It's been another busy year at The Radio Academy! Let's look back on some of the highlights together...
The Radio Academy Mentoring Programme
RAMP returned to support people at mid-level in their audio and radio careers, matching 20 mentees with mentors for guidance and advice on their next steps. As well as gaining one to one mentoring with a senior leader in the industry, the group benefit from meaningful and long-lasting support amongst their peers. We're incredibly proud to offer this programme and make sure that our members are supported throughout every stage in their careers. Above you see our 2023 RAMP cohort at their graduation ceremony, held in the summer at BBC New Broadcasting House.
RAMP is proudly supported by Broadcast Bionics, and will return in 2024, with the new mentees announced in the new year.
Foot In The Door: training & networking
The Foot In The Door training and networking day travelled to Cardiff in March and Leeds in November. Aimed at people at entry level in audio and radio, delegates had the opportunity to gain practical tips and advice from industry professionals, and take part in a facilitated speed-networking event. We covered different areas of audio, the range of jobs and career paths available, as well as training on how to get the most from your own audio projects. With thanks to Audible and our Radio Academy Partners for their support in holding this event. Stay tuned in 2024 as we bring Foot In The Door to more cities around the UK.
The Radio Academy ARIAS
The Audio and Radio Industry Awards recognised the very best UK shows and teams at a star-studded ceremony hosted by Rylan and Fleur East, at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. With more than 1000 entries across 28 categories, this truly was a spectacular celebration of our audio community. Check out all the winners and look at more photos and videos from the night. Entries for the 2024 ARIAS open on 4 Jan - find out more and get your entries ready!
Young Audio Awards
We celebrated audio achievements from the newest audio talent at the Young Audio Awards, open to 8-18 year olds. There were seven categories open to young people who love making radio, podcasts and audio at home, school or in their community. We travelled to winners across the country to surprise the winners, their classmates and peers with visits from local and national stations and presenters. Check out the winners and watch the ceremony on our Young Audio Awards YouTube channel.
The Radio Academy Festival
Returning to the Royal College of Physicians, the 2023 Radio Academy Festival welcomed over 450 colleagues from across UK audio and radio for a day dedicated to exploring "Sound Connections". Did you know you can look back at your favourite sessions in our Festival catch-up videos? With 92 speakers in 31 sessions across 3 stages, discussions included the impact of AI, a celebration of 50 years of commercial radio, the inside scoop on how to win an ARIA and how we deal with the difficult stuff. And so much more.
We will be back at Regents Park in September 2024.
30 Under 30
Now in it's 13th year, The ReelWorld Radio Academy 30 Under 30 showcases the ones to watch in audio. With the highest ever numbers of nominations received this year, it's a true honour to be selected for this prestigious list. We unveiled this year's list in November. Meet the 30 and hear all about them in their own words.
The Radio Academy Branches & socials
We held events across the UK with our Radio Academy Branches to bring together your audio friends and colleagues, and meet other people where you are. This included social catch-ups, partnerships with other local media groups, tours of shiny new facilities, and panel discussions. Find out who is involved in your local Radio Academy Branch, and stay tuned to our Events page to find out when your next local event will be, and look at photos from previous events. Want to get involved? Drop us a line to plan a get together where you are.
Don't forget, there are over 100 videos from previous events available for free to members in our resource hub.
The Radio Academy Podcast
Our podcast offers a weekly dive behind the mic with the creators or hosts of a recent audio project or achievement. Guests share top tips about what they learnt, how they overcame problems, why they did it that way, what advice they’d give to others, what worked (and what didn't). Follow us and get a new episode every Wednesday morning. They're only 20 minutes each and we bring in a new host each season.
Bursaries and Member Discounts
We've been proud this year to continue to offer bursaries, not only to our own events but also partner events which offer development opportunities in audio. The bursaries fund tickets as well as travel to events such as Radio TechCon and our own Radio Academy Festival. The bursaries are funded by our Future Talent Fund, supported by Radio Academy Fellows and generous donors: radioacademy.org/donate.
We also offer volunteering opportunities at our events, to gain unique insight and access into the audio industry.
Furthermore, discounted tickets are available to Radio Academy Members, on tickets to our own events, and to partners' events such as the Podcast Show and Radiodays Europe.
Get in touch if you'd like to partner with us on your event, or if you are able to then support our bursaries by donating to the Future Talent Fund.
A huge thank you
And last but not least, our sincere thanks for making this year so special to our Radio Academy trustees, team, members, partners, patrons and our generous sponsors. It was so great to see so many of you at The Radio Academy AGM and our Winter Social with Xperi. Thank you and here's to 2024.