Studios link with BBC in talent and jobs bid

Huddersfield Daily Examiner (Huddersfield, England), July 16, 2008

Byline: By JOANNE DOUGLAS News Reporter

THE Beaumont Street Studios are joining forces with the BBC.

The Huddersfield-based recording and radio studios are linking with the BBC in a scheme that will open up the way into employment in the media.

It is also hoped the partnership will help encourage and develop new talent in the town.

Knowledge and skills will be shared between the two organisations as five of the BBC's departments move to the north.

Sean Leonard, chief executive of the studios, said: "We are really enthusiastic about the partnership with the BBC.

"Our radio manager Kuldip Singh worked one month at BBC Radio 4 during his training with us.

"He now runs our Huddersfield radio station, Creative FM, and teaches on our radio production courses.

"Our partnership with the BBC will help us give this kind of opportunity to many more of the people who come on our training programme."

BBC radio and film production staff will be providing master classes to trainees in Huddersfield.

They hope that by working with the Beaumont Street Studios they will discover the future talent that may one day work in the northern-based departments.

Sport, Radio 5 Live, CBBC, learning and media and technology will all be based in Salford, Greater Manchester from 2011.

Fiona Wright from BBC ProjectNorth, said working with the studios, which are a non-profit media training organisation, will also help create a close relationship with the wider community.

She said: "We are delighted to have signed a partnership agreement with the Beaumont Street Studios.

"The new centre will be a test-bed for how we want the whole of the BBC to work in the 21st century.

"This will be a BBC that is not just owned by the whole of the UK but which is more open and accessible, working in partnership with local communities and educational institutions to showcase the talent and creativity of people everywhere."

CAPTION(S):

TEACHER: Radio manager Kuldip Singh, of Beaumont Street Studios, who runs the local radio station Creative FM and teaches on radio production courses (S)