Broadcast engineer
A broadcast engineer operates, maintains, updates and repairs hardware and systems used across television, radio, podcasts and other channels, ensuring that programmes are broadcast on time to the highest possible level of quality.
Broadcast engineers work in a team with others including producers, studio managers and presenters as well as other technical staff. As well as being spread across ever-expanding methods of distribution, the work of broadcast engineers takes place in a range of locations and work situations.
In addition to studio work, there may be outside broadcasts, when sound and images are relayed live back to a studio or straight to the network.
The nature of the work varies by location and media of distribution, but tasks typically involve:
Most broadcast engineers enter as trainees. The great majority of new entrants are graduates, but entry as a trainee is possible with an HNC/HND/foundation degree/degree in the following subjects:
Entry is also possible for graduates from other disciplines if they have strong numeracy as shown by good A-levels (or equivalent) in maths and/or physics. In this instance, an active interest in and aptitude for technology is paramount.
Some companies may recruit trainees with a minimum of an AVCE (advanced vocational certificate of education) in engineering or equivalent. An Access qualification may also be accepted for entry to certain degree-level courses. If you are experienced in a related field, you may be able to gain recognition of skills through accredited prior learning (APL), but check with individual colleges and universities for exact requirements.
If you are already working in broadcasting (e.g. as a runner) you may be able to move into this role via internal training schemes. It is also possible to progress to this level through entry as a technician and part-time training.
Postgraduate qualifications are not required but can help you gain experience of the industry. Pre-entry experience, usually in student broadcasting, unpaid work experience with a production company or in local television, is very important.
Candidates will need to show evidence of the following:
Be prepared to be persistent in approaching producers, directors and other industry contacts. Use directories such as The Knowledge , Media UK and the PACT Directory of Independent Producers for addresses and named contacts. Although it is important for you to show your enthusiasm, employers will be more concerned with your knowledge, insight or experience of the industry.
It is important to prepare well before asking for pre-entry work experience. Reading publications like Broadcast and The Guardian (media section on Mondays) can help you learn more about the industry. See the BBC Work Experience website and the jobs page on the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) website for details about work experience opportunities.
Although job prospects for experienced, well-qualified people can be good, searching for jobs can be very challenging early on. The BBC is virtually the only employer with a graduate entry scheme.
The broadcasting sector has a number of initiatives to promote careers in the industry to under-represented groups, in particular ethnic minorities. The BBC has made a strong commitment to a policy of equality and diversity, which covers all aspects of its business, including recruitment. However, many factors, such as the need to travel frequently, the unstructured nature of recruitment, and the often unsocial hours, make it a difficult area for some applicants to enter.
For more information, see work experience and internships and search courses and research.
Most entrants start by learning skills on the job over the first 18 months or so, adding specific courses once they have proved themselves to their employer. Where structured programmes exist, they can lead to chartered engineer (CEng) status according to the criteria of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) .
Training schemes, in both radio and television, are run by training organisations and by some of the major broadcasters. The BBC runs a number of courses, including the very popular production trainee scheme, which emphasises current multi-platform and digital broadcast technologies. Many non-BBC employees also receive BBC Training. BKSTS: The Moving Image Society also runs a number of courses, lectures and master classes. The British Film Institute (BFI) maintains a database of courses (available on their website) to help freelancers and would-be entrants to identify appropriate courses. Scottish Screen provides training for the broadcast and film industry in Scotland.
Broadcast engineers are often required to undertake further training in the use of new equipment. This is usually organised by employers, while freelance engineers must build this into their planned earnings and work schedules.
Graduate training schemes are a popular way to enter the industry, as they involve work in several specialist areas, but they are very over-subscribed. Most entrants start with trainee roles and gain seniority as they develop knowledge and their reputation within the industry.
Most broadcast engineers come to specialise in particular systems or technology. You may also take responsibility for upgrading and modifying specialist software.
After you have completed your initial training and gained a suitable amount of experience, it is possible to move into a team leader role. Promotion is based on merit.
The BBC offers secondments to other areas, which enable existing members of staff to widen their experience.
This is a competitive field. Recruitment for short contracts or fixed-term projects often takes place on the basis of reputation (smaller companies especially will often approach experienced freelancers), so networking within the industry is vital to developing your career and maintaining full employment.
Within some companies, following several years' experience, it may be possible to progress from broadcast engineer into management roles within the industry.
The main employers are terrestrial and digital television channels (e.g. the BBC, Independent Television (ITV), Channel 4, Five Television and Sianel Pedwar Cymru (S4C) in Wales and the numerous production companies which provide content for these channels. Others include overseas broadcasters based in the UK, outside broadcast (OB) companies, local television and news specialists.
There are many production and post-production facilities and studios in and around London. The main media centre outside London is Manchester (Granada and BBC Manchester will be joined by BBC Radio Five Live and other BBC departments in 2011). This will be the BBC's largest presence outside of London.
Training opportunities within television companies are linked to operational needs and, whilst companies such as the BBC may aim for annual recruitment, this cannot be guaranteed.
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