BBC staff get leave to live dreams

BBC employees will be able to work in "dream" jobs outside the corporation on full pay.

In a multi-million pound scheme - funded by licence fee payers - all BBC employees are now eligible to leave the corporation and work for up to six months in a job of their choice.

They will be allowed to chose their preferred job then remain on their BBC salaries irrespective of how much money they would have been earning at their new jobs. So far, job attachments on offer include a spell working at the Royal Opera House and learning how to design computer games.

Staff members have been sent to Uganda to make a medical drama for an outside company. They have also worked for charities and teaching children how to make videos.

The new scheme, open to all staff, has so far been piloted by 150 BBC employees on full pay. The jobs BBC staff take up have to be vetted by the corporation.

They are then supposed to bring skills acquired on their sabbatical s back to the BBC.

The BBC says the scheme helps staff develop themselves and become more responsible.

Piloted in June 2001, so far three tranches of sabbatical seekers have been approved.

BBC staff queuing up to take advantage of the scheme must first convince attachment manager Caroline Wright that their plans are worthwhile and will allow them to gain new skills which can only be found outside the BBC.

Ms Wright said: "The scheme enables staff to take on more responsibilities and helps their career development.

"There is also a business benefit. The placements develop skills that can be used when people return to their departments."

BBC insiders say the new scheme is aimed at tackling preconceived ideas that the corporation in a protected institution unlike any other.

However, they say it also redresses criticism of the corporation that because of its guaranteed funding and better job security than most organisations in the broadcast industry, the BBC has been accused of allowing staff little insight into the outside world.

A BBC spokesman said: "It is something other big companies do."

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