L5 Journalist Researcher Apprentice Review
at BBC
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Journalism and Publishing
Norwich
Review Submitted: March 2026
Overall Rating
3.6 /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!
4/5
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Overview of Role
4/5
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Skills Development
3.4/5
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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
My role can look different on a daily basis. I have rotated around production shifts for TV and Radio, social media content, working for teams such as politics and writing online articles for the BBC news website.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
4/5
I enjoy my both the academic and workplace elements of my program. I like that it's fast paced and every day looks different however sometimes the unpredictable nature of the job can make academic commitments difficult to complete as i often a busy workload or unusual working hours which can be stressful.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
I have developed new skills in a range of areas across radio and TV for example, learning technical systems to edit content on but also things like scripting and rules of filming.
Alongside practical skills i also now have a deeper understanding of general issues which relate to my role as a journalist such as politics and local government or media laws which are applicable to reporting.
Alongside practical skills i also now have a deeper understanding of general issues which relate to my role as a journalist such as politics and local government or media laws which are applicable to reporting.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
3/5
I like that we have a designated day each week to complete online learning, being able to interact with live sessions and have a consistent day of the week to complete studies is helpful in building a routine. Our training provider has a comprehensive plan and list of key dates which is helpful to see. I feel that further improvements could be made in matching BBC Academy training to Learning provider training as sometimes the dates feel misjudged EG. having bbc academy training before/after learning provider training or exams. I feel it would be helpful to have the training coordinate.
I also think better communication between the learning provider and the BBC Academy would help prevent confusion (conflicting timelines/bootcamp dates/calls with former apprentices for advice scheduled too late) These things can sometimes leave me feeling overwhelmed rather than better informed.
I also think better communication between the learning provider and the BBC Academy would help prevent confusion (conflicting timelines/bootcamp dates/calls with former apprentices for advice scheduled too late) These things can sometimes leave me feeling overwhelmed rather than better informed.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
3/5
I feel that the BBC academy team are available to help with any queries should I ask however sometimes i feel uncomfortable in doing so. I feel my BBC placement doesn't always follow the advice about working requirements of apprenticeships ie working day shifts only, or being allotted certain holiday days or a certain amount of hours per week.
As an apprentice sometimes I feel uncomfortable raising these issues so I wonder if it could be communicated to placement teams more directly on our behalf so we aren't in a position where we have to raise it.
As an apprentice sometimes I feel uncomfortable raising these issues so I wonder if it could be communicated to placement teams more directly on our behalf so we aren't in a position where we have to raise it.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
5/5
I feel the training providers supports me to a high standard. They are always contactable by email, they regularly arrange flexible 1-1 calls or additional support if i am struggling.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
5/5
My training is completely relevant to my role and has taught me the skills required to work competently across all teams.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
1/5
Not in my regional location, we have the occasional staff walk at lunchtime.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend BBC to a friend?
Yes
Why?
I think the organisation offers a wide range of opportunities across different areas and is a good place to develop or grow a career. Partially i believe this is down to the changing environment meaning people frequently move to new roles and teams, this changing environment has been useful in establishing connections around the organisation. I do however feel that job security in the BBC as a whole can be a concerning factor for me. I now understand that a placement is no longer guaranteed to new applicants so this may not be a concern to them anyway.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to BBC?
I think the BBC are trying to cultivate lots of different voices and perspectives from diverse backgrounds whether they are social, ethnic or any other identifying factor. This is important to create a BBC which represents and appeals to people from all walks of life, therefore I think the main thing you can do is be yourself and not a version of the BBC you think they want to see. Also, be as creative and open minded as possible and do your best to showcase this in the interview process which can be lengthy!
