Reputable member of Manchester’s hip-hop scene Sparkz joined Jorgy and Cheech on the Reform Radio airwaves for an exclusive live session. Spitting bars and contributing to some top chat, we were buzzing to have Sparkz with us. You may recognise Sparkz as the frontman of 9-piece hip-hop band, The Mouse Outfit, whilst he has also dropped some remarkable solo projects over the years. In 2025, he isn’t stopping, so stay tuned for what he has in store.
Watch the live session above & listen to full show below.
Deadline to apply – Friday 21st February, link here
Brighter Sound is running two 12-week engagement projects in the Rochdale borough for young people aged 11-18 who are facing significant challenges in their lives.
They are offering two roles to support 12 creative music-making sessions responding to participants’ interests and needs, utilising non-formal, youth-led, co-created trauma-informed approaches.
You will ensure a safe and supportive project environment, applying best practice in relation to safeguarding, risk management and pastoral care.
Both roles include mandatory training in safeguarding and trauma informed practices and group supervision sessions; a confidential space for reflection, support and learning with a mental health practitioner.
We’re looking for collaborative, flexible and empathic Freelance Music Facilitators to work alongside a Lead Music Facilitator to:
Support improvement in the lives of young people aged 11-18 facing significant challenges, nurturing personal and social growth through music-making
Be creatively ambitious, sharing different ways of making music with young people and encouraging their musical interests – whether that be to simply have a go, or try out new equipment or styles
Inspire young people to grow resilience, increase confidence and become more aspirational
Foster curiosity and interest in further creative activities with the potential to inspire young people to consider pursuing a creative career
Support the development of young people’s personal and social skills through music to enable them to pursue future pathways within education or employment
Click the link above or here to find the recruitment pack and details on how to apply.
It is as busy as ever over here at Reform Radio, with us running a whole exciting array of courses to kickstart 2025. Today, we are throwing it back to our most recent Radio Course in November, funded by MAES. Throughout the two week course, our participants delved into scriptwriting, presenting, and radio production. To close the course, our attendees went live on the airwaves to broadcast their very own show. Listen back to the show below.
We caught up with Amanda and Dylan about their time on the programme and their plans from here. Read the full interview below.
Please can you introduce your name, and pronouns, and tell us a bit about what you like getting up to in your free time?
A: I’m Amanda, my pronouns are she/her. I go out a lot; Manchester is a great city if you like going out. I also like acting and filmmaking.
D: My name is Dylan and my pronouns are he/him. In my free time, I like listening to and playing instruments, and I’m also in a band.
Describe yourself in three words.
A: Curious, emotional and friendly.
D: I’m quiet, curious and laid-back.
Did either of you have much experience in radio or presenting before, and what has been your favourite thing about it?
A: No, I didn’t have any experience at all. I have had experience with acting and performing in some capacity. The thing I like, in comparison to acting, is that you’re speaking your truth. You have more creative freedom, and there are so many different elements you can get involved in. It has been eye-opening to understand how many jobs there are within the radio sector.
D: Similar to Amanda, I had no direct experience in radio either. At university, we had to make a radio play and, coming from a music production background, I had some an understanding of producing. However, I was keen to understand what went into producing a live radio show. Like Amanda said, it’s just been great to see how much work goes into the sector.
What prompted you guys to get involved in the Radio Course?
A: I realised that radio would be a good industry for me as it encompasses a lot of the things I am interested in. Then I was chatting to a friend who recommended Reform Radio to me and I was ready to try something new as well. I wasn’t sure what to do after leaving uni so this gave me some direction and routine.
D: I didn’t realise these courses existed, but my connection with the Job Centre led me to them. When I read about them, they sounded really decent so I thought I’d get involved.
You guys have been working on your own show, can you tell us a bit more about what we can expect from it and what it’s been inspired by?
A: Dylan and I are working on the same segment of the show, which is looking into our experiences within the Manchester music scene. The whole group has different music styles and preferences so there are lots of different perspectives to discuss. The whole show is delving into different topics surrounding Manchester, some segment subjects include dating, football and more.
D: Yes, it’s been great because even though we have that common umbrella of the fact that all of us are from Manchester, we’ve still been able to see everyone’s personalities coming out in their segments.
Let’s throw it back to your first day at Reform versus now, tell me a bit about your first impressions/feelings/emotions in comparison to how you feel now. What has changed?
A: Aside from learning practical skills, one of the things I have taken from this course has been meeting new people. I’ve met people, like Dylan, who have different interests to me, and they have opened me up to new interests of theirs. That’s a cool thing about the creative industries – you never know things exist until you meet someone that exists in those spaces.
D: Definitely. One of the other participants is running an event tonight and some of us are just heading down to support him. It’s nice to have met people I’m not directly similar to, but then to have found ways we are connected.
If you could have any guest on your own radio show, who would it be and why?
A: Because I grew up listening to Nick Grimshaw on the radio, I think it would be funny and a real ‘I made it’ moment if Nick Grimshaw was a guest on my show.
D: It would have to be someone like John Lennon or Jimi Hendrix – one of the musical greats – to pick their brains.
What’s your go-to radio station to lock into?
A: I love a bit of Radio 6, especially when I’m in the car; there’s a lot of variety on that station, too. Also, I listen to NTS a lot because there’s so much choice and you can try listening to new sounds. The breakfast shows are so easy to listen to as well.
D: I used to love listening to things like Kerrang! and Planet Rock. Now, I really like Guy Garvey’s and Radcliffe & Maconie’s slots on 6 Music.
What will you take from the Radio Course moving forward & what are your plans from here onwards?
A: I am doing the DJ course with Reform soon so I’m excited to have even more skills to take moving forward. Afterwards, I am going to look for experience in the creative industries to continue trying new things and developing new skills. The best thing about being creative is you can do lots of different things at once.
D: Obviously, I was looking forward to the course but I didn’t really consider having a career in radio. However, following the project, I am now really interested in a radio career. I plan to get in touch with some community stations to look into volunteering with them and see where it goes from there.
To find out about our future projects at Reform Radio, sign up to our Projects newsletter here.
Deadline to apply – 5pm, Thursday 20th February, link here
Grierson DocLab: New Entrants is a training programme that helps UK-based new entrants aged 18-25 thrive in the world of factual TV and documentary filmmaking. It has been running since 2012 and coupled with our specialist training programmes supported by Netflix and Prime Video Pathway, has seen over 200 trainees go through the programme.
The initiative takes place over approximately one year and aims to equip up to 12 successful trainees with the skills, knowledge, confidence and connections to pursue a career in the UK factual TV industry.
Click the link above or here to find out more and apply.
The Charles Parker Awards – named in honour of one of radio’s greatest documentary pioneers – have established an unparalleled reputation for excellence in radio and audio feature production by young people, and many of our winners have gone on to carve out successful professional careers in radio and audio production. The 2024 winning features were commissioned by the BBC through the independent radio production company Soundscape Productions, co-ordinators of the Charles Parker Prize since 2010.
The Trust is delighted to announce that in 2025 BBC Radio 4 will again be broadcasting the Charles Parker Prize winning features in their New Storytellers strand during the summer.
The competition will be open for audio features (produced between 13th February 2024 and 10th February 2025) made by any student (or recently graduated student) in Further or Higher Education in the UK, and also by those who have attended an accredited media training course. The competition opened on Monday 25 November 2024 and the final deadline has been extended to Monday 31 March 2025.
A shortlist of features will be announced at the end of April. Nominees will be invited to the award ceremony, which will take place as the core of the Annual Charles Parker Day at Goldsmiths College, University of London on Friday 16 May 2025.
For more details and to enter, click here or the link above.
✨ Anyone who is either a creative looking to connect and collab with other creatives. ✨ Event planners/Brands who are looking for BTS creators to film at their next event. ✨ Creatives who just want to meet like minded, supportive friends.
Deadline to apply – Thursday 13th February, link here
Factory Academy and One Giant Leap present a new part-time course that will introduce you to the fundamental entrepreneurial skills needed to make your practice work for you!
Over 12 weeks you will develop an entrepreneurial mindset and learn the essentials of:
Defining and connecting with your audience
Diversifying income streams
Brand activation
Pitching
Intellectual Property
Managing your finances and tax
This brand-new course is designed to empower creatives and artists from a range of disciplines by providing learning content that will stimulate entrepreneurialism. Your learning will combine expert advice with real-world examples and practical exercises. You will be provided with multiple perspectives on a range of topics through the inclusion of industry speakers, guest artists and mentoring sessions.
Over the 12 weeks you will work to apply and test your newly acquired skills in order to develop a blueprint for a business plan to activate your next steps towards a successful career as a practicing creative.
This course is in person at Aviva Studios on Mondays and Fridays 10am–5.30pm. You will also need around 3.5 hours per week to work on tasks outside of the course.
Applications open Wednesday 29th January – link here
For 32 years the Deutsche Bank Awards for Creative Entrepreneurs has helped creatives bring their ideas and business goals to life.
Partnering with MeWe360, the programme aims to enable and celebrate talented entrepreneurs to make positive social impact through their creative ventures.
£60,000 prize fund
12 months tailored business support
5 winners
Eligibility criteria
Entrants:
Must be over 18: You can either apply with a well thought out idea or with an enterprise that has already launched.
Must be able to demonstrate that a key driver for the business is to create positive social impact.
Can be a not-for-profit, commercial idea or enterprise.
Must own a material share in the business and be responsible for the direction and leadership of the organisation, i.e., holding the title of CEO, Founder or Co-Founder. If applying as a group, then at least one applicant must hold one of these titles.
Must be able to demonstrate that the enterprise is within the creative industries or will create a clear service in support of the sector.
Must be applying with an enterprise they wish to grow, rather than wanting support for a one-off project.
Must commit to dedicating a minimum of 20-hours a week to the business in the 12-months after receiving the award, and to engaging with the Incubator programme, including wider group sessions, events, and training.
From January 29, 2025 until June 29, 2026 applicants must legally reside in the UK. If applying as a group, then all of the applicants must legally reside in the UK within this time.
Applications that require extensive technological Research & Development of a product are not eligible. If you are unsure if your business is eligible, contact dbace@mewe360.com.
Deadline to apply – Sunday 23rd February link here
Full-time, Fixed Term from 5 May to 21 September 2025.
Festival Guides provide the vital resource for a meaningful and enjoyable experience for all visitors to Liverpool Biennial 2025 by giving a knowledgeable, motivated and proactive welcome.
10 Festival Guides will be experts on Liverpool Biennial 2025 exhibitions and the city, responsible for the day-to-day running and forward-facing aspects of the festival.
Click the link above or here for more details and to apply.
Course dates: 10th, 13th, 17th & 18th March – Link here
‘Audible Lives’ with Gaydio is a series of podcast episodes which delves into the lives of LGBTQ+ participants across the North West, talking about their lived experiences and advice for other LGBTQ+ individuals.
The project will be held in Manchester or Liverpool (please see below what locations this cohort is for) with participants taking part in several sessions of storytelling, interviewing and podcast creation whilst being trained by an multi award-winning podcaster and author, Emma Goswell.
Course Layout
Introduction to Gaydio, our audience, skills in interviewing & learning about equipment.
Learning skills in storytelling and scripting before letting you go off by yourself/pairs to gather content
Review the content gathered and prepare the layout for the recording
Studio record day and audio editing
Location, Dates and Times
Location: Gaydio HQ Manchester (Travel costs are covered in this programme)
Looking for an invigilator for an ACE-funded immersive exhibition Mind The Gap. Featuring multimedia installations, it is an exhibition exploring neurodivergent overwhelm and the spaces in between.
Neuron are seeking a detail-oriented, organised, fun and friendly Warehouse Coordinator to join our growing audio visual events business. As the Warehouse Coordinator, you will play a crucial role in managing inventory, coordinating logistics, and ensuring the smooth flow of equipment for our events. This role will give you the opportunity to develop experience across a wide range of event types and AV equipment with time split between the warehouse, our suppliers and event sites. We want someone passionate about helping us deliver great experiences across audio, lighting and video who wants to learn the industry and develop their skills.
All Hear is a free monthly newsletter featuring audio opportunities with upcoming deadlines from across the industry and around the world — grants, residencies, awards, calls for pitches and events spanning journalism, podcasting, radio, audio drama, oral history, sound art and more. It’s written by Talia Augustidis in collaboration with Transom.org.
Start the new year off by exploring these creative opportunities. From accessing game-changing funding to securing that next big gig, there’s plenty of ways to get your 2025 off to the best possible start.
Deadline to apply – Friday 21st February, 2025 link here
Manchester Literature Festival (MLF) is seeking to appoint a Marketing and Audience Development Manager to a new role which has been created to help us expand our audience and increase the organisation’s long-term resilience as we celebrate our 20th year. Part-time: (0.4 FTE / 15 hours per week).
We are looking for a dynamic and creative individual with a strong background in marketing/communications and audience development to help us engage with new audiences, raise the Festival’s profile and support income generation activities.
Job Overview
Job Title: Marketing and Audience Development Manager
Factory International is the organisation behind Manchester International Festival (MIF) and the landmark new cultural space, Aviva Studios, which opened its doors in 2023 – helping to put Manchester on the map as a world-leading destination for art.
Want to join us? At Factory International we’ll be:
• Finding new ways to think about, bring to life and distribute our work
• Offering opportunities for employment, training and learning across the region
• Establishing an open, far-reaching and sustainable space for exploration – loved locally and celebrated worldwide
So it’s official: we are shooting for the stars. Can you help? Whether you are a technical whizz that leaves no margin for error or someone that really gets customer service, an early starter learning the ropes or a wise head ready to take the lead, we want to hear from you.
HOME MCR’s programmes offer artists across all art forms a chance to develop skills, meet peers, chat about their projects or career path and everything in between.
Creatives/ Art Directors with a passion for campaigns, activations, brand, video, experiential and content? DO YOU WANT TO WORK WITH GLOBAL BRAND? Read below….
This could be the best 3-month contract you will go for!
Are you a talented ideas person with a passion for crafting captivating experiences? Are you ready to take the creative helm at a renowned full-service agency? Look no further!
You will absolutely love Creative Concepting, Design, Copywriting, Strategy and Art Direction. You will see your work come to live with creative roll-out and work within an incredible studio. You will form part of a close-knit team that will work together to deliver integrated campaigns.