Connexions Greater Merseyside

Success in Creative Industries

“Since leaving high school, all I ever wanted was a job in radio. I sent off a letter to my local radio station ‘Southport’s 107.9 Dune Fm’ asking if there was any voluntary work I could do. I started off setting up broadcast equipment for road shows.  After I got to grips with how the studios and the computers worked, I was offered paid work every weekend.

Whilst gaining experience at my local radio station, I went to Hugh Baird College in Bootle for two years and completed the AVCE in Media. This course helped me a lot … it gave me new skills and I also gained in confidence.

Before completing my course, I got in touch with The Ariel Trust. Through their radio production course, I developed creatively and learned skills that I am now using in the radio industry. With the help of the Ariel Trust, I found a pathway to an exciting new career.

Once I left Hugh Baird College, a job came up at my local radio station for a Station Sound Producer – North West. With the experience I had thanks to both Dune & Ariel, I applied for the job and was successful.  I now have a job with ‘The Local Radio Company’.  I am responsible for developing the station sound and creating promotional elements.  The North-West stations I look after include: ‘2br’ ‘Silk’ ‘Dune Fm’ and ‘The Rocket’. I also produce promotional elements for our network stations too - 28 in all! (No sleep for me then!)"

My advice for young people who want to get into radio is "Contact your local radio station or hospital radio. Voluntary work is the best way in... get your name around... show people what you can do!"  by Paul Tasker.

For more information contact your local Connexions Centre

The full version of "Creative Careers in Greater Merseyside" is available at Aim Higher Greater Merseyside