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Radio broadcast assistant

Radio broadcast assistants help make sure that live and recorded radio programmes run smoothly.

Annual Salary

£16,000 to £29,000

Working hours

39 to 41 irregular

You could work: evenings / weekends / bank holidays; flexibly

0.5%
Future employment

There will be 0.5% more Radio broadcast assistant jobs in 2027.
In your local area

What's it all about?

Day-to-day tasks

In this role you could:

  • research guests and topics for programmes
  • book guests, prepare contracts and arrange payment
  • book studio time and equipment
  • type scripts
  • produce programme logs and running orders
  • operate technical studio equipment to play pre-recorded items
  • keep track of costs
  • update the programme or station's website, blog or social media
  • archive programme material
  • arrange and send out competition prizes

Working environment

You could work at a recording studio or in an office.

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • volunteering
University

You could do a higher national diploma or degree in radio or media production.

This will help you to learn about the broadcasting industry and develop the skills you'll need for this job.

Other courses like science or politics would be useful if you want to work on specialist radio productions.

Degree courses that include practical broadcasting experience through industry placements or internships may give you an advantage. You could also volunteer to work on your university radio station during your degree.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths
  • between 1 and 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a higher national diploma or degree
For more information
College

You can do a college course that may give you some of the skills and knowledge needed for this role. Courses include:

  • Level 2 Certificate in Radio
  • Level 3 Diploma in Creative Media Production and Technology
  • Level 3 Diploma in Sound Production
  • T Level in Media, Broadcast and Production

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T level
For more information
Apprenticeship

You can get into this career through a broadcast production assistant advanced apprenticeship.

For more information
Volunteering and work experience

Competition for jobs is strong. Employers will expect you to have practical experience and show you have a real enthusiasm for radio broadcasting.

You could get useful experience through:

  • community, hospital or student radio
  • work placements

You can get a list of radio stations from:

You can also apply for a BBC work experience placement.

More information

Career tips

It's a good idea to develop a portfolio of your work on CD, MP3 or social media, so you can showcase your skills to potential employers.

For news-based and factual radio, you may have an advantage with a background in journalism or media research.

Professional and industry bodies

You could join the Radio Academy for networking and keeping up to date on current issues in radio broadcasting.

Further information

You can find out more about about careers in radio from The Pips and BBC Careers.

With experience, you could become a radio producer, presenter, music programmer or a technical studio manager.

You could move into television research or production.

Skills required and how your skills match up

What skills are required?

  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • knowledge of media production and communication
  • thinking and reasoning skills
  • knowledge of computer operating systems, hardware and software
  • the ability to work well with others
  • broadcasting and telecommunications knowledge
  • the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
  • to be flexible and open to change
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
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