Salary: £21,840
Contract type: Fixed Term Contract
Location: Salford
This role is advertised as part of our for disabled people. To apply for this role you should identify as deaf, disabled or neurodivergent and must meet either:, or the definition of disability in the 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 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
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.
This Level 5 Journalist Apprenticeship is ideal for curious individuals passionate about telling stories. Whether you're a school leaver or seeking a career change, if university isn't for you, this program provides first-class journalism training with the world’s biggest public service broadcaster.
You'll gain on-the-job experience while working towards the NCTJ Diploma in Journalism and a Level 5 apprenticeship qualification.
This role will be based with BBC Sport.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
What will you be doing on the apprenticeship?
As a Level 5 Journalist Apprentice, you will…
1. Work alongside BBC Sports teams to develop your journalistic skills, creating and delivering quality content for TV, online, digital, and audio
2. Get involved with all newsroom activities, such as sourcing and securing suitable guests or contributors, writing briefs for your team or shooting and editing films
3. Find and create stories for diverse audiences - including coming up with ideas, carrying out in-depth research and assisting with interviews
4. Learn from and work with experts in the field
What will you be studying?
The L5 Journalist Apprenticeship combines academic training with practical on-the-job experience. As an apprentice, you will follow the Journalist Apprenticeship standard (curriculum) and work towards an industry recognised qualification, the NCTJ Diploma in Journalism. This is assessed through exams and course work.
The NCTJ Diploma modules and assessments are likely to include:
5. Essential Journalism - how to get the story and develop strong writing skills
6. Ethics - understanding the Ofcom Code which guides broadcast journalists
7. Essential Media Law - the toolbox no journalist can be without, and every editor wants to know you have
8. Journalism for a Digital Audience - understand how digital publishing organisations work and how to write brilliant stories across all digital platforms
9. Public Affairs - understand how power works and how you can challenge it
10. Sports Journalism - understand how to cover sports stories
11. E-portfolio - to include ten pieces of journalism, published on any appropriate platform
In addition, you also have to complete an End Point Assessment - a work-related project as part of your apprenticeship.
For more information on the apprenticeship standard, see .
More about the NCTJ Diploma in Journalism can be found.
Where could the role take you?
On successful completion of your apprenticeship, you will be able to apply for job opportunities inside or outside the BBC such as Journalism Researcher, Journalism Coordinator and Journalist roles.
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 24 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 individuals who live our values and ensure our culture remains inclusive and full of opportunities for everyone. We’re not focused on your formal qualifications; instead, we value your potential and encourage you to apply your unique strengths and transferable experiences 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 Journalist Apprentices are those who can demonstrate they are:
12. Curious about people and the world around them
13. Interested in developing creative ideas and new ways to tell stories
14. Passionate about producing content on different platforms, including social media
15. Excited by the opportunity to write and share stories
16. Open to learning and adapting to different work environments and paces, with support available where needed
Don’t worry if you don’t have extensive experience. We’re looking for school-leavers or career changes who show potential, rather than previous experience or formal training.
This scheme is aimed at non-graduates. If you have a degree or the NCTJ diploma in Journalism and want to train as a Journalist at the BBC, we recommend you apply to the Level 7 Journalist Apprenticeship instead.
To be eligible for an apprenticeship at the BBC, you must:
17. Be aged 18 or over when the apprenticeship starts in September 2025.
18. 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.
19. Be eligible to work in the UK full-time for the duration of the apprenticeship contract.
20. Not currently taking part in an apprenticeship scheme supported by the BBC or another organisation.
To apply for this scheme, you must also:
21. Not have completed or be studying for the NCTJ diploma or a journalism qualification at the same level or higher.
22. 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 to complete the apprenticeship. 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 end of your apprenticeship when you take your end-point assessment.
23. Identify as disabled under The Equality Act.
WHAT YOU GET
During your apprenticeship:
24. A starting salary of £21,840
25. Industry-leading training through the BBC Academy and our learning providers (this may involve travel to locations across the UK)
26. A dedicated Team Manager and Scheme Specialist to help with your development
27. Training and Mentoring by industry professionals
28. A 35-hour working week, 25 days of annual leave days and a defined pension scheme. Plus discounted dental, health care, gym and much more
Towards the end of your apprenticeship:
29. The NCTJ Diploma in Journalism
30. An industry recognised journalism apprenticeship qualification
31. Lots of experience to help you seek out new challenges and work opportunities within the BBC and wider industry
32. Employability 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. A general overview of the application process can be found.
This advert is for roles in Salford based office locations. Please note that during the apprenticeship, you must live within a commutable distance from the BBC location in which you'll be based. This scheme (JRA25) 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 are due to close on 28/11/2024.
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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.