BBC Kick Off Reporters are back

The BBC Kick Off Reporter scheme is an eight-week work placement with BBC Sport teams across the UK, both in radio and online. Formerly known as the BBC Blast Reporter scheme, the programme coordinator is Rachael Smith. Here she writes on the BBC Academy blog:

“After months of preparation and a six-week-long recruitment drive, 46 new BBC Local Apprentices recently walked into BBC Birmingham for their first day at training.

“The apprentices are from every radio station in the UK, from Nan Gaidheal in Stornoway to Jersey in the Channel Islands. Though they are all from different backgrounds and experiences, all share a passion for radio.

“It was this passion we looked for when recruiting them in assessment centres over the summer. During the assessment each apprentice was tested for their writing ability, whether they could work as part of a team, and also had to take on a competency based interview.

“The process took six-weeks, with the BBC Academy’s Local Apprenticeship team working closely with colleagues in BBC Radio, from editors through to Local Radio administrators.”

Read the full Academy blog post, BBC Local Apprentices are in the building. Rachael has also blogged for the BBC Outreach and Corporate Outreach site, BBC Kick Off Reporters - Inside the scheme.

Hannah Khalil is Digital Content Producer, About the BBC website and blog.