BBC announces new digital career opportunities

Partnership with Vision+Media to launch bespoke digital training

BBC Future Media & Technology (FM&T) and Vision+Media have joined forces to provide a unique opportunity for new digital talent in the north of England.

The new partnership underlines the ambition and commitment of BBC North to be a leading innovator in digital technology and content production when it moves to its new base at MediaCityUK, Salford Quays starting in May 2011.

Peter Salmon, Director, BBC North, said: "These bespoke placements are part of our commitment to training and developing the best local talent in the north.

“The region is rapidly establishing itself as a real magnet for the best and most creative digital media companies and initiatives such as this will help create real opportunities for people in the area to get invaluable experience and develop new skills in a live environment and get a head start in their career.”

These paid placements will be in the areas of Software Engineering and User Experience, and will sit within BBC FM&T department. BBC North Developing Talent was instrumental in helping to set up the initiative alongside colleagues in FM&T and Vision+Media. With a commitment to identify and develop new talent in the region, the team will continue to be involved in the project and provide support to the successful candidates.

Starting in January 2011, the successful candidates will work at FM&T for three months. Throughout their placements the candidates will be involved in a working prototype, receiving mentoring and guidance from senior BBC staff.

BBC FM&T works across a number of platforms to create some of the most valued and innovative digital media services in the world, including BBC iPlayer, BBC Online and BBC Red Button.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for talented software engineers and UX designers to get a feel for what it is really like working within BBC FM&T – to sample the projects, the technologies and the methodologies we use, whilst showcasing their skills in a real environment not an anodyne interview,” commented Nick Gallon, Technical Manager, Applications, BBC FM&T.

The placements are being facilitated by Vision+Media, the support agency for the digital and creative industries in the north west. In the last two years, Vision+Media has facilitated over 300 placements within TV, Radio, Film, Games and Digital and Creative Services, with 92% of placements in the digital sector offered full-time jobs.

Lynn Kelly, Head of Skills at Vision+Media, added: "The BBC is a globally-recognised brand, innovating and working at the highest standard in the use of digital technology. This is an amazing opportunity to work with and be guided by the people making this happen.

"We’ve worked closely with the BBC FM&T team to devise these placements, ensuring that trainees will develop the specialist skills required to be able to take advantage of the opportunities presented by MediaCityUK.

“We can see how broadcast and digital is converging and have made it a priority to develop training placements such as this as we move to a cross-media world.”

For more information and to apply for these placements, visit the Vision+Media website.