technical Operators.

YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPACT

As a Broadcast Technical Operator apprentice (BOA27), this is a brilliant opportunity to learn, grow, and contribute – you will:

• Gain practical experience across all aspects of live and recorded broadcasting, including camera operations on location, studio-based technical roles, directing, lighting, editing, and graphic design for regional and national BBC programmes
• Contribute to the delivery of high-quality content for BBC shows, using advanced broadcast technologies such as satellite trucks and IP systems for outside broadcasts
• Develop a strong understanding of how technical production, editorial decisions, and audience engagement work together to shape compelling content across TV, digital, and online platforms.

You’ll study for your industry recognised apprenticeship qualification, learning both on and off the job. Your learning with the National Film and Television School will introduce you to a wide variety of skills across both TV and Radio, including:

• Camera Operations
• Floor Management
• TV Vision Mixing
• Sound Operations
• Technical Directing
• Shoot and Edit Multi-Skilled Operator
• Picture and Audio Editing
• Ingest and Library functions.

As part of the programme, you will be required to travel to attend in-person learning blocks and other apprenticeship-related activities where necessary. For more information on what you will study during the scheme, please see the Broadcast & Media Systems Technical Operator standard.

YOUR SKILLS AND ELIGIBILITY

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’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.

If you can bring some of these skills and experiences, along with transferable strengths, we’d love to hear from you and encourage you to apply:

• Passionate about media content and the technical production side of how that content reaches the audience
• Can work calmly under pressure
• Fascinated by how things work
• Brilliant organisational skills and are great at problem-solving
• Enthusiastic self-starter, flexible and adaptable to out-of-hours working.

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

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

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

• Be 18 years old or over by the time the apprenticeship begins in September 2027
• Have lived in the UK continuously for the last three years prior to the start of the apprenticeship
• Be legally eligible to work full-time in the UK for the entire duration of the apprenticeship
• Not currently be enrolled in another apprenticeship programme, whether with the BBC or another organisation
• Not already hold a qualification in the same subject area at the same or a higher level than this apprenticeship.

To apply for this scheme, you must also:

• Not have completed or hold qualifications in the apprenticeship subject at level 3 or above
• Not have completed or hold an extended BTEC or degree in media, television, film, audio or radio production
• Have little or no work experience in the subject area
• For candidates under the age of 19 years on 7 September 2027: To complete the apprenticeship, you must have achieved Maths and English GCSE at Grade 4/C or above or National 5 (Scotland) at C or Functional Skills Level 2 or equivalent qualification. If you have not achieved these qualifications by the start of your apprenticeship, you will be required to achieve Functional Skills Level 2 before the apprenticeship assessment when you take your end-point assessment.