BBC training scheme for disabled talent wins national award
The BBC’s long-running training scheme for disabled people - Extend - has triumphed at the inaugural Recruitment Industry Disability Initiative Awards.
Published: 21 May 2014
The scheme means so much to everyone involved with it at the BBC and, most importantly, to the amazingly talented people we recruit, learn from and help develop each year.
The scheme, which is run by the BBC Academy and offers six-month-long work placements across the BBC to disabled people with the appropriate qualifications, won the Employer’s choice trophy for making the BBC more inclusive for disabled people.
The judges were looking for evidence of barriers for disabled people being removed; evidence of more disabled people being attracted and recruited as a result of the project or initiative; and how this has been made into routine practice.
Over the last 16 years, Extend has recruited 574 disabled people and a significant number of them have gone on to gain positions in the BBC, or the wider broadcast industry. Last year 71 per cent of Extendees gained further work at the BBC – the highest in its history.
Extend was praised for its impact and practical approach, and the judges said that its “sustained programme of outreach is changing attitudes and creating a lasting legacy”.
Extend Programme Managers Sarah Langford and Ian George collected the award at the London event, which was also attended by Mike Penning MP, minister of state for disabled people, as well as a wide range of companies and people passionate about recruiting and developing disabled talent.
Ian George, Programme Manager for Extend, says: “We were really honoured to win the award, as we were up against some incredible disability initiatives.
“The scheme means so much to everyone involved with it at the BBC and, most importantly, to the amazingly talented people we recruit, learn from and help develop each year. We’re very much looking forward to building on this success to make the BBC an even more disability confident, supportive and progressive employer.”
Notes to Editors
BBC Extend is a work placement scheme which offers disabled people the opportunity to gain six months' paid work within the BBC.
Its primary aim is to attract amazing talent and then develop, retain and support Extendees on their career paths. In addition to developing experience and skillsets, they are comprehensively supported through mentoring, coaching and career specific training.
In 2012-2013 the BBC Extend team achieved a 71 per cent internal retention rate of the Extendee cohort recruited in October 2012 - the highest in its 16-year history. This positive outcome is a result of strong teamwork connections with a large network of stakeholders within the BBC, including the Diversity Centre, Recruitment Team, Access Team, HR, placement bidders, host managers, Diversity Champions, the BBC Ability Forum for disabled staff, Mentors, freelance trainers and our Extendees themselves.
BBC Press Office
