What are my training requirements at the BBC?

Everything that you will need to know about the BBC's training requirements and how to complete them.

Updated: 12 December 2025

The BBC regards safety and legislative compliance as being of the highest priority. Because of this all workers are required to complete some online mandatory training in basic safety awareness and on the importance of data protection and cyber security. In addition to this, and depending on role, some further mandatory training may be required.

As a freelancer working for the BBC, you too are required to complete mandatory training. If you are unclear what training you are required to do you should speak to the person who is responsible for hiring you, or use our new training support pages.

In order to complete your mandatory training you will require access to myDevelopment, the BBC’s online training system.

How to Access Your Training in myDevelopment

This page provides training information for Freelancers engaged via SmartBook (the BBC booking system for most UK freelancers). They will have a HR personnel number, a seven digit Smartbook booking number and accept bookings and claim their payments on the Freelance Payment Portal. If this does not apply to you, please visit the External Partners Mandatory Training page.

An External Partner is someone engaged outside of the BBC HR system. They don’t have a HR personnel number. This includes contractors, individuals engaged via ACON and freelancers engaged outside of SmartBook. Please visit this page to view your training information.

Freelancers log in using the Single Sign-On (BBC Login) to complete their mandatory training, instead of using any previously issued username and password.

What You Need to Know

Once you’ve been booked to work for the BBC, you will automatically receive an invite to BBC Login, up to 14 days before your start date.

When you have set up your authentication, you will be able to log into myDevelopment via BBC Login. If you already have a BBC IT account and email address you can continue to use this to access myDevelopment. We recommend that the BBC Login account using your personal email address is set up in case the BBC IT account and email is removed and access to systems is still needed.

Help & Support

If you have any questions, please speak to your BBC contact.

Freelancer Training GuideDownload the Freelancer Training Guide here

FAQ's

How do I access training?

Freelancers access training in myDevelopment via BBC Login. Access will be provided via email once contracted with the BBC, up to 14 days before your start date.

Where can I get help on BBC Login?

https://help.bbclogin.id.tools.bbc.co.uk/bbc-login-help/bbc-logins/

If you continue to have issues, please get in touch with your BBC contact or call the IT Helpdesk (or Eng Ops if you’re from News).

Where can I get help with using myDevelopment?

The freelancer site.

If you continue to have issues, please get in touch with your BBC contact or contact BBCHR.

How will this work if I already have a BBC network login and access myDevelopment?

Existing Freelancer users will be unaffected and should continue to access myDevelopment using BBC Login as before. We recommend that you set up the BBC Login account using your personal email address in case the BBC network login is removed and you still need to have access.

How far in advance can I get access to myDevelopment?

Up to 14 days before your start date as long as it has been raised in advance.

Why can’t I login to do my training yet?

Your booking may not have been raised yet or your email address may have been entered incorrectly – please get in touch with your booker.

What email address should I be using to login to do my training?

Your personal email address that you provided at the time of being booked or your BBC email address if you have one.

How do I reset my password if I’ve forgotten it?

You can reset it via BBC Login as a self-service facility via the link to the existing external page.

If BBC Login goes down – who do I contact?

Speak to the person who contracted you.

Why have I lost access to BBC Login/myDevelopment?

You might not have been set up yet if you were booked last minute but have worked for the BBC before – check with your BBC contact.

Do I have to login from scratch every time I use myDevelopment or will it remember me?

BBC Login Single Sign on (SSO) means you don’t have to enter your username and password every time, as this is intelligence/risk based (i.e. different device, different location detected then you will have to log in), but if same device, same location, you won’t.

When will my access to myDevelopment expire?

12 weeks after the end date provided or after 12 weeks of inactivity in myDevelopment - whichever happens first.

How long is my training record retained for?

Training accounts/records are held in myDevelopment for 50 years after leaving the business.

What happens if I need to change my email address for BBC Login?

You should contact HR who will change your email address in SAP

What happens in terms of access if I’m working on two productions at the same time?

You’ll have one account that you access your training through – it will be set up at the point of your first booking.

What happens if I don’t own a mobile phone?

A mobile phone is not mandatory however it is highly desirable as 3 of the 4 authentication methods do require one. If a mobile phone is not available, then a USB security key (also known as YubiKey) can be ordered via the MyIT request portal. Note there is a cost and lead time to get this completed – please speak to your BBC Contact.