I applied for a place on the first ever BBC Apprenticeship Scheme on impulse - media and film making is something I have always had a passion for, but I didn' t know how to get in to. This apprenticeship scheme offered me the opportunity to fulfill my ambitions and after a rigorous interview process, I was accepted onto the course.
During my time at the BBC I worked for five different internal and external media companies on 6-week placements. These companies were Channel K, Mange2media, Sumners, BBC DV solutions and The One Show. My roles within these companies varied from researching program ideas and dealing with clients, to filming on location and editing programs. I earned myself two television credits for my hard work. These practical placements were a fantastic insight into the media industry, and were supported by an intense college course based at Manchester City College. The apprenticeship scheme was also supported by large media companies including Vision+Media and Skillset.
I learned a lot whilst on these placements. I was thrown right into the deep end, contending with deadlines, working in unfamiliar environments and with people I'd never met before. You really have to adapt quickly in these circumstances, but it definitely helps to set you up for work in later life. At Channel K, an independent comedy company based in Manchester, everyone’s input mattered and the whole team worked together to build up an idea for a sketch or a show. At Mange2media, another Manchester-based indie, I was given the opportunity to get hands on with camera equipment and was given total responsibility for researching, scriptwriting and camera assisting on a full show. I completed another placement at DV Solutions, a camera maintenance and hire department based at BBC Manchester. This doesn’t sound very Hollywood, but the team at DVS gave me the guidance and camera teaching I needed to help me follow the path of becoming a camera operator, showing me the ins and outs of using all the equipment you can imagine that’s necessary for a shoot.
I really enjoyed the opportunity to work with these independent companies, where I could really stamp my mark on an idea and give a real input. I was also lucky to have worked on some great programmes, such as 'Grubs Up', a regional cookery show made by Mange2media and presented by chef Simon Rimmer. I travelled to the Isle of Man whilst shooting the show, got to meet different food producers, sample local delicacies, travel the length and breadth of the island filming the beautiful scenery and I had some close encounters with aggressive crustaceans on a trawl boat!
From the apprenticeship, I gained a huge insight into the media industry and an opportunity to get my foot in the door for my future. I gained skills in all sorts of areas from script writing to camera operating, and through this I discovered my true passion for film making. I was driven by the amazing lecturers who encouraged me with my ambition and drive to get further. The main thing I gained was confidence in my skills; this was helped a lot by Manchester City College. Whilst completing the work for my media qualifications, time was taken out for us to complete Key Skills qualifications, and to build on our educational skills to help us in the future.
I went into the apprenticeship with no real media skills - just a rough idea of using a camera, but thankfully a group of passionate and very professional tutors led us through the ins and outs of the media industry. Some of the lecturers were themselves film makers, and this made them truly understand the pathways and skills we would need to take to get a foothold in the industry. This really helped us as students to know what to expect when we left the comfort of the course for the workplace.
Because of the input from the BBC, Skillset, and Vision+Media, the apprentices on this scheme were given the fantastic opportunity to achieve our ambitions. The skills and confidence I gained from this scheme has helped me to follow my dream career in wildlife film making, by helping me throughout the apprenticeship and through funding my subsequent Wildlife Filming Course in South Africa.
