Virtual

The BBC and Me: What the BBC Does and the Career Opportunities on Offer

Job sector

Media & Film

This programme is open to anyone aged 13+

Certificate of completion

Over 6 hours worth of content

Overview

The BBC is one of the world’s most creative and renowned media organisations. Its mission? To bring fresh, diverse content to millions of people every day, on television, through audio and online, across the UK and worldwide. You’ll discover that it takes a whole lot of different job roles to bring all that content to life and get it to the audience - which role is just right for you?

What’s Included

This Virtual Work Experience programme will give you real-world insight into what life is like at the BBC and a great understanding of the diverse range of career opportunities available. Whether you’re interested in Business, Data, Digital, Technology, Engineering and Operations, Journalism or Production, there’s a place for you and this programme will help you find the path that best fits your talents, skills and goals!

In this module, you’ll explore what the BBC is, its 100+ year history, and its role as a public service broadcaster. You’ll learn how the BBC has evolved over time, its mission and values, and how it’s becoming a ‘Digital First’ organisation ready for its next 100 years. You’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at how content is made, discover the wide range of careers available, and hear from real BBC professionals about their own career journeys. By the end, you’ll understand what the BBC does, what it stands for, its place in the creative industries as a whole and whether a future at the BBC could be right for you.

You’ll be introduced to the world of journalism and production at the BBC, learning about the core principles of storytelling. You’ll explore how stories are produced across different formats like news, drama, and documentaries and the key differences between journalism and production. You’ll also discover a range of careers in this area, like Journalist, Researcher, Scriptwriter, Production Assistant, and Coordinator. With a chance to create your own story pitch, this module gives you a hands-on look at what it’s like to bring stories to life at the BBC.

How do business, technology, and engineering teams power the BBC behind the scenes – from keeping broadcasts running smoothly to developing innovative digital platforms? You’ll explore the cutting-edge tech shaping the BBC’s future and learn about a range of careers, including Technical Operator, Systems Engineer, Business Analyst, Data Scientist and Project Manager. Through real-world challenges and insights from BBC professionals, you’ll gain a clearer understanding of the skills and opportunities available in these essential areas – and how you could be part of the team that keeps the BBC broadcasting day-to-day and moving forward.

You’ll learn about the different early career routes into the BBC, including apprenticeships and entry-level roles. You’ll explore the key employability skills the BBC looks for - like communication, teamwork, and adaptability - and get practical tips on how to develop them. You’ll also be guided through the application and interview process, with advice from BBC professionals on how to make sure you're the best candidate. By the end, you’ll have a clearer idea of how to take your first steps into a career at the BBC and how to prepare for the journey ahead.

Available dates

On Demand

Programme dates

15th October 2025 - 23rd December 2026

Hear from our student community

“

Aqsa Saleemi, Year 12 Student

Thank you for all your time and effort. The program was by far the best experience I’ve had virtually compared to other virtual experiences I’ve done. I liked the layout and the interactive activities, and I learnt a lot I didn’t know. I would definitely recommend this program to others; it was a great experience I would love to do it all again.

“

Sophia Nathwani, Year 11 Student, from Hampton

I enjoyed understanding the many professions and areas within journalism that I had not been able to clearly separate prior to this programme; I particularly enjoyed the photojournalism and broadcast journalism sections, as they allowed me to explore a less conventional writing style than what I would normally use. The interactive tasks were a great way for me to demonstrate and put into practice my new knowledge, and all of the videos were extremely concise and helpful.

“

Stephanie Oseha, Year 12 Student

A huge thank you to everyone who made this programme possible. It was a fantastic experience, and I feel more confident in myself now when applying for a job position in the future and in my personal life. I valued this experience because I realised it was okay to make mistakes and how they make you stronger for future events. I loved how efficient the Barclays team was when students and the professionals who ran the live webinars asked questions. The skills I've learnt through this virtual work experience will be used for future endeavours. So once again, thank you so much.

Frequently asked questions

When will I hear back if I have been successful with my application?

Once you have applied for your programme, you will receive a confirmation email. You will be notified about the outcome of your application via email at least 3 days before the programme start date. Good luck!

Can I apply to multiple programmes?

Yes, you can sign up to multiple programmes with us. The live talks will be available as recordings, so you can catch up on any potential clashes.

Who can take part in the programme? (Age limits, some programmes have location constraints but most don’t etc.)

Most of our programmes require students to be in school/college. Some programmes require students to be based in specific regions of the UK, this is stipulated by the organisations themselves, and is not defined by Springpod.

However, the ages mentioned on our programmes are more of a guideline than a strict limit. As such, we more than welcome older students to apply as well!

How long does it take for assignments to be reviewed?

Assignments can take up to a week or longer to review and be marked complete. Rest assured, it will be reviewed soon and your certificate will be generated once your programme has been marked as complete.

What do I do if I upload the wrong file?

If you make a mistake when uploading a file, please email hello@springpod.com. We will be able to make a note on our system. Don’t worry, the outcome of your programme will not be affected by this.

How long will I have to complete this programme?

There is no specific cut-off deadline for completing your programme (although, if possible, we would encourage you to complete all the work within the time frame, alongside the live webinar sessions).

When does the programme start?

Our programmes have various start dates, you can find the exact date on the programme website page. These are available here: https://www.springpod.com/virtual-work-experience/search

You will be notified if your application has been successful, 3 days before the programme start date.

What happens if I can't finish the work experience in time?

All programme material will remain accessible after the end date of the programme. Students can continue to work through their programme after the official end date. Although, if possible, we would strongly encourage students to complete all the work within the time frame, alongside the live webinar sessions.

How much work is required for these programmes? (Will I be able/should I complete more than one programme at a time)?

There is around 10 hours worth of work in total, spread across a two week period. The live talks will be available as recordings, so you can catch up on any work whenever possible.

When do the programmes run? (programme structure etc.)

Once you have access, you can view and complete the material as and when you can, within the time frame of the course in question (for example, within a two week period). In total, there is around 10 hours worth of work. The live talks will take place during weekday working hours. However, all live talks will be available as recordings and the courses can be completed at your own convenience. . There is no specific cut-off deadline for completing your programme (although, if possible, we would encourage you to complete all the work within the time frame, alongside the live webinar sessions).

What happens if I can't make a live talk/webinar?

All live talks will be available as recordings. You can access these at the same link used to access the live event. So don’t worry if you can’t attend a live webinar, a recording will be available for you to access through your programme within 24 hours of the live event finishing.

What software is required for the live talks?

We use a piece of software called BigMarker. It is a cloud based video hosting software. It requires no installations or downloads on your end, and will provide everything you need to join the live webinars through one simple link.

Will I be able to ask questions/do I have to have my microphone on?

You will have a chance to ask questions at the end of each webinar. These questions are typed out and then read to the presenter by the host of the live talk. There is no need to speak, and all student microphones will be muted for the duration of the live webinar.

Do you offer in-person work experience?
We don't directly manage in person work experience but many of our virtual programmes can lead to in person opportunities, look for the programmes marked as 'Virtual to Reality'. You will need to complete the virtual programme and declare your interest via the embedded form.
When will I hear if there is an in-person opportunity?
Our employer partner will contact you directly about any opportunities, timescales can vary Springpod won't be able to provide any updates on progress.

Ready to find out if this career is right for you?

Start now

The BBC and Me: What the BBC Does and the Career Opportunities on Offer

This programme is open to anyone aged 13+

Certificate of completion

Over 6 hours worth of content

Introducing the BBC

Journalism and Production

Business, Technology and Engineering

Early Careers at the BBC

Available dates

Hear from our student community

Aqsa Saleemi, Year 12 Student

Wilfred Williams, Year 12 Student from London

Sophia Nathwani, Year 11 Student, from Hampton

Ellinor Comard, Year 12 Student from Teddington

Stephanie Oseha, Year 12 Student

Jack Zhou, Year 12 Student from Kingston upon Thames

Frequently asked questions

I have a question about my application or programme eligibility

I have a question about my assignment

I have a question about the programme dates, deadline or workload

I have a question about the live talks

I have a question about the certificate

I have a question about in-person work experience

I want to delete my account

Ready to find out if this career is right for you?