Posh white people need not apply: BBC advertises for a £20k-a-year trainee journalist at Radio 1 but the role is only open to candidates from a ethnic minority or 'lower social economic background'

A BBC traineeship is not accepting applications from posh white people, sparking claims the national broadcaster may have broken employment law. The role, which pays £20,000, would see the successful applicant placed at one of the UK's biggest radio stations, BBC Radio 1, for a year in their London office. But the opportunity, which will only take black, Asian, mixed ethnicity, or lower socio-economic applicants, could be recruiting illegally if it is classed as a job, rather than a 'development opportunity'.

Philip Landau, employment lawyer at specialist employment law firm Landau Law, said: 'The Equality Act does allow organisations to take “positive action” to encourage under-represented groups to apply for jobs or to participate in other opportunities. The steps can include measures to encourage or train people from an under-represented group to apply for jobs.

'Positive action of this kind is only allowed if an employer can demonstrate that it is limiting applications to overcome the disadvantage suffered by minority groups, and the steps taken to do this are “proportionate”.

'However, a strict policy which treats persons of a disadvantage group more favourably than others and regardless of merit is not something which is allowed under the Act.

'No group should be excluded altogether, whatever their ethnic make-up, background or nationality.


https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6792471/BBCs-20k-year-trainee-journalist-BAME-lower-social-economic-background.html