GMG North West has teamed up with community station Bolton FM, to give students the opportunity to produce and present their own radio show, as part of its ten week ‘Futures Factory’ course.
Designed to discover fresh talent, ‘Futures Factory’ gives passionate students the opportunity to learn more about radio by working with staff already employed within the industry.
Over 200 people applied for the 12 places available on the course, which was run free-of-charge by GMG Radio. Employees from GMG Radio’s 3 brands worked together with course participants to teach them more about various aspects of the industry.
The students final assessment involves recording a series of ‘as-live’ two hour shows which will be broadcast on 96.5 Bolton FM. The chart music based programmes entitled ‘Unleashed’ will air each evening from 6pm, during the week commencing 6th of September.
These shows will allow students to showcase what they have learnt on the ‘Futures Factory’ course, according to their chosen discipline. Three journalists and two producers will assist by providing high quality features, content and packages to go into the show. Bespoke imaging will also be produced by a student focused on production.
Scott Myers, Futures Factory organiser and Senior Network Producer at GMG Radio, said: “This is a really exciting opportunity for students to showcase what they have learnt on a genuine FM radio station. Bolton FM has been kind enough to give us an almost a blank canvas and I’m sure the future presenters, producers and journalists will deliver. Futures Factory is about finding new talent and giving them an opportunity to shine – I think we’ve achieved that and these guys have an exciting future ahead.”
Carl Hartley, Bolton FM Programme Manager, said: “The team at 96.5 Bolton FM is excited to be working with Futures Factory at GMG Radio. Radio is a tough industry to break into and if we can help develop future stars by working alongside the team at GMG Radio, whilst at the same time broadcasting quality programmes, everyone’s a winner.”
Futures Factory course participant sixteen year old Tom Green, who will present Friday night’s show, said; “This is a fantastic opportunity for myself and everyone else involved with Futures Factory. I’m really looking forward to the experience and putting my show together!”
Promising participants including aspiring presenters Matthew Hemmaty, Myles Galloway, Danny Mylo, Tom Green, John Isherwood and Richard Taylor have had full, supervised access to GMG Radio’s state-of-the-art studios and facilities in Salford Quays, where the week of programmes for Bolton FM will be recorded and produced.