News Broadcasting
BBC looks to outsource HR contracts
MUMBAI: UK broadcaster The BBC has published a notice in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU). This is the first step in the process to find a new supplier or suppliers for parts of its HR services.
This procurement process follows the announcement last December of the findings of an internal BBC review which proposed that a number of services should be outsourced. This was one of the measures identified to help provide extra resources to reinvest into programmes, and part of the BBC’s radical plans to transform the organisation into a simpler, more agile and creative digital broadcaster.
BBC People director Stephen Dando said, “This is a progressive step for us. I am confident that we will be able to find a long-term partner that can not only help us continue to deliver outstanding quality of service back to the BBC, but also help us to develop and improve that service. I want to make it clear that staff issues and achieving the right cultural fit will be an important part of this deal.”
The BBC is now looking for a supplier or suppliers to several functions. one of these is recruitment. This involves a full recruitment process including attracting and selecting candidates, offers, recruitment marketing (including events and work experience) and contract administration. Another area that an HR service provider will look at is remuneration. This will include pay administration and transaction, benefits administration (excluding pensions), pay and benefits enquiry management.
Then there is the Development area – specifically a 360 degree assessment and feedback, outplacement, training and development for broadcast engineering skills, technical services support. HR administration services will involve HR process administration, provision of HR information, guidance on HR processes and routing of other enquiries.
The BBC sattes that it prefers to award one contract for all of the services. However the BBC will award more than one contract where it is deemed commercially advantageous to do so, or where this is necessary to achieve the required service standards. Potential bidders have 36 days to reply and the pubcaster will then conduct a rigorous evaluation process in order to compile a shortlist of bidders.
News Broadcasting
Rising Bharat Summit 2026 spotlights India’s global ascent
PM Modi keynotes two-day event with ministers, diplomats and icons in New Delhi.
MUMBAI: India didn’t just host a summit, it threw a coming-out party for a nation ready to own the global stage. The News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2026, held on 27–28 February in New Delhi, emerged as a high-octane platform for ideas, vision and strategic dialogue, uniting national leadership, global policymakers, industry titans, defence strategists and cultural icons under the theme “Strength Within”.
Prime minister Narendra Modi set the tone with a keynote that framed India’s resurgence as a reclaiming of lost potential built over generations. “In previous industrial revolutions, India and the Global South were merely followers,” he said. “But in the era of Artificial Intelligence, India is a partner in decisions and shaping them.” He highlighted the country’s thriving AI startup ecosystem and the recent AI Impact Summit attended by over 100 nations.
Union minister Piyush Goyal (Commerce & Industry) stressed India’s readiness to scale exports and deepen manufacturing, while Ashwini Vaishnaw (Railways, I&B, Electronics & IT) positioned technology and infrastructure as twin engines of growth, especially in AI and digital trust. Jyotiraditya Scindia (Communications & North East Development) revealed India’s ambition to lead in 6G through the Bharat 6G Alliance and partnerships with over 30 countries.
Global voices added depth: former Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo called India’s development “self-sustaining” and strategically vital; ex-UK Chief of Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter asserted India deserves a seat at the great powers’ table; and former US Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez joined ambassadors from Norway, Germany and Sweden in discussions on geopolitical realignment, sustainability and defence preparedness.
Other speakers included veteran investor Ramesh Damani, World Gold Council CEO David Tait, Vianai Systems founder Dr Vishal Sikka, DeepTech Bharat Foundation co-founder Shashi Shekhar Vempati, defence experts Rajesh Kumar Singh, Sunil Ambekar, Patrick McGee, Tom Cooper and Adrian Fontanellaz, plus cultural and sporting icons Kangana Ranaut, Saina Nehwal, PR Sreejesh, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mithali Raj, Anil Kapoor and Yami Gautam.
The summit was supported by Jio Financial Services (Presenting Partner), Phonepe and DS Group (Co-Presenting Partners), Pernod Ricard India and Kia Seltos (Powered By & Driven By), state governments of Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand (State Partners), and associate partners including NSE, M3M Foundation and Reliance Industries.
Broadcast live across News18 Network, CNBC-TV18 and CNBC Awaaz, the event reinforced India’s image as a confident democracy and emerging global power proving that when strength comes from within, the world can’t help but watch.
