BBC Careers

We have developed a programme of activities in the UK based mainly around our headquarters in London and plan to work with our HQs in the USA and Australia to establish similar initiatives.

Jack Tizard School

We manage a scheme in which a rota of 15 to 20 volunteers visit this school for children with profound special needs on a weekly basis at lunchtime to play with the children. Volunteers are very committed and say they get a lot out of the relationship, too. Working closely with the school, the volunteers attend a special induction session and have opportunities to extend their understanding of disability by participating in a bespoke speech and language session.

Lawyers in Schools

Some of our legal team (working with Olswang via the Citizenship Foundation) support Burlington Danes Academy in London W12 by providing regular sessions with students at the school as part of their PSCHE studies.

Enterprise Days

BBC Worldwide staff have an opportunity to present to and mentor 30 local business students aged 17 to 18 in an ‘Apprentice’-style day at our offices in the BBC's Media Centre in London in conjunction with the Education Business Partnership at Hammersmith and Fulham Council.

Team challenges

We offer regular one-off opportunities to benefit a local not-for-profit organisation (usually local schools) through practical work such as decorating and gardening. This enables staff to get to know one another and build team spirit across our businesses. Examples last year include mural painting at Melcombe School, gardening at Phoenix High School Farm, playground tidy up and gardening at Woodlane School and the Randolph Beresford Early Years Centre. Volunteers have also painted the library at Fulham Primary School.

BBC Worldwide Gardening Champions

A team of Gardening volunteers (members of our Environment Champions team) have attended local schools on an occasional basis to do gardening and tidy up the grounds. They also have opportunities to garden at lunchtimes and after work in the BBC Allotment.

Mentoring

Staff have expressed a strong interest in mentoring, so we are currently trialling the ‘Take Two’ mentoring scheme with local secondary school Phoenix High. Mentors will see their mentee about twice a month at the Media Centre in London over a period of one year. Training is provided by the Education Business Partnership at Hammersmith and Fulham Council. Our recent call for volunteers yielded over 65 applicants and 15 are now taking part in the initiative.

Mock interview day

BBC Worldwide staff were given an opportunity to mentor via a ‘mock interview’ day at Phoenix High School in February. This activity was open to 20 staff who conducted five separate interviews with Year 11 students (reaching 100 students).

Connect and Create

Staff are also able to take advantage of mentoring and volunteering opportunities offered by the BBC Connect and Create team, part of BBC Outreach.

Career Academy

BBC Worldwide is a member of this not-for-profit organisation which aims to provide advice, information and opportunities to help 16- to-18-year-olds to realise their full career potential. Our staff can participate by offering ‘guru lectures’ at local colleges and schools and also help to mentor by taking on paid interns and supervising over a six-week period.

As a result of our activity, BBC Worldwide staff received the Contribution to Employee Volunteering Award in 2009 and the Contribution to Enterprise and Work Related Learning Award in 2010, both in Hammersmith and Fulham Council’s Business Awards.