A radio station training unit which has already helped 30 people into paid media jobs is reflecting on more success after one of the radio station presenters and Academy Alumni landed a job with the BBC.
Lewis Allsopp joined Ilkeston, Derbyshire based local radio station Erewash Sound aged just 16, with no prior experience and passed through various elements of training with the Erewash Sound Media Academy.
Having completed his training, he then started to gain experience through presenting and producing content for live local radio, working both on-air and off-air.
Currently presenting Erewash Sound Drive, Lewis (20) was recently offered a job with the BBC and from early 2023, he will move to London to begin work as a studio director for Radio 4 and the World Service at Broadcasting House. Lewis has already produced documentaries for both BBC Radio 4 and the BBC World Service.
In November 2022 at a glittering ceremony held in Bedford – Lewis and Erewash Sound colleague Paul Stacey won a GOLD national radio award for their ‘Iron to Iron’ series in which they broadcast live, on the road, for an entire week to cover the launch of a national cycle route from the Meldon Viaduct in Devon to the Bennerley Viaduct in the Erewash Valley which connects Derbyshire with Nottinghamshire.
Speaking about his new role, Lewis said: “I am delighted to get such an opportunity, so early in my career. I certainly would not have been able to secure this new role with the BBC without Erewash Sound and their training academy. The whole team have been so supportive to me and my career, and I couldn’t be more grateful.”
Jeff Martin is the Academy lead and radio station manager. He said: “Lewis very much deserves this. He is a very talented young man and has a great future ahead of him. To see his journey from a 16-year old school pupil, through the Erewash Sound schedule over the last five years and now to the BBC in London is amazing and everyone at Erewash Sound is really proud of him.”
Jeff also hopes the story will inspire other young people to follow their dream and said that the Academy is very much available to help them along the way.
Anyone interested in pursuing a career in the media, simply learning media-related skills or just looking for a new challenge, can contact the Erewash Sound Academy via e-mail: academy@erewashsound.com.
There is more information at academy.erewashsound.com.