Supporting socio-economic diversity
To ensure that apprentices and employees from less advantaged backgrounds thrive at the BBC, we offer a range of support.
Overview
The BBC is for everyone and our content needs to represent all of the audiences we serve. To ensure we do this and provide value for all audiences, our teams must have people with different backgrounds, experiences and ideas. Currently 20% of our workforce identify as coming from a working-class background. Our ambition is to increase that representation.
To ensure that apprentices and employees from less advantaged backgrounds thrive at the BBC, we offer a range of support.
BBC RAISED - Staff network
RAISED (Real Action In Social and Economic Diversity) is the BBC’s sociable and supportive employee network established to promote the interests of working-class audiences and colleagues at the BBC. It was established in 2018 and is an active network open to all employees with over 1000 members across all parts of the BBC.
To ensure that employees from less advantaged backgrounds thrive at the BBC, the RAISED network support one another in the following ways:
The chance to pair up with a more experienced colleague from a similar background, who’ll help you to navigate the BBC as a new joiner. They’ll be a work-friend, ally and champion, offering support, guidance and signposting.
A chance to chat and network with like-minded people from across the BBC.
Meet up with colleagues in some of our RAISED hubs across the UK in Glasgow, Belfast, Cardiff, London, Salford and Birmingham.
Fair pay, flexible benefits and financial support
- Fair pay and flexible benefits including a competitive salary, a defined contribution pension scheme with contributions from the BBC of between 5% and 10% and core benefits including cover for four times your salary in life insurance, accident insurance and a 24/7 remote GP service.
- Further benefits including access to season ticket loans, cycle to work scheme, dental insurance, a health cash plan, private medical insurance and gym benefit. Discounts and cash back on everyday expenses such as supermarket shopping, eating out and cinema tickets are also available.
- Support in your working life, including flexible working which you can discuss with us at any point during the application, selection or offer process.
- Excellent career and professional development.
- A non-repayable Financial Assistance grant for employees facing unexpected financial hardship. This may be awarded if you or your dependants are struggling to cover unexpected and unaffordable one-off costs. You can also access resources to help manage your finances.
- All necessary work-related expenses are reimbursed by the BBC subject to set limits and our expenses policy.
- A values-based organisation where the way we do things is important as what we do.
- All apprentice salaries are at or above the Real Living Wage.
- You may be eligible for relocation support. This is means tested and only available to a limited number of apprentices when they have to move from more than one hour away to be near to their new BBC base and need financial support. Please use the following link to find out more about our relocation policy.
- All accommodation and travel for induction and apprenticeship training – for those who don’t live locally – is booked and paid for by the BBC.
- All apprentices participate in managing finances training during the induction process.
- As an apprentice, if you require care leavers support, bursary payments are available.
- The majority of our assessment processes are now entirely virtual and will not require you to attend in person. However, if you are required to travel for your interview or assessment, the BBC will reimburse your travel expenses.
About us
From BBC Public Service to BBC Studios, find out how we we create world-class content that informs, educates, and entertains.Life at the BBC
Learn more about our benefits, working culture, values, and how we champion inclusion.Our values
We have established a set of values for everyone working at the BBC. Find out more.
