Case studies: Broadcast engineer: Kristan Webb

Kristan is a BSc Broadcast Technology graduate from Ravensbourne College and now works for the BBC.

Ever since I was a child I've been interested in the behind-the-scenes technology aspects of theatre and TV - more so than what's happening on stage or on screen. At the theatre, you'd always find me sitting at the back to be near the sound desk, for instance, and I'd always be the one taking radios apart to see how they worked.

My dad was a BT engineer and my mum's a mathematician, so it's in the blood, I suppose. It was inevitable that I'd want to pursue a career as a broadcast engineer, and they've been a real source of encouragement to me. Getting work experience and being seen by people in the industry is vital if you want to get on.

While I studied for a BTEC in Media Production at Hull College, I was fortunate enough to gain a day's work experience with BBC Radio Humberside. Although the day was geared towards the production side of the job, I did have an opportunity to meet and mingle with the engineers who were looking after a small TV studio. They invited me back the next day, and after several weeks of popping in after college and making tea and coffee, I got some holiday cover work. From then on, I took every opportunity to gain experience, be it on a production side (operating the Autoscript, answering phones and working as a general assistant) or the more technical side (helping with radio outside broadcasts - and making more tea for everyone).

I realised early on that while I wanted to be an engineer, having the experience and understanding of the creative production side of radio and TV would be a real benefit in the long-run. That way, it makes it easier for you to help people - presenters, producers, etc - achieve their creative ideas with specific technology. One engineer suggested I look at the possibility of studying with Ravensbourne College as they have a fantastic reputation in the broadcast industry. I did just that and, after spending more time working in Hull for the BBC, I began a BSc in Broadcast Technology at Ravensbourne, from which I graduated in summer 2009. I also became a member of professional body The Institution of Engineering and Technology - the IET - which I found very helpful for advice and support.

I found an opportunity to work again for the BBC, this time in Birmingham; and I'm now a broadcast engineer in the Broadcast Support Centre, which provides engineering support for the 40 local radio stations across England as well as the 18 regional TV broadcasts. You do have to work under pressure - when technology goes wrong, you need to fix it as quickly as possible... although TV is more pressurised than radio. Keeping abreast with new technology is difficult, but crucial. It's heading more into the computing and internet arena now. I love the job; it's varied and every time the phone rings it's a different challenge.