The BBC says it is looking to “break the cycle of closed graduate recruitment and ad-hoc entry level training” with the launch of its new BBC Technology Apprenticeship.

This year 20 young people will take a place on the first edition of the scheme, through which they will obtain a Bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Engineering, accredited by Birmingham City and Salford Universities.

As a result, the BBC says it will be able to “attract a more diverse range of exciting young talent into the sector”, with a BBC spokesperson telling Recruiter that encouraging female talent to enter a very male-dominated profession is a particular focus. Graduates of the scheme will able to compete for jobs at the BBC or across the industry.

BBC Technology Apprenticeships are being offered to 100 people over the next eight years as part of the Open Channels initiative, a £5m project funded by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills as part of the Employer Ownership of Skills Pilot.

The scheme is open for applications from now until Monday, 20 May, via the BBC's website. Apprentices earn a salary of £11.5k.