University of Manchester Careers Blog

BBC SPOTY – Sports Personality of the Year – PLACEMENT

In its most tightly contested year yet, 2012’s thrilling year of Sport will culminate in the crowning of the Sports Personality of the Year on 16th December. SPOTY – as it’s affectionately known at the BBC- was first presented on December 30th 1954. Fifty nine years later the programme remains the most prestigious and respected sports show on British Television. This year this huge event will be held at the London Excel with both sports star guests and public in attendance.

An exciting work experience opportunity has arisen for a self-motivated, enthusiastic individual who wants to forge a career in Sport to undertake a 3 week placement as a runner on this year’s programme. You need to have bags of initiative, an excellent knowledge of Sport and enjoy working in a busy environment to tight deadlines. The placement will be from Monday 26^th November – Monday 17^th December and be initially based at Media City UK in Salford, with the final 7-10 days based in London. Although the placement is unpaid, the travel/hotel expenses for any production trips once you are here will be covered by the BBC.

There will be two stages to this selection process for this placement:

Firstly, you need to tell them:

What was your favourite Olympic or Paralympic moment and why? (This can be as simple as 300 words but if you want to, send us an audio piece / short film of no more than a minute – please do this via youtube and simply send the URL)

From these entries, the BBC will then select 50 people to join them  at Mediacity UK on Wednesday 24^th October 2012 for an afternoon of talks and master classes with the BBC SPOTY team. This is an amazing opportunity to meet some of the senior sport team, as well as students who started on work experience and are now working in BBC Sport.

Although there is only one three week work placement available, there are also runner up opportunities available and students who attend may be considered for work with the BBC Sport Outreach team in London (expenses covered) and/or be an audience stand in during SPOTY rehearsals in London (15/16 December – no expenses available).

So, if you love your sport and you have the skills needed to support one of the BBC’s busiest teams – they would  love to hear from you. All entries need to be at the BBC via mediaclub@manchester.ac.uk  by 10am Thursday 11^th October.