One in three trainees on BBC’s flagship journalism apprenticeship is white

WHITE Britons made up a third of BBC trainee journalists taken on its flagship scheme between 2022 and 2024, The Telegraph can reveal.

Since 2022, 35.90 per cent of the participants in the scheme were categorised as “majority white”. These are individuals who are part of white groups that are in the majority of the population according to the BBC’s definition and identify as white British, English, Northern Irish, Scottish or Welsh. Individuals from British, Asian, Minority, and Ethnic (Bame) backgrounds made up 41.03 per cent. A further 23.08 per cent of participants were classed as “other white”.

The data also revealed nearly three quarters of spots were taken by women (71.79 per cent) and 28.21 per cent men.

The figures show that more than seven in 10 of the places had been given to women applicants – making up 28 of those on the scheme across the past two financial years, compared with 11 men.

The two-year programme, referred to as the Journalism Advanced Apprenticeship, provides participants with training and a potentially permanent role at the corporation.

MPs have described the “concerning” findings as evidence of a “discriminatory” recruitment strategy within the corporation. Sir John Hayes, Tory MP for South Holland and the Deepings, said he would refer the findings to the Equalities Commission. He said: “White working-class men are being discriminated against by national institutions in pursuit of their progressive agenda.”

Positive discrimination is also unlawful under the Equality Act (2010). However, treating one group more favourably is lawful if it meets several legal criteria – including evidence that the relevant group is disadvantaged.

The Telegraph received the figures by requesting a breakdown of participants in the scheme by gender and ethnicity.

A BBC spokesman said: “Our apprenticeships provide a vital route into the media for people from a range of backgrounds and we aim to reflect, represent and serve all parts of the UK in our workforce, both in news and across the BBC.”