The Radio Academy has announced that its Foot In The Door training and networking programme will next be taking place in Leeds this November, with a one-day event aimed at providing skills and access to people in the audio industry.
The programme will run from 12 to 7pm on 8 November at Leeds University, starting with three hours of training workshops run by a number of audio industry leaders and covering topics such as programme production, podcasting, social media, speech audio, technology, and so on. Speakers and guests will be announced in the coming weeks.
The sessions will then be followed by a 90-minute facilitated speed-networking session with industry experts being placed at fixed tables and delegates moving in small groups from table to table, allowing each of them a chance to talk to the experts, ask them questions, and gain valuable advice into the audio industry. Members of the Radio Academy will also be able to network at an informal event held at its Yorkshire Branch after the event.
Tickets for the event are now on sale and cost between £6 for members of the Radio Academy and £12 for non-members, the latter including £5 off future memberships to the academy. The tickets also include refreshments on the day as well as one drink at the bar.
The Foot In The Door event in Leeds is sponsored by Amazon-owned podcast company Audible, with support from Radio Academy partners Arqiva, BBC Sounds, Broadcast Bionics, dts and aim from Xperi, Markettiers, MusicMaster Scheduling from On Air, Radio News Hub, and RCS.
The Radio Academy has held a number of previous Foot In The Door sessions across the UK, including ones in London, Coventry, Cardiff, and Exeter. Previous speakers have included experts from BBC Radio, content producers, and representatives from commercial and independent production companies in the audio sector.
At this year’s Radio Academy Festival, the organisation’s managing director Aradhna Tayal Leach spoke about how important it is for the Academy to focus on nourishing the community and prioritising the development of creators as it enters its 41st year, with plans to offer more opportunities for training skills, sharing resources, and hosting more events for creators to network across the UK.
"There is such a wealth of different jobs and career paths in audio, with space to excel with wide ranging skills," said Tayal. "Often these diverse areas of audio are not visible to those who are new to the sector, and they could be missing out on a varied and exciting career."
"At Foot In The Door, we aim to open up different routes into audio, creating opportunities for people to meet and connect with industry professionals, and for employers to meet future talent."
