The BBC is to offer up to 5,000 young unemployed people places on a digital training programme teaching skills such as web design and short video editing.

The corporation says the scheme – run in partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions – is the largest of its kind.

A pilot scheme running in Birmingham is set to be rolled out across the UK in the summer.

Job centres will identify potential participants for the nine-week courses, which will include work placements and are designed to prepare trainees for employment or apprenticeships.

A BBC spokesperson said those offered places on the scheme would not face benefit sanctions if they refused to take part.

BBC shows such as The Great British Bake Off will be used as case studies for trainees to learn skills such as collecting feedback online and planning social media campaigns.

Director general Tony Hall said: “We’ve already hit our target of having apprentices make up 1% of our workforce. I’m immensely proud of that, but we need to keep on showing leadership, and keep on bringing people together in a way which only the BBC can.

“Our new Make it Digital Traineeship is a hugely ambitious partnership, one we hope will unlock Britain’s digital potential and create genuinely life-changing opportunities for young people.”

The scheme’s content has been created by the BBC Academy, and promising participants will be encouraged to apply for BBC apprenticeships.