Policy Apprentice

Office of Communications (Ofcom)

London (SE1 9HA)

Closes on Friday 18 December 2026

Posted on 9 November 2026

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Summary

As a Policy Officer Apprentice, you’ll contribute to a range of projects that shape broadcasting and media regulation. This could include helping to write a report about the performance of public service broadcasters like the BBC or Channel 4 to working on initiatives to make the broadcasting industry more representative and inclusive.

Wage

£25,662 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

We understand everyone’s circumstances are different therefore we provide colleagues with a £1,000 cash allowance to provide the flexibility around purchasing benefits that suit their needs and lifestyle. This can also be taken as cash. 

Training course
Policy officer (level 4)
Hours
Typically Monday to Friday, 9.00am - 5.00pm, however we are open to flexible working arrangements.

35 hours a week

Start date

Monday 6 September 2027

Duration

2 years

Positions available

2

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

You’ll start in our Delivery and Strategy Hub, where you’ll develop core skills and learn how we plan and organise all of our work. As your apprenticeship develops, you’ll build on this experience by also working with the Broadcast Licensing, Content Policy Development, and Content Standards and Enforcement areas of the Group, where you’ll get to experience the different ways we regulate content.

For example, you could be helping to write a report about the performance of public service broadcasters like the BBC and Channel 4, working on initiatives to make the broadcasting industry more representative and inclusive, or considering if our rules need to be updated to protect audiences from harmful content.

 

Your Key Responsibilities:

As a Policy Officer Apprentice, you’ll contribute to a range of projects and other types of work that shape broadcasting and media regulation. You’ll be supported by experienced colleagues and will take on greater responsibility as your apprenticeship develops.

Working with Delivery and Strategy, you will:

  • Support projects and priority work across BMG, helping teams plan, organise and deliver their work
  • Help keep work moving by monitoring shared mailboxes and work queues, responding to straightforward queries and directing other queries to the right colleagues
  • Organise meetings, take clear notes, keep plans and records up to date, and work with colleagues across BMG to help coordinate their work

Working with Broadcast Licensing, you will:

  • Help process applications for TV and radio licences, checking that the necessary information has been provided and keeping applicants informed
  • Support the team in gathering and reviewing information used to decide whether to issue a licence and whether a broadcaster is fit and proper to hold one
  • Keep licensing records and published information accurate and up to date, and help to respond to queries from applicants and licensees

Working with Content Standards and Enforcement, you will:

  • Help support the assessment of complaints about TV, radio and on-demand content, including requesting recordings, so we can quickly identify the issues that we may need to consider
  • Support the investigation process by gathering and organising relevant information and other material from broadcasters
  • Help prepare correspondence and other documents, keep case records up to date and support meetings with broadcasters
  • Working with Content Policy Development, you will:
  • Help develop broadcasting and media policy by identifying key questions, researching and reviewing information, and contributing to practical solutions
  • Consider evidence and help colleagues understand what it means for
  • Ofcom’s policy decisions, contributing to clear and accurate documents for different audiences
  • Support meetings and engagement with broadcasters, media companies, public bodies and other organisations, listening to different perspectives and sharing your ideas

Where you'll work

Riverside House
2A Southwark Bridge Road
London
SE1 9HA

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider

UNIVERSITY OF KENT (PART OF LONDON AND SOUTH EAST UNIVERSITY GROUP)

Training course

Policy officer (level 4)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Undertake research and data collection from a range of primary and secondary sources to determine quality, accuracy, reliability, cognitive bias and trustworthiness of data sources.
  • Use analytical techniques on research and data, making use of stakeholder expertise in the policy area.
  • Demonstrate problem solving ability and evidence-based decision-making.
  • Prepare documents and present findings, making use of evidence to underpin arguments.
  • Adapt communication style to different audiences.
  • Apply project and risk management tools and techniques across the policy lifecycle.
  • Manage conflicting priorities to ensure work is completed within deadlines and budgets, setting own milestones to manage workload.
  • Manage joint work with other organisations through tasks such as creating reference documents and records of policy decisions.
  • Demonstrate networking and stakeholder management skills.
  • Facilitate events such as conferences, forums, or roundtable discussions on policy issues.
  • Keep accurate records of relevant information such as key data, identified trends, critiques, commentary, media attention and topical issues.
  • Evaluate data related to current and previous policy interventions.
  • Work with specialists from outside of the policy function. For example specialists in research, communications, commercial, legal, and science.
  • Looking beyond immediate role to larger trends which may impact on the relevant policy area, utilising big picture thinking to support organisational strategy.
  • Support the development and delivery of materials and activities to train their team.
  • Undertake research and data collection from a range of primary and secondary sources to determine quality, accuracy, reliability, cognitive bias and trustworthiness of data sources.
  • Use analytical techniques on research and data, making use of stakeholder expertise in the policy area.
  • Demonstrate problem solving ability and evidence-based decision-making.
  • Prepare documents and present findings, making use of evidence to underpin arguments.
  • Adapt communication style to different audiences.
  • Apply project and risk management tools and techniques across the policy lifecycle.
  • Manage conflicting priorities to ensure work is completed within deadlines and budgets, setting own milestones to manage workload.
  • Manage joint work with other organisations through tasks such as creating reference documents and records of policy decisions.
  • Demonstrate networking and stakeholder management skills.
  • Facilitate events such as conferences, forums, or roundtable discussions on policy issues.
  • Keep accurate records of relevant information such as key data, identified trends, critiques, commentary, media attention and topical issues.
  • Evaluate data related to current and previous policy interventions.
  • Work with specialists from outside of the policy function. For example specialists in research, communications, commercial, legal, and science.
  • Looking beyond immediate role to larger trends which may impact on the relevant policy area, utilising big picture thinking to support organisational strategy.
  • Support the development and delivery of materials and activities to train their team.

Training schedule

This training schedule has not been finalised. Check with this employer if you’ll need to travel to a college or training location for this apprenticeship.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

X 5 (including Maths and English Language) (grade 4 and above)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Organisation skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Administrative skills
  • Analytical skills
  • Team working
  • Initiative

Other requirements

  • 5 x GCSEs including English Language and maths (or level 2 equivalent) at grade 4 and above (or the old grade C and above)

Level 3 qualification(s), including at least one of:

  • 2 x A-levels at grade D and above; or
  • BTEC Extended Diploma at grade PPP and above; or

Level 3 apprenticeship; or

  • Equivalent level 3 qualifications of at least 48 UCAS points.

About this employer

As the UK’s communications regulator, we’re delivering vital work that helps keep the UK connected and shapes the future of how we’ll stay connected with each other. Our work covers everything from phones and broadband, through to TV, radio, the postal service, and wireless devices. We’re also taking on the challenge of making the online world a safer place. And we need people of all backgrounds, skill sets, and experiences to help us achieve our goal of making communications work for everyone.

https://careers.ofcom.org.uk/careers/early-careers/apprenticeships/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

Benefits are an important part of what makes up reward packages at Ofcom and includes: £1,000 Flex Allowance, private medical insurance, 8% employer pension contributions, 26 days annual leave and annual health screening. We also offer a discretionary annual bonus, based on organisation-wide performance.

Disability Confident

Disability Confident

A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.

You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.

After this apprenticeship

Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).

  • We support apprentices to continue their careers at Ofcom, subject to role availability and good performance

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

UNIVERSITY OF KENT (PART OF LONDON AND SOUTH EAST UNIVERSITY GROUP)

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000063270.

Apply now

Closes on Friday 18 December 2026

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.