BBC News’ Mobile and Online teams will create twelve new positions across a wide range of content for people with disabilities, including broadcast journalists and assistant editors.

The scheme will include bespoke training and a mentoring programme, and at least half of the roles will become permanent at the end of the year.

Information about how to apply will be available shortly on the BBC Careers website.

A Disability Talent Pool will also be created for applicants that are not selected so they can feed in ideas and stories to the Mobile and Online teams to allow the BBC to engage with the wider disabled community, discover new talent and find relevant stories.

Director of BBC News and Current Affairs James Harding said: “We’re transforming the look and sound of BBC News as well as the people who run our programmes and services for two reasons."

"We’re the greatest news organisation in the world, it should be open to everyone and anyone to come here and thrive," he continued.

The announcement of the year-long scheme comes during Disability Works week, a week of special coverage for BBC News across TV, radio and online.

The coverage explores the experiences of disabled entrepreneurs and employees in the workforce and how different businesses are adapting to help disabled people.