The BBC has launched the BBC Technology Apprenticeship, working with UK universities and major broadcasters, "to address a critical skills shortage in the broadcast industry and help build the next generation of broadcast engineers", said the organisation.
It opens for applications today, and will recruit 20 school-leavers annually, aiming to produce 100 "skilled, experienced and employable graduate level apprentices over eight years to meet growing industry demand".
Funding comes from BBC Technology and the government’s Employer Ownership Skills Pilot, and a number of industry partners are participating.
In three yeas, based across the UK, apprentices will work towards an honours bachelor degree in a combination of training, work placements and academic study.
"As part of the Open Channels initiative announced in December 2012, BBC Technology and the BBC Academy, in partnership with major UK universities and Creative Skillset, have brought together some of the UK’s biggest broadcasters and media infrastructure companies to shape a common skills agenda, collaborating for the first time ever to solve a critical industry skills gap," said the BBC.
Channel 4, ITV, Red Bee Media and transmission firm Arqiva are amongst the participating firms.
