Advanced Journalism Apprentice Review
at BBC
Degree Apprenticeship
Journalism and Publishing
London
Review Submitted: March 2026
Overall Rating
3.4 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
3.5/5
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Overview of Role
4/5
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Skills Development
3.2/5
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Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
4/5
Worked in various teams across the BBC as a journalist, serving in producer and reporter roles. As a producer, this would involve booking guests, editing video + audio, pitching ideas and briefing presenters. As a reporter, this would involve writing copy for the website, interviewing people and pitching stories.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
3/5
The actual on-the-day job was enjoyable, and I felt respected and included in every team I worked. They have encouraged me to pursue my interest in journalism. However, the overall administration of the apprenticeship programme is dire, and has hindered my enjoyment of the scheme. As a BBC apprentice, I am essentially treated my the apprenticeship management as a number, rather than an actual person. There is no consideration of us as individuals, with placements arranged in a haphazard way and poor (and often rude) communication from the administrators. We are discouraged from pursuing our own connections with the BBC and arranging placements of our own accord, with no flexibility in the apprenticeship programme for us to make our own connections and plans - effectively forcing us to conform and to disregard our journalistic instincts. We were selected by the BBC for our ambition, yet it feels like the apprenticeship management want to stifle any ambition we have.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
I have learnt technical skills in journalism and production, such as how to edit video and audio. I have also learnt soft skills such as how to pitch ideas and communicate in the workplace.
Dealing with the obtuse and obstructive apprenticeship management team and managing editors has also developed my skills in resilience and how to deal with difficult colleagues and management.
Dealing with the obtuse and obstructive apprenticeship management team and managing editors has also developed my skills in resilience and how to deal with difficult colleagues and management.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
1/5
Organisation is terrible, from the apprenticeship management and managing editors. Placements and training are communicated last-minute. In one instance, I had to repeatedly chase for any information regarding a residential training week, and the information was only sent on the Friday morning beforehand demanding an immediate response - whilst our cohort were sitting an exam. There was no respect or thought shown for us and our need to plan or structure our lives - we were just treated as numbers who are malleable to the whims of the apprenticeship managers. Apprenticeship managers often gave us contradictory information, such as informing us we could be flexible in our placements but then reprimanding us for doing so.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
3/5
This varies. The teams within the BBC where I actually worked day-to-day were very supportive, allowing me to take study leave to prepare for exams and coursework submissions, and finding ways for me to strengthen key skills within the newsroom. However, support from the apprenticeship management team was inconsistent and often poor.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
My training provider were generally good given the circumstances, as we are the final cohort of apprentices they are training.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
4/5
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend BBC to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Yes but with a heavy pinch of salt. I have been honest with people who have asked me about this scheme, informing them that the BBC genuinely is a great place to work, with so much amazing journalism produced there and a supportive and friendly working environment. However, this specific apprenticeship scheme is poorly organised and I would struggle to recommend it to others, given the litany of problems with the apprenticeship management team, and the fact that many of the perks of the scheme have now been diminished (lower pay, no guaranteed job at the end, less flexibility in placements, now a level 6 rather than level 7 qualification).
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to BBC?
It is a great place to work and you feel you are at the heart of something special.
