The last eight months have flown by. I’ve had some amazing experiences - from interviewing Irish singer Gavin James to meeting Ö÷²¥´óÐã director general Tony Hall. I was also part of the digital team who documented the Children in Need canoe challenge for social media.

I’m given the opportunity to come up with ideas and create content for the Ö÷²¥´óÐã Three Counties social media pages, which is one of many buzzes I get from this job.

Seeing videos I’ve created on a Ö÷²¥´óÐã forum, telling people’s stories in a way that’s sharable and reaches so many people, gives me a sense of pride I can’t describe in words. And my confidence in myself and my ability grows when I receive positive feedback for my work.

A few years ago my confidence had taken a dent. I had to leave my journalism course at a local university for personal reasons and had given up hope of working in the industry.

What I hadn’t realised is that there are always other paths to take.

This apprenticeship has allowed me to train with professionals from across the Ö÷²¥´óÐã. I’m also studying for an NCTJ (National Council for the Training of Journalists) qualification, giving me the theoretical knowledge I need (basically how not to get sued!) alongside the practical skills I’m learning.

Every day is different. Whether I’m filming a video for Facebook or supporting a live broadcast, l experience something new - which is unlike any job I’ve had in the past.

My colleagues and the people at Ö÷²¥´óÐã Academy will continue to help make me into the best journalist I can be. They inspire me every day.

This is one of the best experiences I have ever had. I’d recommend it to anyone who wants to be in the media industry.

OK so I’m not actually on set right at this minute, but I was - and I feel I should take the time out to give you a real, honest, overall picture into what being a Ö÷²¥´óÐã apprentice really means - ironic, seeing as I work in radio. 

I want to talk about people and opportunities. You can’t possibly get more than you do inside the Ö÷²¥´óÐã. It’s not that I’ve been handed everybody on a plate, I’ve had to go out and find producers, script editors, researchers etc. But being a Ö÷²¥´óÐã apprentice has given me such a confidence boost that I’ll quite happily introduce myself to people, or speak up in a production meeting.

For the first time, I’ve had the confidence in myself to submit a script to . Yes I had confidence before (my friends and family would probably say that’s an understatement) but now I have the confidence to approach those big Ö÷²¥´óÐã people that you’ve heard of before but never dreamed of having coffee with!

Recently, I met with a story producer from a long-running Ö÷²¥´óÐã series to discuss working in a story department; in particular script editing and story-lining - something I’m really interested in.

Now in all honesty, this guy is a hundred miles away from radio drama and I came across him on Twitter. So I did a bit of Googling and found he’d worked as a junior storyliner, storyliner, story editor, script editor and so on, basically all the jobs in a CDS (Continuing Drama Series) story department. Tip: if you're going to meet anyone, Google them first. Find out what they’ve worked on and in what capacity, because honestly you can get so much out of the meeting if you really want to know about a particular role.

So, I emailed this guy and he agreed to meet with me. It was one of the best conversations of my career so far; he wasn’t just telling me everything I wanted to know, but he was telling me everything he knew that could help me in my career, however big or small. One of my favourite things about this industry is the camaraderie between people: how they want to help you and give you advice. You have to show you’re willing to take the initiative and, if people see that, they’ll do everything they can to help you succeed.

That’s what I’ll take most out of this year, the Ö÷²¥´óÐã has prepared me to work in the industry and work with the people. Yes my average day consists of script reading, researching, casting - all those really fun and exciting things. But you’ve got to do more, talk to people outside what you’re currently doing.

I know long-term I want to work in both television and audio drama in some kind of writer or script editor role. I can only do that if I continue what I’m doing now, meeting new people and networking! If people see your passion, your commitment and your resilience they’ll want to work with you just as much as you want to work with them, they’ll want to help you succeed so the amazing programming making that we have now will continue long into the future.

You’re the future of the Ö÷²¥´óÐã, of the industry, and everyone wants it to be amazing.

You will make it amazing.

The  is a five week work placement across Ö÷²¥´óÐã Radio and online Sport teams in the UK, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands.

The scheme is open to sport-minded people over the age of 18. No previous media experience is necessary to be successful on this scheme. We look for people’s passion for sport and for telling great sport stories in their local area.

Watching reporters develop with the scheme each year is extremely rewarding. Some reporters come in with little-to-no knowledge of professional radio production or reporting and leave us work-ready, with increased confidence in reporting and many secure work in the industry.

From my observation, the transition is down to them taking the opportunity to develop their skills and story ideas with the scheme management, mentors and trainers. They leave nothing to chance.

Don’t just take my word for it – here are two ex-Ö÷²¥´óÐã Kick Off Reporters Mary Kate Monaghan and Jamie Gambrell, who share their own experience of being on the scheme.

Mary Kate Monaghan, ex-Ö÷²¥´óÐã Kick Off Reporter, Ö÷²¥´óÐã Radio Cumbria

"My experience with the Ö÷²¥´óÐã during the Kick-Off trainee scheme was fantastic and highly rewarding.

Following on from my interests in both journalism and sport, the scheme provided the perfect balance between both areas by combining the two, while also allowing the unique opportunity to have my work broadcast on Ö÷²¥´óÐã Radio.

Similarly, the practical nature of the scheme is fantastic, as it allows independence to form our own projects and ideas, while providing essential support and guidance to ensure the high quality of the radio packages we produced.

This links to the training provided by the scheme, which was highly rewarding as it included key tips and skills necessary for working within media, providing a fantastic platform to develop from to prepare for a career in journalism. Likewise, the scheme is not limited to one type of sport, and allows a variety of new experiences and abilities to try out different kinds of sport coverage, from radio commentaries on football matches to having the chance to interview inspiring local athletes.

Following my time with Ö÷²¥´óÐã Radio Cumbria, I have been able to transfer the vital skills learnt by setting up and hosting my own weekly radio show at university. Similarly, I have been able to stay in contact with the radio station and continue to receive opportunities to continue working with them.

I would highly recommend the scheme to anyone interested in media and sport as it’s provides vital information, training and experience that will develop essential skills for the future, while also giving a fantastic chance to meet with other amazing people who will quickly become valued friends."

Jamie Gambrell, ex-Ö÷²¥´óÐã Kick Off Reporter, Ö÷²¥´óÐã Radio Northampton

"I choose to apply for the Ö÷²¥´óÐã Kick-Off Sports Reporter Scheme because it offered such good opportunities. The chance to work within a Ö÷²¥´óÐã radio team and help produce news over the summer seemed perfect for improving myself as a journalist.

The training days in the Ö÷²¥´óÐã Academy in Bristol were brilliant too. It was a fantastic way to meet others in the same situations as well as network with other people in the Ö÷²¥´óÐã. All the staff I met, at both Bristol and Northampton (my local station), were really friendly as well, which helped me to settle in quickly and get to work.

The scheme was an invaluable experience for me. I got the chance to help write the news headlines, go out and conduct my own interviews as well as produce a couple of my own sports packages. Another bonus from the scheme is having a mentor at your local station. My mentor was a great help and working at the station would not have been as easy without him.

The last 12 months, I’ve used my time with the Ö÷²¥´óÐã to help me in my degree and gain more experience in the field of journalism, although I know plenty of my peers went on to carry on working for their local station.

Overall, working at the Ö÷²¥´óÐã through this scheme gives you all the tools you need to succeed as a journalist. It not only helps you further your journalism career but develops you as a person, which was a great aspect of it for me.

If you’re interested in journalism, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend applying."

There are plenty of opportunities available all across the UK, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands.
We are looking for a good spread of talented applicants of both sexes, so particularly welcome applications from women as well as an ethnically diverse range of people.

Our scheme manager, Gareth Jones, has provided these for anyone applying this year and you can find some extra support on our .

Good luck to those who are applying - you never know where it may lead!

Having worked in Radio Drama as a Production Apprentice for around three months, some people feel I can transcend everything I’m learning into a 500-600 word blog. In reality this is a very difficult task, yet I shall attempt...

Within a month I had gone from performing spot effects in the 1950s for (see photo) to playing a grunting Viking in the background of to visiting in the 1750s. But it’s not just about the cool stuff (though I did get to cover the production coordinator for  - that was cool).

The department I work in is full of hard-working, lovely and dedicated programme-makers, and every single one wants you to learn, experience and enjoy. I cannot express how much insight I gained through people who give up their time to just sit and chat about their work, the industry and all those little things you won’t find in a book, or you won’t hear in a studio. This doesn’t just apply to the production staff, it’s the writers and actors that we have come in every week - the stories they might tell, or the inspiration they might give.

I've always been a firm believer that I will work in TV and Audio Drama in some way, shape or form. I wouldn't have it any other way. But from being here in the Ö÷²¥´óÐã you get to do things you haven't thought of before. I never imagined I'd get to work on 'Festival of Remembrance' for Ö÷²¥´óÐã One, and be entrusted with looking after 119 choristers! Being here at the Ö÷²¥´óÐã you get to do everything you've always wanted to do. It's not "Pllleeeeasssssse let me see The Archers" anymore, more likely someone says "Can I introduce you to the producer of The Archers, she's got time to have a chat with you…”

I'm not gonna lie, there are some tough days. Days when you don't think you're learning as much, or when you don't feel like you're contributing to the team as you want to be. But if you stick through that day, it's almost certain tomorrow will be amazing. And that's happened to me several times, some of the best things I've done or the best conversations I've had with people have happened 'tomorrow'.

If you stick with it, it's surely going to be amazing. I've stuck with it and this year I'm a production coordinator on The Tsars Series 2 and Tommies Season 7. What was this meant to be about again? I'm not sure either it just sort of typed itself. But if you're looking for a reason to join the Ö÷²¥´óÐã Apprenticeship Scheme here it is: you're inside the Ö÷²¥´óÐã.

For the last six months I've been working on Saturday Live, Ö÷²¥´óÐã Radio 4's Saturday morning show. It is a round table set up (four to five live guests in the studio) with individual interviews and informal chat between them. There are three pre-recorded items: a feature, a ‘Thank You’ slot and a celebrity’s 'Inheritance Tracks'.

I have been helping to find possible live guests, researching their potential, pitching them to my editor at our weekly ideas meeting and then writing briefs on the guests for our presenters. I help with the programme’s ‘Thank You' slot, too: this is where the team record listeners who get in touch with the programme to share their stories of people who did them a good turn but who they never had the chance to thank at the time. Some are so moving.

I suggest the Thank Yous that stand out from all the ones we receive, and then I may telephone the listener who has been agreed on to find out more about them before the recording. Sometimes I have a go at editing it ready for the programme. It has been a vertical learning curve but really exciting slowly taking on more responsibility in the team.

When writing a brief I've learned to make sure that I give the presenters accurate, interesting and succinct information. It's important because the show is ‘live’ so they need all their facts right before they go on air, unlike pre-recorded programmes there is no safety net. The brief should leave them curious to get as much as possible out of the guest they will be interviewing, but it must not take them too long to read quickly or they might miss key bits out.

Armed with a list of names that could be possible guests, I look into each one hoping to find any unusual hobbies or a personal story and then drop the ones that don't sound right for the programme. Saturday Live likes people who are fun, a bit eccentric and who have several ‘strings to their bow’.

For example, recently we had an architect on who had also twice been world air guitar champion (I know, who even knew there was one?) and a fly fisherman who helps conserve chalk streams and otters. Sometimes I discount people if they don't have enough hobbies, are a bit too worthy, or I can't find a personal angle for them – although there are exceptions. Before suggesting someone I firstly check if they are still available, whether they've been on the show before, and ensure I can sum up in one sentence for my editor why they would be a good guest.

Everyone at the Ö÷²¥´óÐã has been really friendly and welcoming, from the security guards - who I'm on first name terms with now - to my colleagues who have been here sometimes longer than I have been alive, but who still treat me as an equal. To me the Ö÷²¥´óÐã is like a lioness, slow to trust outsiders but once you are working there it protects you like one of its own.

It is strange how quickly you settle into a daily routine and forget that whilst you may just be ‘going to the office’, that office is in the massively respected institution that is the Ö÷²¥´óÐã. Being on one placement for so long has really let me get under the skin of the programme and work at tailoring my ideas to ones that answer the programme's central question of, is it fun? It has let me ease my way into the world of work, which is a big change from sitting A-levels at school, but just like exams you get out of work what you put in. It feels great being measured against the standards of those with more experience, giving me a benchmark to aim for and shows that the team value me and think me capable of improvement.

Speaking up in meetings was very difficult at first, but positive and encouraging feedback from my editor and producers has helped a lot with my self-confidence. My colleagues couldn't have been more supportive and as long as you know what you are asking for or need help with, people are only too happy to oblige.

So far this year I have both gained skills and developed as a person and learned how better to play to my strengths. In fact I have learned as much about myself as I have about the media industry, if not more! I won't pretend that there haven't been some extra challenges because of my disability. I am blind so, for example, I cannot see people's facial expressions which can be a barrier to starting conversations. I use speech assisted software which reads the screen to me, so I am nearly always wearing headphones. This means that people don't always think they can interrupt me, even though I would be only too happy to talk as I do enjoy a good chat.

As a result I am slowly learning to become more outgoing in order to build good working relationships. Rather than waiting 20 years or more to share my Thank You I will say it now, ‘Thank you Ö÷²¥´óÐã for letting me do this and here’s to the next few months being just as amazing.’