BBC staff ordered to complete training course on anti-Semitism after 200 Jewish staff accused corporation of ignoring their calls for racism probe

Friday, December 5, 2025 - BBC director-general, Tim Davie, has ordered all staff to complete a training course on antisemitism within six months.

Mr Davie hopes to stamp out 'discrimination, prejudice, and intolerance' at the corporation.

It comes after more than 200 Jewish staff, contractors, suppliers, and contributors accused the corporation's Board of 'ignoring' their pleas for an investigation into alleged anti-Semitism at the national broadcaster.

Writing to staff on Wednesday, Mr Davie, 58, said: ‘The BBC is for everyone, and we are clear that everyone working here should feel they belong.

‘As an organization we stand united against any form of discrimination, prejudice, or intolerance.’

‘In response to this, the BBC Academy has spent the last few months developing new anti-discrimination training.

‘We’re starting with e-learning modules on antisemitism and Islamophobia, which we expect staff across the BBC to complete.’

‘The module on antisemitism is available from today, while the Islamophobia module is just being finalised, to launch in February.’

I know that everyone will be committed to the training, ensuring the BBC is a role model as an inclusive and tolerant workplace.’

The BBC boss, who announced his resignation last month after the fallout of a row over impartiality, will remain in post until the board finds a replacement. 

The introduction to the new anti-Semitism learning module tells BBC staff: 'As the Director-General and Chair have said in recent months, antisemitism has no place at the BBC. 

'It is our collective responsibility to make sure we understand what it is and what it can look like.'

'This training provides a framework of understanding for staff to spot and call out antisemitism. It is compulsory training for all staff.

'The BBC Academy has worked closely with the Jewish Staff Network, the Antisemitism Policy Trust, and the Community Security Trust to produce this training.

'The module includes real-world examples of how antisemitism can appear in society, which understandably may be upsetting for some colleagues.

'However, the content of the module has been considered carefully, with examples in order to inform us all, and ensure we understand the many forms discrimination takes.

'Staff will have six months to complete the training before becoming overdue. This information will be shared with managers in the usual way.'

'New joiners, assigned the training post launch, will receive the standard 28 days to complete the training before becoming overdue.'

'Please look out for further communications when the Islamophobia training is available early next year.'

Attached to the letter was a report titled 'Being Jewish and working at the BBC' which included testimony from staff who argued the corporation was no longer 'a safe space to be Jewish'.