BBC
Where It Begins Trainee - BBC Radio 1Xtra
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JOB DETAILS
Contract Type
8 week placement. Fixed-term contract, full time
Placement Dates
12 October 2026 to 4 December 2026
Salary
£25,500 (pro rata) plus London weighting £5,441
Location
London - London Broadcasting House
Interview Date
Interviews for this role will take place Monday 7 September 2026 in London
About This Opportunity
ARE YOU:
- Passionate about championing Black British culture and music, and an avid listener of BBC Radio 1Xtra?
- Already creating your own podcasts, broadcasting radio shows, or curating and sharing playlists?
- Proactive with a positive, ‘can do’ attitude and outlook?
Do You
- Want hands-on experience across BBC Radio 1Xtra?
- Want to share your creative ideas across BBC Radio 1Xtra and the broader BBC family?
- Want to build on your passion and curiosity for radio and audio production, and receive training from the BBC Academy?
THEN THIS PLACEMENT IS FOR YOU!
This exciting 8-week paid placement offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the dynamic world of BBC Radio 1Xtra. You’ll gain hands-on skills and experience working across different shows and departments.
You’ll also travel to Birmingham for training at the start of your placement, which we’ll arrange for you. Travel, accommodation and expenses covered.
Your Key Responsibilities
- You’ll collaborate with multiple teams and spend time across different departments.
- You’ll take part in creative meetings and support production teams before and during live shows.
- This is a fantastic opportunity to get a 360-degree view of what it’s like to work at an award-winning national broadcaster.
You’ll be assigned a mentor who will meet with you weekly to support your development and future plans. As we’re a 24/7 station, working hours will vary and may include early mornings, evenings or weekends. We will do our best to accommodate personal circumstances when designing the schedule.
WHY JOIN US?
- Unleash Your Creativity: Work in a team that celebrates innovation and originality.
- Build Your Future: Learn from industry professionals and gain real-world experience.
- Be Part of the Buzz: Contribute to the exciting and dynamic environment of BBC Radio 1Xtra!
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Your Skills And Eligibility
Are you passionate about music, radio, and championing Black British culture? Do you stay ahead of the curve with the latest music, culture, and entertainment trends? Are you excited by how new technology and social media shape the way we connect with audiences? If so, we want to hear from you!
What We're Looking For
- Music and Culture Enthusiast: You live and breathe music and are always in the know about what’s happening in culture.
- Tech-Savvy and Socially Aware: You understand how digital platforms and social media influence the world and know how to use them to engage audiences.
- Authentic and Confident: Whether you’re outgoing or quietly confident, we value your unique voice and perspective.
- Inclusive and Open: We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and every part of the UK.
What You Don't Need
You don’t need formal qualifications or previous experience in radio. We’re looking for creativity, imagination, and a genuine passion for media and production.
Essential Requirements
- Career Starters Only: You must be at the beginning of your career journey (this placement is not for those with previous paid BBC experience).
- Right to Work: You must have the legal right to work full-time in the UK for the duration of the placement.
- Age Requirement: You must be 18+ when you apply.
- Interview: You must be available to attend an in-person interview on Monday 7 September from 09:45 - 16:00 in London.
- Placement dates: You must be available during the placement dates from 12 October - 4 December 2026.
- Training: You must be available to travel to Birmingham for training the first week of the placement (we’ll cover expenses, travel and accommodation).
Please note: Want to be the next Nadia Jae or Remi Burgz? This is an off-air scheme for people interested in behind-the-scenes production roles. It is not a scheme for those looking to become presenters or DJs.
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READY TO APPLY?
You’ll create a candidate profile and answer a few questions - no CV or cover letter needed. If you're eligible, you will be invited to complete an online video and written assessment which will help us to understand more about you, your interests and why you want to work at BBC Radio 1Xtra.
Disclaimer
This job description is a written statement of the essential characteristics of the job, with its principal accountabilities, incorporating a note of the skills, knowledge and experience required for a satisfactory level of performance. This is not intended to be a complete, detailed account of all aspects of the duties involved.
Please note: If you were to be offered this role, the BBC will conduct Employment screening checks which include Reference checks; Eligibility to work checks; and if applicable to the role, Safeguarding and Adverse media/Social media checks. Any offer made is conditional on these checks being satisfactory.
Before your start date, you may need to disclose any unspent convictions or police charges, in line with our Recruitment policy. This allows us to discuss any support you may need and assess any risks. Failure to disclose may result in the withdrawal of your offer.
For any general queries, please contact: bbchr@bbc.co.uk
We are unable to accept applications via CV and only applications made online will be considered. Please click on the APPLY NOW button to proceed with your application.
Redeployment
The BBC is committed to redeploying employees seeking suitable alternative employment within the BBC and they will be given priority consideration ahead of other applicants. Priority consideration means for those employees seeking redeployment their application will be considered alongside anyone else at risk of redundancy, prior to any individuals being considered who are not at risk.
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