Students ‘Listen Loud’ with TFM Radio and the Redcar and Cleveland Enterprise Team

15 Dec 2008

The Listen Loud radio station is an exciting internet based music and speech radio station run by students from Freebrough as part of a unique partnership between education and commercial enterprise. Created to help raise student aspirations in the borough, the project will equip students with the extra skills needed to succeed when first entering employment. Listen Loud is being led by the Borough’s enterprise team and TFM Radio to provide students with the real opportunity to experience what it takes to operate in a commercial environment.

Alison Redshaw, Acting Principal of Freebrough Specialist Engineering College said:

“The Listen Loud project is a fantastic way to get students interested in enterprise. Each of the students meet regularly with representatives from TFM and Freebrough teachers to learn how to perform in their job roles and run a commercial radio station. Although still in the early days of the project, we expect Listen Loud to produce ever more impressive results as the team relax into their various roles at the helm of the business.”

Advertisers for Listen Loud arrived in the shape of Tees Valley Leisure and the Hill Street Centre, both of whom were lucky enough to be the first commercials aired on the launch programme from Listen Loud – available at www.listenloud.org. Each company agreed to the advertising package after an initial approach by students to cover all six Listen Loud radio programmes to air throughout the school year. The team have also already scooped their first celebrity guest, interviewing popular TV actor Jack P Shepherd, better known as Coronation Street’s David Platt, at the Redcar Christmas light switch-on event.

Sally Aitchison, Managing Director for TFM Radio said:

“A key aim of Listen Loud is to offer students a unique experience of how a business operates, as well as the actual implementation of the business itself. All students involved with Listen Loud are committed to attend a total of 32 strategy sessions with TFM radio representatives, who set research tasks and oversee production which will allow Listen Loud to further prosper.”

The 41 students at Listen Loud obtained their positions through a standard recruitment process for submitting a job application. The process encouraged students to outline their strengths and weaknesses – a practice which will stand them in good stead when applying for future employment. Currently students occupy roles including marketing manager, station administrator, web editor, creative writers and of course, presenters for the station, which has its own dedicated recording studio at Freebrough. Listen Loud is now expected to go from strength to strength as the project is rolled out to further schools throughout the Borough.

Cllr Mark Hannon, Cabinet Member for Economic Development on Redcar & Cleveland Council said :

Freebrough Specialist Engineering College is one of the education-sector partners chosen by the Borough’s enterprise team to benefit from a programme to inspire young people in enterprise. As a project successfully developing the skills necessary for future entry into employment, I anticipate Listen Loud will continue to promote a culture of enterprise amongst students and wish the team every success for the future of the project.”