8:20am Monday 1st September 2008
By Mark Hilditch
A NANTWICH teenager has made it through rigorous assessments and tests at the BBC to be selected to take part in the UK’s premier media apprenticeship programme.
Henry Richardson, aged 17, attended a special reception at the BBC in Manchester to hear how he’d beaten stiff competition to clinch a prized place on the 18-month Advanced Apprenticeship in Media Production – the only one of its kind in the country.
The Apprenticeships are being offered by regional screen agency Northwest Vision and Media, which works on behalf of the region’s film, TV, radio and digital content industries.
David Longworth, apprentices training manager for Vision and Media, told those who’d made the grade how they’d soon be working with some of the biggest names in TV.
He said: “Apprenticeships aren’t an easy option you’ll need to create a balance between a full-time working life, college life, and a social life, because they’re all important.
“But if you manage to juggle all three successfully, it’ll be the making of you, because the benefits of achieving an apprenticeship are great. It gives you a fantastic platform to move on with your career.”
Speaking on behalf of the BBC, development executive Margaret McClelland told the group: “We know you’ve already had to work very hard to prove you deserve to be here, so we know you’ve got talent and promise, but over the coming months we’ll be working you very hard indeed to bring the very best out of you.
“You could say this is your own Olympics, your opportunity to show what you can do.
“And who knows, if you take advantage of all the opportunities you’ll be offered, you could be working here at the BBC by the time the next Olympics come round.”
The scheme is open to 16 to 22-year-olds in the Northwest, and is designed specifically for people who wouldn’t usually get the chance to break into broadcasting.
© Copyright 2001-2010 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.creweguardian.co.uk