BBC Extend
BBC Extend is the BBC’s positive action employment programme for people who are deaf, disabled, or neurodivergent.
View all open Extend roles
Introduction
BBC Extend is the BBC’s positive action employment programme for people who are deaf, disabled, or neurodivergent.
Whilst the BBC welcomes applications from disabled people for any of its advertised roles, and we encourage disabled people to apply for any roles, BBC Extend ringfences roles that only people defined as disabled by the Equality Act (2010) or the Disability Discrimination Act (1995) if you live in NI, can apply for. We recognise that disabled people are underrepresented in our workforce and our goal is to create more opportunities for disabled people at the BBC.
You can view all current BBC Extend roles on our careers website, and you can also sign up to our BBC Talent Pool mailing list to hear about the roles as they become available.
My experience in coming to the BBC as a neurodivergent person was initially fear.
The BBC is not perfect but it's definitely willing to learn and understand and adapt themselves to diversity.
I started out filming on my phone badass women. Cool women doing cool things and that was my sort of passion project.
Being successful with doing that, one of the seniors was like do you want to come in and be a cheeky junior researcher and I was like, I would love to be a cheeky junior researcher.
Worked my way up to researcher to producer and ended up becoming a presenter as well.
Every day is very different and radio is very fast moving. Looking at what current events are going on or just setting up a really funny interview with someone.
I love the BBC. So, I wasn't born in the UK I came here when I was 10. I spoke no English and I learned literally from watching CBBC.
I’m dyslexic and I have ADHD. My brain works faster than my mouth can do. For me I thought I would never be able to achieve anything in my life.
I knew I loved music I knew I was creative.
The point is I always felt like I was supposed to be here.
Last year I did an investigation into housing accessibility in the country and I think that's a big story which no one had really actually had like a look at. If I wasn't here in this building, it wouldn't have been done.
You can bring together you know those who are used to a certain kind of story with those who feel like they don't get their stories told.
Having an opportunity to have an open conversation about it has done me personally, just like personal growth. That's been really good for me it's been really good for my career as well.
When it comes to elements of representation, they will always be there for people to say this is my BBC, I should be able to shift it and change it according to my experience.
But no one has ever made me feel like I can't do anything. This was a dream that I never thought I would have and I feel championed now and it's really nice.
It’s never been that I'm looked at as a person who can't do his job or isn't able. I have a confidence in what I can do now and I know that when I have an opinion or I have an idea that it's actually worth it so I should go and say it.
I know that I will be accepted, I will be listened to.
I feel proud every day that I walk in here I'm not going to lie.
I was like wow like I actually do have like a home here.
Overview
Anyone protected by the Equality Act (2010) or the DDA (1995) definition of disability can apply for BBC Extend roles. The Equality Act (2010) and the DDA 1995 says you're a disabled person if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term negative or adverse effect on your ability to do normal daily activities. This definition includes both apparent and non-apparent conditions and impairments, and medical conditions such as Cancer, HIV or Multiple Sclerosis. It also includes people who identify as neurodivergent or as deaf and hard of hearing.
In order for us to ensure only disabled people are considered for BBC Extend roles, you do need to tell us at application stage that you identify as disabled – but you don't need to tell us what your impairment or condition is. There's an optional question in the application, too, to tell us about the adjustments you require at application stage, at interview, and when in role.
Some roles we advertise may have a certain requirement for on-site attendance, especially if they are production or content related. However, the BBC has a flexible working approach and some form of home working is an option for most roles. We also have bases throughout the UK you can be based at, so not all roles are office based – although there may be some requirement for travel to an office base as and when required.
BBC Extend roles vary in type, length and seniority. We advertise vacancies ranging from scheduling assistants right up to senior journalist roles, and we also have non-content related roles such as HR specialists and graphic designers. We aim to ringfence roles at all levels – from entry level to senior manager – and vary our contract lengths from fixed term contracts to permanent positions.
The BBC are fully committed to providing workplace adjustments to help eliminate barriers in the workplace that disabled people face. To do this, we have our own dedicated BBC Access and Disability Service that provides assessments and support throughout employment with us. If you are successful in applying for this role and require workplace adjustments, we will work with you to get your adjustments in place.
Frequently Asked Questions
BBC Extend roles are for people who would be considered disabled as per the Equality Act (2010) definition. The Equality Act (2010) says you’re a disabled person if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term negative or adverse effect on your ability to do normal daily activities. This definition includes both apparent and non-apparent conditions and impairments, and long-term medical conditions.
If you feel you meet the above criteria, you can apply for a BBC Extend role. We do not ask for medical proof or medical diagnosis during our application stages, nor can we tell you if you meet the above definition.
The decision must be yours.
As a Disability Confident Level 2 Employer, we offer a Disability Confident Interview Scheme for all roles at the BBC. We will aim to offer you an interview if you:
- opt into this scheme at the time of application;
- clearly show that you meet all of the essential criteria for the role on your application; and
- identify as a disabled person on your application.
You must complete all three steps above to be considered under this scheme.
It is important to note that there may be occasions where it is not possible to interview all disabled candidates who meet the essential criteria for a role. For example, in certain recruitment situations such as a high number of applications, seasonal campaigns, or peak recruitment periods, we may be unable to implement this scheme. This is in accordance with UK Government Disability Confident Scheme advice.
We do not accept job applications via the BBC Extend email address, and we do not accept generic covering letters or CVs. All job applications must be submitted via the BBC Careers website unless you require a reasonable adjustment to submit a job application in a different format.
If you have asked to submit your application in an alternative format, someone will be in touch with you – but any applications that do not require a reasonable adjustment to the application format will not receive a response.
Please ensure you submit your application on the BBC Careers website – applications will not be processed through this email address unless you require an adjustment.
We do not accept job applications via the BBC Extend email address, and we do not accept generic covering letters or CVs. All job applications must be submitted via the BBC Careers website unless you require a reasonable adjustment to submit a job application in a different format.
If you have asked to submit your application in an alternative format, someone will be in touch with you – but any applications that do not require a reasonable adjustment to the application format will not receive a response.Please ensure you submit your application on the BBC Careers website – applications will not be processed through this email address unless you require an adjustment.
Please regularly check the BBC Careers website for all current BBC Extend roles.
At this time we are unable to match individual candidates to roles that may be suitable for them.
Contact
You can contact BBC Extend via the shared mailbox if you have any questions.
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