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Software Engineering Apprentice Review

at BBC

Degree Apprenticeship

Software Engineering

London

Review Submitted: April 2026

Overall Rating

4.5 /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!

4.5/5 - Overview of Role
5/5 - Skills Development
4.4/5 - Structure and Support

Overview of Role

Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
5/5
I'm a backend software engineer; at a high level, my role centres on designing, building, and maintaining scalable software systems.
My day to day responsibilities include developing and maintaining backend services and APIs,
writing clean, testable, and maintainable code, debugging and resolving issues reported in Jira, and participating in code reviews and team discussions.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
4/5
I find my role fulfilling and interesting, and I feel like I am sufficiently stretched for the work side of the apprenticeship. My enjoyment of the university side of the apprenticeship has been varied, to no fault of the BBC, of course.

Skills Development

Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
I've learnt a lot of transferable skills around software engineering, especially around Amazon Web Services, databases and Java.

Structure and Support

How well organised/structured is your programme?
5/5
The program is well organised with suitable time allocated for off-the-job time on the university course.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
The BBC provides exemplary support for its apprentices; study time is flexible and can be negotiated with your manager if you require more. There is a peer support network where concerns can be raised.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
The training provider, the Open University, provides ample support through Practice Tutors who are consistently helpful. Most module tutors are fine also.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
3/5
The learning and skills that I've gained from my day-to-day role have meant that the learning provided by the university feels somewhat simple at times - this is not a complaint at the Open University, but rather a compliment to the BBC.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
5/5
There are a large variety of extracurricular events and societies at the BBC. There are also team socials that are organised.

Recommendations & Advice

Would you recommend BBC to a friend?
Yes
Why?
It's a good place to learn new skills. The people are also friendly, and there's plenty of support for your apprenticeship.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to BBC?
Be open to learn new things, and make sure to show a genuine interest in the company and field you're applying for. Personal projects help!
In This Review
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