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Training the BBC Local Apprentices

2015-12-18T10:00:00+00:00

It's been 15 months since 46 new apprentices started work at the BBC. Trainer Sue Green shares her thoughts to mark the end of the BBC Local Apprenticeship scheme.

The young apprentice was deceptively quiet when she took me to one side and whispered she was not very academic.

As she took her seat with the chosen ones from thousands of applicants across the country, it was hard to imagine she would not fulfil her wildest dreams, despite doubts in her own ability.

The unnerving thing for them in all the excitement was they did not know what to expect.

For me, their challenge of a lifetime on the BBC's biggest ever apprenticeship scheme was going to be a tough call, unless handled in a positive light.

The big question was how to channel the enthusiasm of the class of 2014-15 along the route of hard, determined study to reach the required high standards of an NCTJ professional qualification with BBC partners, City of Wolverhampton College.

So my opening statement on day one of training went something like this:

"I am nobody's friend and I don't smile 'til Christmas."

Now, a year down the line, I'm delighted to report I am in the very unusual position of having 44 very special friends - in towns and cities across the UK where there is a BBC local radio station.

And it does not stop there

I now realise so many of them must have nominated me for this year's NCTJ Chairman's Award for an outstanding contribution to high standards of journalism training. Wow!

The penny dropping moment was when NCTJ chief executive Jo Butcher said afterwards she was worried the surprise might have been let out of the bag because there were so many nominations.

I cannot begin to say how thrilled and surprised I was to receive this accolade.

This is my first opportunity to say thank you to my lovely apprentices.

We all share this achievement. So on reflection, what was the key to our success?

For me, it began with the disclosure of so many shock stories and bad experiences - from those who only ever stacked supermarket shelves, those who had been excluded from school, those who were told by school teachers they were thick and those who left school without any qualifications.

As both journalist and trainer, I was genuinely interested. Most importantly, I took the time to listen to their stories. I was not going to let them down.

Once the apprentices knew this, they believed in me and started to really believe in themselves. We liked each other and so it was time for everyone to knuckle down.

This meant total commitment in making the very best of such a fabulous opportunity to work with the BBC and achieve the qualification. My instruction was clear:

"You must shine like little stars in the sky."

Every unit of study was another jigsaw piece in their first step towards the best job in the world.

Inevitably, there were those who said they did not do politics.

"No! Public Affairs is about how the country is run. Whatever the platform, this understanding is essential so you can do the job you want."

They listened. Love it. Love them.

The Local Apprentices have been training towards a journalism qualification accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalist (NCTJ). Sue Green is an award-winning NCTJ trainer, who came out of retirement to work for the past 15 months for City of Wolverhampton College in partnership with the BBC. Sue, along with the BBC Academy, have trained all BBC Local Apprentices and five Express & Star apprentices in Birmingham.

Read more about the BBC Local Apprentices on the BBC Get In Blog. Keep up-to-date with the latest from the scheme on Twitter using #BBCLAS.

BBC Local Apprentices: Studying for the NCTJ diploma at the BBC

2015-11-26T12:00:00+00:00

What is it like to study for the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) diploma at the BBC? Wolverhampton Express & Star's Joe Edwards and BBC Radio Stoke's Local Apprentice Rebecca Bradshaw explain.

For the past year, five Wolverhampton Express & Star apprentices have been training alongside BBC Local Apprentices at the BBC Academy in Birmingham. All of the apprentices are studying towards a National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) qualification in journalism practice.

Two apprentices talk about their experiences:

Joe Edwards – Apprentice, Wolverhampton Express & Star

As an outsider, there were some nerves and apprehension before training at the BBC Academy for the first time. However, as soon as I arrived I realised I was in a top-class working environment with the facilities to allow me to excel in my studies.

There is nothing quite like being in a busy newsroom but my time at the BBC provided me with all the knowledge necessary for the best possible chance of succeeding in the workplace.

We all received teaching of the highest order from BBC Academy trainer Sue Green on court reporting, essential media law and public affairs as well as intensive shorthand sessions, which proved vital for many of us in the long run.

What I particularly enjoyed though was the opportunity to immerse myself in radio production when producing a mock broadcast for the rest of the group to listen to. That was a great experience for me and, after a long period of planning the broadcast with the other members of the group, felt really rewarding.

It was also good to hear the views of experienced journalists, such as Nick Owen from BBC Midlands Today, who were all willing to answer any questions that we had and gave us some great advice.

In terms of the learning, sometimes it may seem like a lot to take in at once but you can gain a lot in such a short time at the BBC Academy.

So, basically, if you want to become a journalist, get yourself on to an NCTJ-accredited course. It will provide you with essential knowledge for working in the media - be it print, radio or TV.

Finally, for anybody visiting the BBC Academy for training, my advice would be to just enjoy it.

You will meet some amazing people and, even if you're an outsider like me, you will have a fantastic time learning with a group of talented, driven young people.

Rebecca Bradshaw – Local Apprentice, BBC Radio Stoke

The best part about being an apprentice is being allowed to try anything and everything you want to within your work placement or organisation.

As a BBC Local Apprentice, I have been given so many great opportunities to take part in different work projects and events that I could only dream of if I were not part of the scheme. The BBC Local Apprenticeship Scheme has continually supported me in opening doors across the BBC. It has provided different training sessions in areas that set me up with significant skills for the future.

The scheme has been brilliant. I'd say the main highlights are working and training with the BBC and having the chance to work alongside talented journalists, producers and presenters each day. I am able to offer ideas, my own work and potential stories to them, which is fantastic.

It always gives me great satisfaction when I hear one of my reports or a show I've helped produce go out live on air. I not only helped create it but I have also contributed to the BBC’s output. I think that is pretty amazing; especially as only a year ago I was sat taking my A-level exams in sixth-form!

At the beginning of the apprenticeship, I found adapting to full-time work and getting used to the commute everyday a new challenge. I was used to a short journey to my sixth-form college and attending a few hours each day, so working life took some adjustment. Thankfully, I feel I have adapted well and it has become a part of my daily routine that I really enjoy.

Completing my NCTJ diploma with the BBC has been enjoyable because I have largely been able to finish it through my day-to-day job, which often consists of reporting or creating content. I feel that completing my NCTJ qualification with the BBC has really benefited my career.

I would have found it challenging to sign off work and complete some elements if I didn't have the facilities that the BBC and my station offer me each day. The variety of tasks has given me the chance to apply a range of work to my NCTJ qualification, which is great and incredibly helpful.

I have had regular one-to-one supervision meetings with my mentor and we have allocated time on my rota specifically dedicated to my NCTJ work each week. This has allowed me to concentrate purely on my coursework and shorthand, which has worked very well because it gives me time to achieve all my study goals while working as an active member of my station’s team.

I would encourage anyone thinking about training with the NCTJ to work hard and think outside the box. Create goals and never lose sight of them. And don't ever give up!

There’ll be more from the apprentices on the BBC Academy website throughout the year. You can keep up-to-date with the latest news via Twitter using #BBCLAS or via clips on BBC iPlayer Radio.

You can follow Joe’s work further on the Wolverhampton Express and Star homepage.

BBC Local Apprentices: One year on

2015-09-30T16:03:50+00:00

In September 2014, 46 new apprentices walked through the doors of the BBC from across the UK and Northern Ireland - all part of the Local Apprenticeship scheme. One year on, apprentices Emily Dittmar and Josh Cook share their thoughts on the scheme and training so far.

Emily Dittmar, BBC Radio Newcastle

I was having a wild night out at the bingo, as every 23 year-old does, when I received a phone call that I really wasn’t expecting. It was to offer me an interview for the BBC Local Apprenticeship Scheme. An interview taking place the very next day…

As you can imagine all sorts of things started running through my head, including: “Oh my God I haven’t planned an outfit” and “What shall I tell my boss?”

Lucky for me, someone had dropped out of the interview stage. “Yes, of course I want to come for an interview,” I said. And as it turned out, I got the job.

In the days before heading to the BBC Academy for my training, I barely got any sleep. But a train ride and lots of snacks later there I was meeting 45 other very excited, young looking apprentices. All I could think about was how exciting this opportunity was. I wondered what it was going to be like, and marvelled at all the different accents.

The weeks of training flew by. I’m not going to lie: it was tough, with lots of listening and learning but some really fun parts. It was a bit like being back at school minus the uniform and horrible dinners. I loved all of the hands on work, especially when we got to put together our own radio show.

Just as I was getting very cosy with my group of new friends it was time to flee the nest and head to my new station. I was nervous but very excited about what was next on my little radio adventure.

Within a few weeks I was fully settled in I had been sent to do all sorts of fun stories, I’d had a bus driving lesson, made a chair out of crates and even been on a dog poo hunt.

I have been here a year now and I can’t imagine how different things would have been if I hadn’t had that call.

Working in local radio, most days I don’t know what I I’ll be doing or where I’ll be going , but I do know that I’m lucky and I enjoy every moment of it.

For anyone who wants to do it I would say: “What are you waiting for?” It is whatever you want it to be, and if you’re not afraid of hard work and getting involved in every opportunity that comes your way then this might just be for you!

Josh Cook, BBC Radio Humberside

My BBC Local Apprenticeship experience so far is hard to put into words. To go from shadowing when I first arrived in November to being asked if I’d like to present live for the station is something I couldn’t have imagined in my wildest dreams. It was a huge confidence boost knowing that my hard work throughout the year was going to be rewarded with the chance to present here.

Presenting live has without doubt been my highlight, but it’s not all been plain sailing. In my second live show I had a small panic when a promo didn’t play out during the half-past jingle. It may feel like nothing now but at the time it was a bit overwhelming!

For me the best thing about presenting is the adrenaline rush and the buzz you get when pushing up the fader while broadcasting live to such a huge audience. It’s hard to not feel nervous before the show, but you just have to enjoy it and make the most of the experience.

I’ll never forget the feeling of excitement from presenting the show. It’s called Rewind and it’s a review of the station’s output for the week. On a Thursday I would choose 5 or 6 stories and features from the week’s programmes. Rewind is there to give our listeners the chance to re-live some of the biggest stories and best features.

The training we’ve had at the BBC Academy has definitely helped me with presenting. We did a newspaper review feature ‘as live’, selecting stories and talking about them in a mock up breakfast show; it was a taster of what you could expect if you sat in the big chair to present.

My advice to a trainee or apprentice who wants to get into presenting is not to be afraid to go into a spare studio, load up the day’s running orders and practice presenting them for a while.

There’ll be more from the apprentices on the Academy website throughout the year. You can keep up-to-date with the latest via Twitter using #BBCLAS or via iPlayer Radio.

BBC Local Apprentices: Behind the scenes at London Comic-Con 2015

2015-08-06T09:00:00+00:00

Meeting a movie monster, chatting to a superhero and interviewing a favourite writer - all in a day's work for BBC Radio Cornwall's Adam Beckett.

The Local Apprentice was reporting from London Comic-Con 2015 in his first experience of being a member of the press at a large-scale event. Here he shares his experiences of the day, his interview advice, and his top tips on being a roving reporter.

What was it like to have a press pass?

The event was a bustling hive of activity, filled with hundreds of people - some dressed in costume. I was a victim of Freddy Kruger, met many Spider-Men and had amazing conversations with authors, comic artists and filmmakers.

The pass gave me access to all the talks taking place and let me interview some of the special guests. There was an exclusive press talk on the first night that featured three of the main cast of the Back to the Future trilogy who answered questions from the crowd - a really fun experience.

Doing one to one interviews was amazing, and getting them wasn’t as difficult as I had thought. Once the manager had checked to see that it was okay I simply rocked up with the microphone and did the interview. Simple as that

Interviewing is a lot of fun but also incredibly nerve-wracking (even more so if it's your first interview and it's someone you highly look up to).

What have you learnt?

The event taught me a fair amount about myself. Namely that I'm a fairly patient person, far more so than I originally thought. The constant heat and the hundreds of grumpy people is a lot to test you.

Also, in relation to interviews, planning and research are key.

Just throwing out questions during interviews, especially if you're really limited on time, can go horribly, horribly wrong. It can make your interview feel rushed or incomplete. Something I learned when interviewing singer-songwriter and actor Reeve Carney.

I have learnt to research people more, spend less time worrying about the interview and more time concentrating on the questions.

I also know that I can take my time during an interview; there is no shame in being silent for a second or two whilst you catch up with yourself.

What advice would you give a trainee journalist going to an event like this one?

Don’t be scared to ask for interviews.
Always research the guests you want to interview. I can't stress this enough.
Things may not always go your way. For example, you may be denied interviews and you may not be able to get that “one good interview” because the star is utterly worn out.
If someone is in costume ask them about it. People are proud of what they've worked on and a costume is no different.
Have a plan of what you want to do for both editorial and for yourself. Know where you're going, what time and who you're going to see. I did this, and it really helped me out far in advance and allowed me to work out when I had time to myself and when I had time to interview people.
To add to this, if you're able to confirm the interview the day before it really helps.
My most important tip is to have fun. Easy to do at an event that celebrates pop culture!

There’ll be more from the apprentices on the Academy website throughout the year. You can keep up-to-date with the latest via Twitter using #BBCLAS or via iPlayer Radio.

BBC Local Apprentices: Covering an election

2015-05-14T15:57:59+00:00

From arranging debates to pitching ideas, BBC Local Apprentices working in radio stations all over the UK told us what it was like to be behind the scenes covering the 2015 General Election.

Alex South – BBC Radio York

“The events before, during and after the election mark the shift in the next chapter of British politics – contributing to the build-up before is a gift to anyone interested in politics.

My individual high point would probably be covering Scarborough council; it allowed me to use my knowledge and skills to create interesting coverage - something which I was left in charge of.”

Fran Potter – BBC Radio Lincolnshire

“I was with two other colleagues covering the Louth and Horncastle constituency on election night.

My main role for the evening was to listen to BBC Radio Lincolnshire output to gather information from other constituencies where people were based that night.

Just to think - only a few months ago I didn’t understand how it all worked or what it was. Working with the election before the big night has really interested me, it is important and your vote does matter.”

Emma Geeson – BBC Radio Nottingham

“Before I started my BBC Local Apprenticeship I had little interest in politics and no idea what all the different terms meant. However, I now know nearly everything, from how an election works to the different periods leading up to an election.

I’ve faced some challenges along the way though, such as staying awake for almost 24 hours on election night to getting my head around all the election lingo. I was worried that I would find it boring but as I educated myself I got more and more excited and I’m now thankful I got to experience it.”

Katherine Ganczakowski – BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

I went on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire’s bed tour, where we took a double-bed around the county for a little bit of politics and an awful lot of fun. The idea behind the bed was to give the public the opportunity to snuggle under the covers as the politicians might have “jumped into bed” with each other after election night.

Robby West – BBC Radio Essex

One highlight was helping to arrange political debates across Essex. My first job was to arrange all the venues, research the areas for debate and provide stats and questions for candidates. During the debates I filmed the events for the website and interacted with the radio audience on social media.

Another highlight was during election night when I reported for BBC Essex in Brentwood, covering the seat of Eric Pickles. As a keen follower of politics I was thrilled to be asked to cover such a high profile candidate.

Chantal Hartle – BBC Jersey

During the build-up to the election I worked alongside presenters to help organise guest speakers and talking points. I also worked closely with the BBC News Channel in London to help monitor and log the election output.

I learned that I can actually tolerate political talk and that paying attention to detail is important.

Chloe Western – BBC Radio Suffolk

I made quite a few vox-pops surrounding the election. It was an interesting experience to speak to so many different people, especially the ones voting for the first time because surprisingly a lot of them were interested in what was going on.

It’s the best feeling in the world when you can create something that gets on air.

Lesley Ross – BBC Scotland

During the election period I worked with the BBC Generation 2015 team, based in Edinburgh and Glasgow. The 200 members (aged 18-24) of Generation 2015 were carefully selected from all over the UK.

One of my highlights was being given the opportunity to pitch a number of story ideas, using the Generation 2015 members, to BBC Scotland's national television news programme. I was a little nervous but I made sure I was well-prepared and the pitching meeting went very well. I was buzzing afterwards and I felt a real sense of being a valuable member of the Generation 2015 team.

There’ll be more from the apprentices on the Academy website throughout the year. You can keep up-to-date with the latest via Twitter using #BBCLAS or via iPlayer Radio.

BBC Local Apprentices: Life in local radio after six months as an apprentice

2015-04-28T10:00:00+00:00

Two of our local apprentices, Lesley Ross and Mike Stevens, talk about booking guests, being resilient, and interviewing Brian Blessed about North Korea.

Lesley Ross – BBC Radio Scotland

The first six months of the Local Apprentice Scheme have been crammed with amazing opportunities and experiences, as well as a fair few personal and professional challenges along the way.

I arrived at BBC Radio Scotland in Glasgow to join the Morning Call programme, which meant a 6.30am start. One thing I initially found challenging was ‘phone-bashing’ [finding potential guests] so early in the morning, because it usually meant waking people up with my phone calls.

One of the other things I found uncomfortable at first was ‘standing down’ guests – calling someone back to let them know we wouldn’t be using them in the programme after all. I certainly developed more of a thick skin and remembered how much our tutors talked about the importance of developing ‘resilience’ during our initial training weeks at the BBC Academy.

I think it’s been important to celebrate the little wins along the way during the apprenticeship, as it definitely helps you to remain positive and enthusiastic during the more challenging times.

Each ‘first’ gave me a massive boost – the first time I researched a guest who made it onto the programme; the first time I took an audio ‘clip’ from a guest to use it for a topic on the show and the first time I managed the studio desk for a whole programme.

A real highlight from my time in News was being given the chance to work for a few days in the BBC Parliamentary Unit inside the Scottish Parliament building in Edinburgh.

I’ve now joined the BBC News Generation 2015 team in Edinburgh, where I’ll be working until the General Election and I’ve already been given a brilliant opportunity to join up the BBC Local Apprentices with 200 young voters who are part of this exciting UK-wide project.

I plan to make the most of it – watch this space!

Mike Stevens – BBC Radio Lancashire

One of the reasons I love this job is the fact it’s totally different every single day. You can go from asking people in the street about potholes on a Monday, to talking to Brian Blessed about North Korea on a Tuesday (which actually happened).

The variety of the job is amazing. Over the past six months I’ve debated with pensioners about women bishops, been taught how to bird watch by school children, sung the Sound of Music with strangers in the street, interviewed musicians, actors, ministers and athletes and had a proper good laugh along the way.

The NCTJ college work comes in handy, especially learning media law, as you never know when you’re going to have to make a snap editorial decision and it’s usually at the worst possible time.

A large part of being a local broadcast assistant is being able to make the stories you’re telling interesting and accessible to the audience. This is why I love working in Lancashire – because the people make the stories.

Some days it can be difficult convincing people to let you try something new or different and it can feel like I’m banging my head against the newsroom wall

In saying that, if I explain exactly what I want to do and why, most people will tend to support my ideas and now-and-then, I can even win over some of the more senior journalists.

There’ll be more from the apprentices on the Academy website throughout the year. You can keep up-to-date with the latest via Twitter using #BBCLAS or via iPlayer Radio.

BBC Local Apprentices: Reporting on King Richard lll

2015-04-02T14:00:00+00:00

BBC Local Apprentice Khadija Osman talks about her work on the coverage of King Richard III's reinterment for BBC Radio Leicester.

What was it like working on the story live?

Working on a story as big as this as it happened felt incredible. It was so fast paced and so many changes were made as it was all unfolding. I felt an immense amount of personal responsibility for all of the content that I was generating and wanted it to be a reflection of the best of my ability. The adrenaline that you feel is like no other. It’s definitely a distinctive feeling.

The atmosphere was electric –it was brilliant to see so many of my colleagues buzzing with enthusiasm. Some of them have been doing this job for more than 20 years and, seeing their genuine excitement towards this gave me a promising outlook for the future.

"Know that you have as much right to cover a big story as anybody else"

What have you learnt?

The apprenticeship has benefited me greatly because it’s been so hands on - I’ve never done anything else like it.

I’ve learnt that sometimes you just need to go with the moment and if an opportunity comes up to just take it. Sometimes deviating from your plan of how things 'should be' and 'should work' is a good thing.

When I was putting a package together for the reinterment of King Richard III I had two days to come with up an idea, find all of the people that I wanted to speak to, record the audio and edit it all together.

Now, that doesn’t sound so daunting but not all of the people that I wanted to speak to live in Leicester and I was planning on speaking to them all on the same day. It was ambitious to say the least.

But by chance I heard from a colleague who told me that all of the people that I had in mind were going to be at an event that very same day. He was even kind enough to give me a last minute invite as it was a closed event. This meant that it’d be a late finish for me, but I thought to myself, “there’s no harm in taking a microphone with me and recording what I can”.

If I hadn’t taken this up I wouldn’t have had what I needed to put together a killer package.

What would you do better?

I would make an action plan of what I want to get out of the day and maybe put myself forward a bit more for projects. I’d also keep an energy bar with me for when my reserves are a little low.

What advice would you give other apprentices/trainees covering a big story like this?

I know that this is all new and may feel a little daunting but try not to worry. Know that you have as much right to cover a big story as anybody else. Don’t wait for somebody to ask you if you’d like to get involved.

Be proactive and put yourself out there! Speak to your colleagues and tell them that you want to get stuck in. Your boldness and enthusiasm won’t go unnoticed.

Also, and this is a big point to remember, don’t take constructive feedback too personally. It’s all too easy to take it as an attack on yourself or that your work isn’t good enough but that is not the case.

It’s tricky when you feel so passionate about something that it’s almost effortless to get lost in your work and that isn’t necessary a bad thing. But remember it’s just a job and you are not your work, your work is a product of your skills.

Find out more about BBC Radio Leicester’s coverage.

There’ll be more from the apprentices on the Academy website throughout the year. You can keep up-to-date with the latest via Twitter using #BBCLAS or via iPlayer Radio.

BBC Local Apprentices: Balancing work and study as an apprentice

2015-03-10T10:00:00+00:00

Being on a BBC apprenticeship means taking on both work and study, which can be a tricky balance. Find out how it's done from two of our Local Apprentices - Yasmin Ojo and Aileen Elder - and read their ten top tips on making the most of being an apprentice.

Yasmin Ojo – BBC London 94.9

The most exciting part about working and studying at the same time is getting to experience all the different areas of your chosen field. If I decided to study first and then get a job at the BBC I would have had to pick a specific position that I wanted. Having joined as an apprentice I get to experience a wide range of roles, which helps me decide what I actually want to do afterwards.

I focus on the work I’m being asked to do first, and whenever I have a spare bit of time or I’ve completed the work I’ve been asked to do I get on with typing up notes.

I then look through my apprenticeship modules, and think about what I need to do at work in order to pass them. I start to pull together examples of what I've done so far, and if there’s something I haven’t achieved yet I work out the best way I could possibly do it.

I also complete a daily diary for my assessor to read, which can be challenging because I can’t always remember everything I did during the day. However, I save all the work that I do, and look back to when I saved it to know what I did on which days. That comes in very handy.

Aileen Elder – BBC Radio Nan Gaidheal

Being an apprentice isn’t easy. But what student life is? My life is far from quiet, I am twenty years old and have an 18 month old son but I’ve never shied away from a bit of hard graft. My apprenticeship gives me the time to work during the day and focus on my son at night.

Studying is a must, so it’s important to get yourself into a routine where you can set a designated time aside for it.

One of the biggest things I noticed about my apprenticeship is that it’s okay to make mistakes. No one expects you to walk into your placement knowing everything there is to know about the job. As my gran use to say to me when I was younger: “the man who never made a mistake, never made anything - that’s why man put rubbers at the end of pencils.”

I think that coming to terms with making mistakes is very important for any kind of apprenticeship. It is also important to know that everyone was new at some point, and that those around you are always willing to lend a hand when needed.

Yasmin and Aileen’s Top Tips

1) Keep records of every single piece of work you do, you will always need it as evidence.

2) Always ask if there is anything more you can do to help. People like to hear that you’re enthusiastic, it will keep you busy and more than likely it will help you fulfil some of your apprenticeship criteria.

3) Try your best to keep up with study as well as work – getting the balance right is very important.

4) Make friends! Always be friendly with other colleagues, as you never know when you might need their help.

5) Work out a time plan and stick to it from the start. Set time aside from your working day to catch up on studying and practicing what is needed for any exams.

6) Work as hard as you can. It doesn’t matter that you don’t have a secure job just yet - prove yourself and show your colleagues why you are there and why you got this far over everyone else.

7) Don’t get too big headed – you have done fab up to this point but you don’t rub folk up the wrong way.

8) Make mistakes and enjoy learning from them. Remember that mistakes are better shared.

9) Enjoy it. Apprenticeships only really last a few years, you can blink and it will all be over so enjoy every minute of it.

10) And the most important advice of all: don’t forget to have fun!

There’ll be more from the apprentices on the Academy website throughout the year. You can keep up-to-date with the latest via Twitter using #BBCLAS or via iPlayer Radio.

BBC Local Apprentices: How I went from watching the news to being on it

2014-12-18T18:00:00+00:00

Just three weeks into his placement at BBC Essex, electrician turned Local Apprentice Robby West found himself with an exclusive story on his hands that was featured across BBC News and beyond. Here he explains how it happened.

After leaving school at 16, with no notable grades, I fell into a career as an electrician. I spent over a decade working on the tools, but I always knew my heart was not in it and I dreamed of a career as a journalist.

While desperately hunting for a career change, I found out about the BBC LAS on Twitter. The scheme was taking on non-graduates, giving them experience and training them as journalists. They’d be based in every BBC local radio station in the country.

Having lived and worked across Essex I know the area well - I’d even spent the last four years blogging about the politics of the county. Thinking I’d be in with a chance, I set about applying for my dream job. And, after a gruelling selection process, I was lucky enough to be selected as the apprentice for BBC Essex.

"I knew it was time to ask to be thrown in the deep end"

The job started with all the successful applicants being whisked away to Birmingham for an intense seven weeks of training which covered a range of skills, from operating a radio studio to interview techniques. I had no idea how quickly I would be using them.

It was in my third week at BBC Essex I saw my first opportunity to do some political journalism. I overheard the news editor saying that we had no one to cover a story, and I knew it was time to ask to be thrown in the deep end. I was given the nod and - trying to conceal my excitement - I quickly grabbed a coat and a mic and jumped into the BBC branded car in search of a story.

The story itself was a good local news piece about UKIP, who had de-selected their parliamentary candidate for Essex. It was strongly rumoured that ex-Conservative MP Neil Hamilton was being parachuted into the seat to run in the upcoming general election.

After a briefing from my editor, I raced to the hustings filled with excitement. Before I got there I called a fellow apprentice and we talked through my lines of questioning, double checked the facts of the story and went over the tips they gave us in Birmingham. After this sharp critique, I knew I was ready.

On my arrival I found out the story had dramatically changed. A leaked letter had queried Mr Hamilton’s expenses claims, and the rumour buzzing around the internet was that instead of standing as a candidate he was actually going to withdraw from the hustings. Realizing this story was now bigger than just my local area, I rang my editor to explain.

This was the first time I felt the full might of the BBC machine. They rushed a camera down, and political editors from various departments were on the phone. When the camera arrived we managed to get an exclusive statement from Mr Hamilton saying that he was withdrawing from the process and suggesting that there was “dirty tricks” campaign against him.

The footage was sent back and my interview was immediately used on the BBC News channel. The following day the story broke exclusively on our morning show at six. By eight it was across the local radio and led the news bulletins for the rest of the day.

Other stations and programs within the BBC picked up the interview and used it and quotes from the interview were dotted across all the leading newspapers. I couldn't believe in just 3 weeks I went from watching BBC Breakfast, to being on it!

There’ll be more from the apprentices on the Academy website throughout the year. You can keep up-to-date with the latest via Twitter using #BBCLAS or via iPlayer Radio

BBC Local Apprentices: The first few weeks

2014-12-11T16:40:34+00:00

All 46 BBC Local Apprentices apprentices have now finished their initial training and started work at radio stations across the UK and Channel Islands.

We caught up with apprentices Karson, Kasseem and Sophia to hear their stories so far, which ranged from interviewing celebrities and the public to working radio cars and presenting live on air.

Week One: Karson Browne, BBC Radio Foyle

From the moment I stepped off the plane onto Northern Irish soil after seven weeks spent training at the BBC Academy in England, right up until the moment I crossed the threshold of BBC Radio Foyle, I had envisioned a multitude of different ways that my first day at the station might unfold.

Maybe I’d walk in and pitch the best idea the station has ever seen and begin my steady rise to Director General of the BBC. Maybe I’d stand knocking on the door aimlessly, whilst everybody inside hides under the tables in a quiet hush waiting for me to turn away.

Maybe I’d just be sat there in the background watching everybody go about their jobs as if I weren’t there, or maybe I’d be welcomed with open arms because, up until that point, everybody had to make their own tea.

But one thought that never crossed my mind was that within the first hour I’d be out on my own getting ready to interview James Nesbitt.

After the breakfast team’s morning meeting, I was sat having a play with our editing software when Elaine the presenter called me over. She told me she had a job for me: that I was to interview Jimmy Nesbitt.

I was standing on the historic walls of Derry (who happened to be celebrating their 400th birthday), when I was introduced to Mr Nesbitt. He was happily taking selfies with a gaggle of excited school boys and girls. Throughout the interview he continued to take selfies with the pupils and I think I might have photo bombed a couple of them.

I concluded the interview, slightly in awe that I’d managed to make it through without fainting or deeply offending him somehow.

When I got back to station, I had my first experience of editing my own work. My interview went out on breakfast the next day.

Week Two: Kasseem Khuman, BBC Coventry and Warwickshire

It was nearly time for the switching on of the Christmas lights in Coventry, and I was asked by the producer of the drive-time show if I thought I could handle doing a live report/two way about the lights. I immediately accepted the opportunity and I thought to myself, “Yeah! My Mum and Dad can hear me on the radio now…”

I went out and had a peek about the town square 30 minutes before I was due to go on air. I took in the sights and the smells and spoke to a few locals to get to know why they had come to watch the lights being switched on. This was really good and it actually put me in the Christmassy mood.

I got back to the radio studio about 15 minutes before I was going live and now my nerves were hitting me. Thoughts of “what if I fail live on air?” or “I can’t do this!” were running inside my mind. I felt it was getting real now.

BBC Coventry and Warwickshire’s political reporter offered some words of advice to help ease my nerves, saying that I should relax and see the listeners as people who can’t smell and are blind. I needed to describe the smell and where I was, and “just have fun with it”. This helped me so much - I felt prepared to do my job.

I went live on air twice, speaking to the audience about the Christmas lights and it was the most amazing thing to happen to me so far in this job.

Week Three: Sophia Lanciano, BBC Radio Gloucestershire

I am now into the third week and I’m starting to feel very much an active member of the team. I am officially on shift this week as the late afternoon apprentice broadcast assistant. Slowly but surely the buttons, systems and processes are sinking in and I am feeling more confident as each shift goes on.

I have been trained to use the Verve vehicle now (it’s a vehicle with a large satellite on the roof). I took it out on my own the other day to interview some other apprentices. Being in Gloucestershire, it is full of hills and narrow lanes – so it was quite an adventure but the Verve and I made it back in one piece with the audio that went to air the next day.

I feel successful in completing the work that I had been given. The opportunities I have had have given me the chance to show my colleagues what I can do and this has increased their confidence in me. I have more items to report on this week and I’m finding that if they are short of someone to send out they feel they can rely on me to get the job done. This makes me feel valued within the BBC Radio Gloucestershire team.

For me, I believe it is as much about the little triumphs, like successfully putting a call through to the studio, as it is the bigger triumphs, like getting a full package on air. Both are great achievements in their own right considering that I hadn’t even stepped foot in a live studio three weeks ago!

There’ll be more from the apprentices on the Academy website throughout the year. You can keep up-to-date with the latest via Twitter using #BBCLAS or via iPlayer Radio

BBC Local Apprentices: time for training

2014-11-17T16:30:00+00:00

Two BBC Local Apprentices - Ngaio Anyia, from BBC Bristol and Kamran Ellahi from BBC Surrey and Sussex - take some time away from training to talk about what they've been up to so far.

When we heard we had been selected for this amazing opportunity and would be meeting all the other apprentices from across the UK and Channel Islands, we didn´t know what to expect or who we´d be meeting.

We did know we would be getting trained in radio and journalism and we guessed that, like us, the other apprentices would also be passionate about their local communities. However the idea of meeting 45 new people was quite daunting; we both felt an interesting mix of curiosity and excitement.

All 46 apprentices first met at BBC Birmingham for the induction week at the end of September. Here we were split into three groups, and this is when we first met.

We have had three blocks of training from the BBC Academy and Wolverhampton City College since then. These involved getting to grips with the NCTJ modules that form part of the apprenticeship, heading out to get stories from the general public and learning technical radio skills at BBC Wood Norton.

During the training we’ve been asked to produce and present mock radio shows recorded in the studio. At first, speaking in front of a group and approaching strangers was out of our comfort zone. Thankfully the more we did it, the easier it became. We both feel that this was the most important part of our training - we got to know each other as a group, and felt safe making suggestions as well as mistakes.

One of the most surreal moments for us was meeting director general Tony Hall and director of News and Current Affairs, James Harding. You don’t expect to meet the “big cheeses” when a lot of senior members of staff haven´t had the honour. It showed us how important the scheme is to the people who commissioned it.

The most challenging but possibly best day we had was when we were asked to tell a personal story in front of our group. This is where we learnt the most about each other, where vulnerabilities were highlighted and supported. I don´t think anyone expected the level of honesty and trust we gave each other, and it brought us closer together as a result.

The funniest thing we´ve found so far is how wrong our preconceptions are of what a “BBC person” is. From edgy jokes to the smart casual dress of almost every employee to how down to earth our tutors have been, we´ve felt like we were being trained by colleagues rather than teachers. Everyone´s up for laugh and knows how to have fun while learning.

We are now in the process of wrapping up the first part of our training and embarking on the next chapter with more knowledge and friends than we had before. We are just as excited and nervous as we were before the training but feel ready to put our new skills into practice.

Kam: “The highlight of this course for me was shadowing the Bobby Friction show on Asian Network. It felt epic to be in a studio with him and his producers seeing how it all works and learning as much as I could.”

Ngaio: “My highlight has been finally finding a job that appreciates all the different parts of my personality. Being able to be myself has been something I´ve never had in a job before and it has really helped improve my confidence both in myself and my skills.”

There’ll be more from the apprentices on the Academy website throughout the year. You can keep up-to-date with the latest via Twitter using #BBCLAS or via iPlayer Radio

BBC Local Apprentices are in the building

2014-10-22T13:40:00+00:00

The 46 passionate new apprentices who will be working at BBC Local Radio stations across the UK have started their training – and they’re already learning something new, writes programme coordinator Rachael Smith.

After months of preparation and a six-week-long recruitment drive, 46 new BBC Local Apprentices recently walked into BBC Birmingham for their first day at training.

The apprentices are from every radio station in the UK, from Nan Gaidheal in Stornoway to Jersey in the Channel Islands. Though they are all from different backgrounds and experiences, all share a passion for radio.

"It was very exciting but nerve-wracking as everyone was a stranger to me"– Michelle Dowd, apprentice

It was this passion we looked for when recruiting them in assessment centres over the summer. During the assessment each apprentice was tested for their writing ability, whether they could work as part of a team, and also had to take on a competency based interview.

The process took six-weeks, with the BBC Academy’s Local Apprenticeship team working closely with colleagues in BBC Radio, from editors through to Local Radio administrators.

The apprentices are taking on a NCTJ Level 3 apprenticeship in Journalism while working at the BBC for 15 months, and have started their apprenticeship with a seven-week training block. The first week was an induction held at a new training space at BBC Birmingham and delivered by the BBC Academy and training partners Wolverhampton City College.

I caught up with BBC Radio Ulster’s apprentice Michelle Dowd during the week to see how she was doing so far:

“It was very exciting but nerve-wracking as everyone was a stranger to me. It was a new experience as well as it’s my first time away from home for a long period of time and that’s very scary, even at 21 years of age!

I have already learned a lot of interesting things in our training, such as finding a story on your own merit and telling it to the best of your ability to your audience.

I am extremely grateful to have been given this opportunity and I can’t wait to see what the next 15 months have in store. It’s going to be a rollercoaster ride for me, and for all of us, but with lots of grafting and hard work, we’ll do just fine. Here’s to the future and may it be a bright one.”

Apprentices are training in split locations at BBC Birmingham and BBC Wood Norton during the rest of the training weeks. Each element of the training plan will equip them to start on their station, ready to build up their skills as apprentice broadcast or content assistants.

They will be supported along the way by a close network of BBC Academy staff, trainers, BBC Radio editors, mentors and colleagues, each of us eager to ensure they develop the skills to pass the apprenticeship.

There’ll be more from the apprentices on the Academy website throughout the year. You can keep up-to-date with the latest via Twitter using #BBCLAS or via iPlayer Radio.

BBC Local Apprentices: Routes into radio

2014-04-10T09:00:00+00:00

Starting your career at a radio station local to you is a journey a number of successful broadcasters have taken, as BBC Radio 1’s Huw Stephens, Radio 1Xtra’s Twin B and Yasmin and Asian Network’s Noreen Khan explain.

Huw Stephens, BBC Radio 1

I got into radio through hospital radio at quite an early age: I was 15 years old and I had my own show. I was 17 and doing my A-Levels when the BBC gave me the chance to present on BBC Radio 1, and slowly but surely over the years I have carried on doing it.

I never went to university and I got no official qualifications after my A-Levels, but I think just from doing it - getting in valuable experience and learning about how radio works - I’ve learnt on the job. It’s been the best opportunity ever.

I think this apprenticeship scheme is an invaluable opportunity to get that experience because more often than not it’s about ideas, it’s about creativity and it’s about passion and enthusiasm.

I also like that the BBC Local Apprenticeship scheme is not all about the presenters, it’s about really important people – the producers and the people who come up with ideas and the people who put those ideas on air. There’s a wealth of opportunities on offer behind the scenes.

Noreen Khan, BBC Asian Network

My advice would be: don’t hold back if you’re interested in this kind of career. Even if you don’t have any qualifications or are thinking “I don’t have A-Levels, I didn’t go to university”, it doesn’t matter. This is for everyone.

I am talking from experience here because I didn’t go to university and I didn’t have any major media experience. I started off in hospital radio because I had a real passion for music and I thought I would love to have my own show.

I later applied to a radio station in London and wasn’t sure if I would get in, but I did because they saw I had a genuine passion for radio. The fact I didn’t have any qualifications didn’t put them off.

Yasmin Evans and Twin B, BBC Radio 1Xtra

Yasmin:

I first got into radio by volunteering at a community radio station in Manchester because I loved music. I didn’t want to be a presenter, because I didn’t like listening back to the sound of my voice. I just wanted to play music. Then I started to get a bit more into it, networking and speaking to producers.

This scheme is a great opportunity to step your foot in the door and say: “I was made for this, I thought about doing it and it feels right”.

If you have the slightest thought telling you “it might be something that I want”, just do it. You can always learn from it, even if it doesn’t go lead on to what you have in your mind straight away.

Twin B:

I have always been obsessed with music and knowing the who, what, when, where and why of my local scene.

A lot of people I had grown up with were starting careers as artists and DJs, and I found this fascinating. It got me stumbling into local radio stations and doing guest shows, sneaking out of my house at 1am to do the only slots that were available.

If this scheme was around when I was trying to get into radio I would have jumped at the opportunity in a second. There are so many careers that exist in the world of radio and sometimes you just need to step in and give the opportunity a go.