BBC Fierce Women in Media - Tech Skills Workshop

I had heard of the BBC put on a series of workshops which was promoted through the university Instagram. This was something which just from the name of the event sounded really appealing as I hadn't heard of any events happening locally like this before. One of the main requirements to apply for a ticket just included having a Leeds based address and I thought to fuck it - what do I have to lose with a free event which had very vague information about what would actually be going on in the event itself.

Myself and Eloise who attended this event didn't realise that the panel discussion which we had signed up to listen to was primarily focussed on software design and engineers who work in the BBC as this was a complete tangent from what we do but later on the discussion there was mention of how the BBC has multiple programmes in place to support those who may have joined them in a job role and want to try another role out for 6 months (or more if they are happier in a different position - called Hot Shoes. Some of the people in the panel had been on these programmes and had talked about the benefits and drawbacks of doing this:

Including...

• Being able to meet new people in other parts of the BBC
• Find out about a role and completely fall in love with it
• Can start this very shortly after you have joined the BBC if you're unsure of the job role you had previously enrolled onto

Although...

As a lot the people who join this role may be from other graduating from other programmes in the BBC and be encouraged to work for certain teams - but later on, realise in that short period of time that they don't enjoy it that much.

(Generally this was low key a pointless session for me and Eloise but we had found out about a few of the programmes that the BBC have in place to support those who may not have a degree or on in stem subjects and how they get work their way up to working in an actual role that they might want to do)

We also attended a Social Media workshop later on in the day which had provided us with some useful ways of promoting our work/ making sure it gets seen by a larger pool of people.