Software Engineering Apprenticeship - Level 6 - Birmingham

Join the BBC as an apprentice to kick-start your career in a job you'll love. You will learn on-the-job, developing your knowledge and skills whilst working towards your apprenticeship qualification.

Why Join This Scheme?

As an apprentice within our team, you will be at the heart of the BBC's digital world, developing and maintaining the systems that audiences rely on daily. The code you write will help deliver content across BBC platforms like iPlayer, Sounds, and Sport. You will learn to handle the challenge of running services that must be fast, reliable, and available 24/7, working with world-class software engineers to keep the BBC at the forefront of digital media.

Why Join the Team?

As a Software Engineer Apprentice, you’ll be placed in a front-end, back-end, or full-stack team and learn agile planning and delivery practices. Corporate Systems supports the BBC’s internal business-facing technologies such as Finance, Procurement, Treasury, HR, Learning and Scheduling, and Talent Accounting. This group is part of BBC Media Tech and includes roles in Product Management, Systems & Software Engineering, Project Management, Business Analysis, and Testing.

Your Key Responsibilities and Impact

As a Software Engineer apprentice, you will:

• Gain hands-on experience in the BBC’s software engineering teams responsible for TV, audio, online, and digital platforms.
• Develop your understanding of how the BBC’s existing apps and websites function, covering analysis, design, code, build, test, implementation, and support.
• Apply software engineering principles to all stages of the solution development life cycle, from gathering requirements to ensuring security.
• Gain an understanding of how to ensure software quality and reliability through rigorous testing and quality control.
• Explore troubleshooting concerns with guidance from your team.
• Play a part in complex projects aligned with the BBC’s Digital First strategy, from inception to delivery.

You’ll study for an industry-recognised apprenticeship qualification, learning both on-and-off-the-job. Upon successful completion, you will be awarded an Undergraduate Degree (Bachelor of Science with Honours) in Digital and Technology Solutions Professional (Software Engineer pathway) from a UK University, and will be supported to find a job role within the BBC’s Technology or Product delivery teams.

Your Skills and Eligibility

We are interested in your passion for working at the BBC and your enthusiasm for delivering world-class content. We look for potential and offer the opportunity to apply transferable strengths.

We encourage you to apply if you have:

• A love of maths and a passion for coding.
• Excitement about embracing AI and Machine Learning technologies.
• Brilliant organisational skills, problem-solving abilities, and negotiation skills.
• The ability to manage multiple deadlines and demands with a calm and focused approach.
• A keen interest in the BBC and how people consume content, with fresh ideas.

This scheme is aimed at non-graduates. If you have a degree, please look for other opportunities on the BBC careers site.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for an apprenticeship at the BBC, you must:

• Be 18 years old or over by September 2027.
• Have lived in the UK continuously for the last three years.
• Be legally eligible to work full-time in the UK for the entire apprenticeship duration.
• Not be enrolled in another apprenticeship programme.
• Not already hold a qualification in the same subject area at the same or a higher level.

To apply, you must also:

• Have maths and English GCSE at Grade 4/C or above (or equivalent).
• Have some experience of coding and/or software engineering (e.g., from A Level/BTEC, coding boot camp, or personal projects). A basic coding test will be part of the assessment.

Ready to Apply?

Create a candidate profile and answer a few questions – no CV or cover letter needed. If you're eligible, you’ll be guided through the next steps. You’ll need to live within a commutable distance of Birmingham. Relocation support may be available subject to financial eligibility criteria.

This is a fixed-term apprenticeship for 40 months. Upon completion, you can apply for suitable open vacancies at the BBC or in the wider creative industry. You will be supported with career development, employability training, and networking opportunities.

Disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria will normally be progressed to the next stage of the recruitment process under the Disability Confident Scheme.