BECTU Backs Radio Festival

An unprecedented line-up of top executives from across the radio industry will gather in October for the next Move on Up event which takes place as part of the Radio Festival in Salford.
Opening the event on 20 October at The Lowry, Salford Quays, will be Radio 1 presenter, Trevor Nelson, and the BBC's Director of Audio & Music, Tim Davie.
The broadcast union, BECTU, said the Move on Up at the Radio Festival will address the under-representation of black and minority ethnic workers in the radio industry by setting up one-to-one meetings with key industry executives.
The event is being organised by BECTU in partnership with the BBC and the industry and takes place under the auspices of the Radio Industry Diversity Group.
Stuart Taylor, Chief Executive of GMG Radio, which encompasses Smooth Radio, Real Radio and Rock Radio, will head a team of very senior staff.
Clive Dickens, Chief Operating Officer of Absolute Radio, will be joined by Travis Baxter, consultant and former boss of Bauer, whose stations include Kiss, Magic 105.4 and a host of stations around the country. Global will also be there.
The BBC is fielding 22 executives not only from its national radio stations but also from around the regions, particularly the north and Midlands.
The corporation's line-up includes personnel from virtually every aspect of BBC Radio's operations including journalism, technology, music, factual, news, management and commissioning.
The independent production sector is represented by some of the biggest companies such as All Out Productions, Made in Manchester, Unique and Somethin' Else.
A number of workshops will run during the afternoon session. Also included in the programme will be a session to highlight opportunities in 2011 when large parts of the BBC relocate to Salford; this workshop will give information on where and when to find out more.
The driving force behind the Move on Up initiative is BECTU's Black Members' Committee whose Committee Chair, Faisal Qureshi, said: "We are delighted that the industry has responded so positively to this event - the line-up of executives participating on 20 October is astonishing in that so many very senior people will be participating.
"The Black Members' Committee urges all BME broadcasting workers to take full advantage of this event and to submit an application," he said, noting that the brochure, with the full list of executives and an emailable application form can be downloaded from the BECTU website.
(BMcC/KMcA)