Broadcast and Media Systems Technical Operator Apprenticeship - Level 3 - Tunbridge Wells

BBC; Royal Tunbridge Wells; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

The BBC SE & Radio Kent in Tunbridge Wells is offering a Fixed-Term Apprenticeship of 25 months for aspiring technical operators. You will learn on‑the‑job and study for an industry‑recognised apprenticeship, gaining hands‑on experience across live and recorded broadcasting in BBC environments.

No degree is required; this entry-level scheme is designed for non-graduates who want to develop practical skills while contributing to BBC programmes.

Qualifications

• Interest in media content and technical production.
• Ability to work under pressure and stay calm.
• Strong organisational and problem-solving abilities.

Responsibilities

• Gain practical experience across live and recorded broadcasting, including camera operations on location, studio roles, directing, lighting, editing, and graphics for BBC programmes.
• Contribute to high-quality content delivery using broadcast technologies such as satellite trucks and IP systems for outside broadcasts.
• Understand how technical production, editorial decisions, and audience engagement work together to shape content across TV, digital, and online platforms.

Skills

Passion for media content

Technical production

Problem-solving

Organisational skills

Job description

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

Department: South East Operations

Location: Tunbridge Wells - BBC SE & Radio Kent

Salary: £24,650

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, whilst 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.

Disclaimer

This job description is a written statement of the essential characteristics of the job, with its principal accountabilities, incorporating a note of the skills, knowledge and experience required for a satisfactory level of performance. This is not intended to be a complete, detailed account of all aspects of the duties involved.

Our apprenticeship roles are also subject to you having the require qualifications that we have deemed to be necessary for your role and the requirement of the training provider for your scheme. The offer would be subject to you undergoing and meeting the requirements of a skill scan process with the BBC nominated training provider to determine your eligibility.

Please note: If you were to be offered this role, the BBC will conduct Employment screening checks which include Reference checks; Eligibility to work checks; and if applicable to the role, Safeguarding and Adverse media/Social media checks. Any offer made is conditional on these checks being satisfactory.

Before your start date, you may need to disclose any unspent convictions or police charges, in line with our Recruitment policy. This allows us to discuss any support you may need and assess any risks. Failure to disclose may result in the withdrawal of your offer.

We are unable to accept applications via CV and only applications made online will be considered.