The BBC is under fire for only allowing people from ethnic minorities to apply for a trainee position working on shows including Springwatch.
The broadcaster is advertising a one-year, £17,810 trainee production management assistant role with the position “only open to black, Asian and ethnically diverse candidates”.
Positive discrimination is unlawful under the Equality Act 2010 but “positive action” is permitted for trainee and internship roles in areas where there is under-representation.
As well as Springwatch, the successful candidate will get to work on The One Show and The Truth About series.
The advert, drawn up by Creative Access for the BBC’s science unit based in Glasgow, says: “The successful candidate will be someone with a desire to build a career in the TV industry and a demonstrable interest in BBC Studios.”
Joe Ventre, digital campaign manager at the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “BBC bosses shouldn’t be supporting race-based recruiting with taxpayers’ money. Taking an approach like this further undermines confidence in the Corporation and their use of licence fee payers’ cash.”
But the BBC has a policy of helping under-represented groups get their first break into the media.
A BBC spokesman said on the controversial advertisement: “The BBC is a welcoming, inclusive organisation committed to representing and reflecting our audiences. We support a scheme organised by Creative Access, an independent organisation dedicated to increasing diversity in the creative industries, which provides development roles, fully in line with the Equality Act.”
BBC director general Tim Davie has lamented the lack of diversity among its top-paid stars and said previously the broadcaster “has more work to do” on the issue.
Speaking when a Diversity And Inclusion Plan was launched, Mr Davie said: “We must from top to bottom represent the audiences we serve.
“We have made some big improvements, but we want and need to go further. This plan will ensure we are a modern, progressive, welcoming organisation.”
