Assistant Producer - Trainee Podcast Creator BBC Sounds Audio Lab

We’re happy to discuss flexible working. Please indicate your choice under the flexible working question in the application. There is no obligation to raise this at the application stage but if you wish to do so, you are welcome to. Flexible working will be part of the discussion at offer stage.

If you need to discuss adjustments or access requirements for the interview process please contact Reasonable Adjustments. For any general queries, please contact BBC HR.

About BBC Sounds Audio Lab

BBC Sounds Audio Lab is a podcast accelerator programme with one big ambition – to amplify next-generation audio creatives. We help to develop under-represented voices and turn fresh ideas into podcasts to better reflect all of the UK.

You will receive a full-time salary for 7 months from July 2025 to January 2026 as a trainee podcast creator, at an Assistant Producer level, plus receive a range of practical and professional development.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan and develop your idea as part of an established production team, securing its commission on BBC Sounds.
• Play a key role at each stage of development and production, with close supervision and direction from experienced producers, editors and the Audio Lab team.
• Drive your podcast through to completion while delivering it to time, budget, technical and editorial standards.

Programme Features

You will be contracted by the BBC and embedded with Audio Lab’s production partners for the duration of your contract. For 2025, our partners are two BBC teams and two independent production companies:

• Individuals placed with independent production companies will have regular contact with the Audio Lab team and other BBC colleagues for activities including training, guidance, feedback and networking.

Formats and Ideas

We are open to ideas in most formats – solo, co-host, panel, interview, conversational, narrative storytelling, investigative, montage/soundscape. It might be a one-off series of 4-6 episodes, or an always-on format. Please think about the practicalities of your idea and how it can be achieved in around six months.

Important Requirements

• You can only apply for one of the 4 placements. Candidates who apply for more than one will not be considered.
• Applications should be made via the specific placement link, not the general application button on this page.

Available Placements

• Placement 1: Location: Glasgow or Belfast 
  Placed with: BBC Audio Scotland and Northern Ireland - Hybrid working 
  Description: A centre of excellence for arts and specialist music. Key productions include Radio 4’s Front Row, Radio 3’s Jazz Record Requests and investigative podcasts like The Gatekeepers, In Dark Corners and The Missing Madonna.
• Placement 2: Location: Sheffield
  Placed with: Persephonica – Independent Production Company - Full-time office-based 
  Description: A leading UK production company specialising in podcasts hosted by the best talent, with a focus on news and current affairs. Key productions include The News Agents and Miss Me?.
• Placement 3: Location: Salford (Manchester)
  Placed with: BBC Audio North - Hybrid working 
  Description: The largest supplier of BBC radio programmes and podcasts outside London, spanning genres such as religion, consumer investigations, documentaries, entertainment and arts.
• Placement 4: Location: London 
  Placed with: Reduced Listening – Independent Production Company - Hybrid working 
  Description: Focus on producing progressive, investigative narrative podcast series, audio dramas, and conversational podcasts including themes like arts, music, history, social issues, and solutions journalism.

Additional Information

Webinar: If you’re interested in this role and would like more information before applying, we are holding a webinar session where you can meet some of the team and partners you’ll be working with and find out more about how to apply. There will be an option to ask questions, time permitting. Although this is a group session, attendees will not be visible to each other for confidentiality purposes. If you can’t attend the webinar, you will be able to access a recording shortly after the session on BBC Sounds.

Equality and Inclusion

Diversity matters at the BBC. We have a working environment where we value and respect every individual's unique contribution, enabling all of our employees to thrive and achieve their full potential.

We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief. We will consider flexible working requests for all roles unless operational requirements prevent otherwise.

To find out more about Diversity and Inclusion at the BBC, please click here.

The BBC is committed to redeploying employees seeking suitable alternative employment within the BBC for different reasons and they will be given priority consideration ahead of other applicants. Priority consideration means for those employees seeking redeployment, their application will be considered alongside anyone else at risk of redundancy, prior to any individuals being considered who are not at risk.