MG ALBA SUPPORTS GAELIC MEDIA APPRENTICESHIP WITH BBC AND GLASGOW KELVIN COLLEGE
MG ALBA, the Gaelic media service, is to participate for the first time in an innovative apprenticeship scheme designed to nurture the next generation of broadcast media talent.
The partnership, run by Glasgow Kelvin College and BBC Scotland, is about to enter its sixth programme, with 11 students participating in the 2016/17 course.
For the first time, one student – with the support of MG ALBA – will have the opportunity to work across Gaelic platforms such as BBC ALBA and BBC Radio nan Gàidheal.
In doing so, the candidate will have the chance to gain experience in many of the departments providing content to the channel, including children’s, news-gathering, factual and sport.
With BBC ALBA also accounting for around 50% of the total programme making output from Scotland’s independent production sector, there will also be the opportunity for the apprentice to spend time working with a number of the channel’s independent programme suppliers.
The busy schedule will also see apprentices spending two days per month at Glasgow Kelvin College learning many of the technical and vocational skills they might require in the broadcast media industry, as well as personal development and core skills.
There will also be the opportunity for the apprentice to spend time on placement at the Creative Industries Media Centre in Stornoway – home of MG ALBA and BBC Radio nan Gàidheal.
By September this year, 50 young people will have already completed this exciting apprenticeship programme over the previous five programmes. The apprenticeship programme has provided a springboard to careers in TV production and journalism, with some of the former young students going onto degrees in higher education and others moving onto further work at the BBC or other media production organisations.
Iseabail Mactaggart, Director of Development and Partnership at MG ALBA, said: “The BBC Apprenticeship programme has been proven to be an excellent route for young people to enter the broadcasting sector so we are pleased that MG ALBA is supporting the partnership this year and offering one of the apprentices the chance to learn their trade within Gaelic media.
“The apprenticeship is a good fit for MG ALBA, with our partners at BBC Scotland and Glasgow Kelvin College – which is the only further education institution to deliver full-time Gaelic classes on the Scottish mainland – both experienced in training high-quality graduates from the scheme.
“We have been committed to offering opportunities for the next generation of talent to flourish through initiatives such as FilmG, placements we sponsor with companies within the creative sector and through awards such as the Celtic Media Festival bursaries we announced recently.
“MG ALBA was recognised in 2015 as an Investor in Young People and we are committed to building upon this and providing more and more routes for training and development in the years ahead.”
