Radioskills
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Here at Moray Firth Media Trust we're proud that our training helps our trainees secure employment within the radio industry.

In fact, over 90% of course completers move into sustainable employment or further education courses at college or university.

Those who have completed our workshops find their increased understanding of the industry allows them to use the media to better effect in their daily life with improved employability and better career prospects.

Find out about the industry professionals who deliver our unique training HERE

Please take a moment to LISTEN to what our current trainees have to say about the project.
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Jennifer Balfour Jennifer Balfour
Having only been with Moray Firth Media Trust for a few months, Jenny feels that the VQ course is sending her in the right direction in the media business.

Presenting her own show is her main goal, so she feels that MFMT can make her dream come true, she says "I feel I have achieved so much within on Media Trust course so far and would love to have my own 60’s style show. Every day is different and I’m learning all the time. I’ve made a few sacrifices to be on this course but it’s been worth it!"

Jenny hopes her dream presenting job will be within her reach in 2008 when she finishes the course.
Michael Mann Michael Mann
Mike started the course with no real plan, he made the decision to drop 2 school subjects, carry on with a higher in Photography and a college course in acting & stage management, all so he could do the radioskills course 3 days a week.

The course has helped Mike in a lot of ways, most noticeably in his confidence; he started off as a shy person, but is now very confident and more fun to be around.

He showed an early interest in working with Malcolm Lee in MFR's engineering department and he is now developed a strong interest in perusing the production of a radio show based around extreme sports.
Catherine Weir Catherine Weir
Catherine joined the MFMT course after leaving school in October. She had a plan…Although that went out the window when she heard about what MFMT had to offer! Her original idea was to go to Sabhal Mor Ostaig on the Isle of Skye to study 'Gaelic and The Media', however was not too keen on leaving Inverness for the not-so-bright lights of Island life!

One day whilst browsing through a magazine she came across one of our advertisements and, as they say, the rest is history! She applied and is now studying hard to gain her qualification. She loves the excitement that the course brings and the people she has met along the way; in her own words "I honestly wouldn't change it for the world and have never known education to be so much fun!"
Rebekah Campbell Rebekah Campbell
Rebekah had been interested in Radio Broadcasting since she was about ten years old! She didn't think that anything would be able to come of it and went into a full-time job after school. She found out about the VQ through a friend who had wanted to do the course but couldn't, so Rebekah phoned up and managed to get a place on the course.

Once on the course, she has been involved with the Community Action Feature and has found it very interesting. She's currently very happy on the course and is very glad that she heard about it. When she finishes the VQ she hopes to go into Radio as a Presenter so watch this space!
Craig Wightman Craig Wightman
Craig has been interested in Radio Broadcasting since he was a child, initially training as a Chef, he worked in the Hospitality business for many years before he heard about Moray Firth Media Trust.

Craig hopes to develop the skills to secure his dream job in the Radio Industry, with help from MFMT, he hopes his dream job is just around thee corner.
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trainee success stories trainee success stories
Moving on from Moray Firth Media Trust, many of our ex-trainees have achieved great things, working for the biggest media organisations across the United Kingdom and beyond.

As a trainee with MFMT you not only learn the skills necessary to work in the radio industry but you learn how to apply and secure that dream job with the radio station you love.

Here is a selection of our success stories.
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Craig Noble Craig Noble
After pestering MFR's Ken Kelman for months on end, Craig finally got his big break as a tea boy in October 2003. Three years later, he's the Traffic Manager at MFR. Craig started out as a volunteer helping various presenters and then moved on to presenting and producing with presenters such as John Slater, Grant Hodgson & Davey D who he says have helped him endlessly along the way... He decided to take the big step and start the VQ in October 2006 to further his chances of employment within the radio industry. As the VQ is a recognised qualification, Craig felt this would help his job prospects enormously. It has!
Ceilidh Watson Ceilidh Watson
Ceilidh Watson is 20 years old and lives in Cawdor. She decided to apply for the Certificate in Radio Broadcasting with Moray Firth Media Trust after leaving school. She soon got involved on air in various areas from showbiz news and traffic and travel to PRS. From there, she went on to become Ken Kelman's Traffic and Travel Girl and the afternoon receptionist at MFR. Ceilidh didn't stop there... in June 2007, an opportunity to become the Sponsorship and Promotions executive arose and Ceilidh applied for it. She is now a full time sponsorship and promotions executive (occasionally getting to drive her bosses company car!) and the drivetime traffic and travel girl. Ceilidh also presents the Tuesday and Wednesday through the night show from 1 - 6am and chances her hand at covering Nikki Edwards when she's off out gallivanting!
Marion Scott Marion Scott
Marion Scott initially had the chance of becoming an air hostess or training in radio. She couldn't really see her future being up in the sky so she took the chance to work at Moray Firth.
An opportunity arose to work with Tich in the morning on his legendary breakfast show, which for the 10 months she was there, was a big learning curve and she had a brilliant laugh. Later Marion got the chance to present the Alternative music show that Scott Shaw, who now works with Clyde, used to host.

Her first "pilot" show was a success and has now been in place on Sunday nights from 7 till 9pm for a couple of years The chance to present a New Music Show has been the most important thing she has accomplished so far. It's all about the music...
Iain Auld Iain Auld
Iain first heard about the Moray Firth Media Trust and the VQ after moving up to Inverness from the big smoke that is Edinburgh. He had previously been involved in radio projects at high school and went on to study an HNC in Radio Broadcasting at college. During the term, he picked up lots of work experience at Radio Forth and taking part in a successful restricted service licence broadcast. However this was nothing compared to the experience he had at MFR. Working in commercial radio environment and taking part in the training course as well as station activities was second to none.

Iain had always had a big interest in radio and the media, but wanted to become a sports journalist/broadcaster/commentator. He got his big break at MFR, covering Highland League football games for Saturday Sports Live. Then he moved on to sport bulletins covering holidays and eventually got my break on Drivetime's Live at Five feature. This season has been Iain's first full one and he's been lucky enough to cover Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Ross County games working at grounds like Ibrox, Celtic and the country's biggest and best stadium Tynecastle. He was also there to witness County lift the Challenge Cup in Perth. Around the same time as the sport job, Iain landed a job as part-time traffic manager, which involves scheduling the adverts for the station. None of this would have been achieved without the VQ course! The project is excellent and one of a kind! Iain says," I would recommend the course to anyone with an interest in radio or media and to make a real go of it. If you put a lot in, you'll get a lot back".
Lyndsay Thomson Lyndsay Thomson
Lyndsay joined the course at the end of 1998 is now working for the very successful charity arm of the radio station - The Moray Firth Charity Trust. Somewhat different from what she initially set out to do!
After starting on the training programme, Lyndsay changed direction and was given the opportunity to complete a VQ level 2 and 3 in Business Administration while working with Sales, Finance and on reception. After two years and two VQ's under her belt she was offered a job working as an administrator. But all was not lost on the broadcast front. Lyndsay's reporting skills had caught the eye of the MD and she was appointed to the sports team broadcasting the weekly sports bulletin. Lyndsay continues to develop the sports coverage with John Rose, Paul Stephenson and Iain Auld. Lyndsay loves her job with the MFR Charity - even when she is standing in the rain with the cold wind whistling round her ankles, selling novelty lights on Bonfire Night! No two days are the same and she loves every minute of it, raising over a million punds for good causes in the MFR transmission area. Promoted to Charity Trust Coordinator in January 2008, Lyndsay has a lot to smile about.
Nicky Marr Nicky Marr
Nicky is co-presenter of the MFR Breakfast Show with Ginno Conti, every weekday morning, from 6 till 10. Broadcasting has come as a bit of a career change for Nicky before moving to the Highlands she was a court lawyer in Edinburgh, specialising in divorce and personal injury cases. A chance meeting with someone who thought she would sound good on radio led to a call one Thursday from the boss at MFR. She was on air reading the travel news and ski details by Monday the rest, as they say, is history. Nicky heard about the VQ in radio broadcasting (actually it was an ad looking for media tarts that caught her eye) and decided to sign up. In six months she gained the VQ. Without the training, help and support of the MFMT, Nicky wouldn't be doing the job she is doing now, and may have been forced to return to the law! Married with 2 gorgeous daughters, Nicky lists a good bottle of red, fresh scallops and homemade vanilla ice-cream as her main weaknesses. She is rarely happier than when eating good food with good friends, and falling into bed knowing the alarm is switched off.
Paul Stephenson Paul Stephenson
Paul always wanted to work in radio and after completing a GCSE and A-Level in Media Studies, progressed on to study at University. He gained a Bachelor of Arts Degree with Honours (2:1) in Media Production specialising in Radio from the University of Sunderland. He gained invaluable work experience with BBC Radio in Cumbria where he worked on the newsdesk. Here he was involved in a national news story and produced a vex-pop which was broadcast on Radio 1 and Radio 4. Paul moved to the Highlands with his girlfriend and took a place as a trainee and completed the VQ in 2004. Paul enjoyed the work he did at the station especially the sports reporting where he reported on the local Highland League matches. After having a quick break away from the station... Paul was offered the job of commercial producer at Moray Firth Media Trust after Stuart Thorpe moved on to pastures new. He's now married and has one child! And is one of MFR's first class sports reporters!
Stuart Thorpe Stuart Thorpe
Stuart was initially involved with Inverness Hospital Radio, assisting on one of their evening shows. He left Culloden Academy with the intention of going to Aberdeen College to study Radio Broadcasting but realised better opportunities were right on his doorstep. Working as part of the team at Moray Firth Media Trust, Stuart began assisting in various other departments before producing Garry Spence in the Afternoon.

Stuart says that the Media Trust prepared and gave him experience and trained him in all aspects of local radio broadcasting.

"Because it's such a broad subject it can be difficult to 'map' your training and get the most from it, that's where the VQ definitely helped me. I completed the VQ in August 2003 and in October Moray Firth Radio employed me as the stations Commercial Producer. The job involved producing commercials for local companies. It's very challenging and has very strict deadlines, which is what makes it one of the best jobs in the station".

During 2005 Stuart was offered a job with Red Production in Edinburgh where he continues to produce radio adverts but now on a much bigger scale, dealing with big name voiceovers!
Chris Murphy Chris Murphy
After spending time doing jobs that made him miserable, Chris decided to try and get into something that he actually wanted to do. Chris came to Moray Firth Media Trust and was on the Info Desk during 2004/05; he learned a lot in that time. Chris is very passionate about music and plays the drums in a well-known local band you can always count on Chris for a heated debate about music!! He came to Moray Firth Media Trust with no experience in radio and after he has completed his VQ he covered for Indie Kid Marion Scott is off. Chris left to go to Aberdeen College to study media and we wish him well in his career. Maybe we'll see him back one day!
John Slater John Slater
John completed the VQ during 2005 and having been around the station for months during his training, he got his big break when given a shift on MFR 's AM band. His Saturday show was a 'learning curve' that soon lead to getting a full time shift on MFR 's FM service presenting the weeknight 7-10pm show "Slater in the Evenings". As well as broadcasting, John now trains with MFMT.......he has been heard to say that the VQ is an excellent way to get your break in radio. Just look at the big Moray Firth Radio names on this site!
Gayle Walker Gayle Walker
Before coming up to Inverness, Gayle studied at Aberdeen gaining an HNC in Radio Broadcasting, and then a BA degree in Media Theory with Production. Gayle found it almost impossible to get her first break in radio and realised that volunteering with MFMT whilst studying would help her build the experience and contacts within the industry. Gayle's confidence grew over the year and she was soon able to make job applications once she achieved her VQ in Radio Broadcasting. Gayle applied to Radio Tay and impressed the MD with the wide range of skills she had. She was quickly offered a position as production assistant and she now has her own show airing weekly at Radio Tay.
Shona MacLellan Shona MacLellan
Shona is a fluent Gaelic speaker and is from the Isle of South Uist where the language is still very strong. She came to us in 2003 after graduating from Sabhal Mor Ostaig with an HND in Business Admin and a Diploma in TV and Multimedia. As part of her media course she had a year training with BBC Alba in Glasgow, working as a trainee web assistant and then as a radio researcher for BBC in Stornoway. After graduating, Shona applied to join the Radioskills course with a view to developing new gaelic programming for Moray Firth Media Trust . Shona achieved her VQ in Radio Broadcasting and was the first person to develop the new gaelic programme for Moray Firth Media Trust . 'Sgeul Nan Gaidheal' was first broadcast on Moray Firth Radio on the 12th August 2004. Shona has since taken up a post as a Gaelic Communications Officer with SNH.
Michael MacRae Michael MacRae
Michael McRae earned the title of 'longest serving trainee' on the ESF project but his saving grace was that he finally achieved the VQ in 2006!

Michael started as trainee helping out on Moray Firth Media Trust 's mid-evening show presented by Glen Campbell and the legendry Jeff Jones on a Saturday afternoon. Forsaking all of that, Michael left to go to Nevis Radio where he presented the Afternoon Show for a time. During this time MFMT worked with Nevis Radio to ensure that his VQ training support and assessment continued. This continued via MFMT until he eventually returned to Moray Firth Media Trust in 2006. Completing his VQ ensured that his application to work as Traffiic Scheduler would be considered.

Michael says: "Radioskills is a great stepping stone to learn about radio in all various forms whether it be Production, Presentation, Sponsorship...the list goes on.

Michael also added: Moray Firth Media Trust is great...you start out on the Radioskills course...and you just don't know what might happen? You could even end up on page 22 of the Sun half naked...it's so Showbiz. I would highly recommend it!
Heather Paterson Heather Paterson
Doing the VQ in Local Radio Broadcasting opened Heather's eyes to so many possibilities in radio. She came to Moray Firth Media Trust with a HND in Journalism already under her belt but nothing compared to the hands on experience and units covered through the VQ. She learned lots of practical and written skills.

Heather worked as Production Assistant for the Mid Morning Show with Ray Atkinson and as Sponsorship and Promotions Executive. She thoroughly enjoyed it and getting the chance to present the BIG Saturday show was just the icing on the cake. Moving to GMG in Glasgow, Heather still works as a VQ assessor and trainer for MFMT, showing that you can get ahead if you're motivated.
Heidi Tweedie Heidi Tweedie
Heidi originally came to Moray Firth Media Trust in December 2001 and decided she wanted to learn more about the world of radio as it was much better than being unemployed! She was attracted to a career in broadcasting after a spell at her student TV society while doing a degree in Aquatic Bioscience at Glasgow University. Heidi soon 'got the bug' and found she was good at lots of things! Heidi went to work for a new Satellite TV channel and then returned to Moray Firth Media Trust, where she acted as producer of the Drivetime show in the afternoons for Ken Kelman. Heidi enjoys editing, production and on-air work and hopes to find more work in that sector in the future. Heidi is now working in Glasgow as a liaison officer for a housing association and as a broadcaster in her spare time on Internet radio.
Stephanie Lamont Stephanie Lamont
Stephanie was very keen to get into the Radio Industry and after she finished University she started by volunteering at the station doing various things through the Information Desk run by the Media Trust. It was through doing this that she learnt all about Moray Firth Media Trust , how it works and the people who work here. This led her to full-time employment. She started work as Sponsorship & Promotions Assistant in May 2000 at Moray Firth Media Trust and is now working as Sponsorship & Promotions Manager for Real radio in Glasgow. Steph also presented Saturday Night Love at Moray Firth Media Trust . Steph completed the VQ in Local Radio Broadcasting and was doing her Assessors' Award - again through the Media Trust before she moved to Stirling. She would encourage anyone keen on a career in radio to find out more about the Media Trust. Not only is it lively and exciting, but it's also very, very good fun!
Dawn Ferguson Dawn Ferguson
Dawn started as a trainee in December 1999 before moving on to the News desk via New Deal. After leaving the station to work in finance, she continued to do freelance work for the News desk. In a surprise career move she returned to Moray Firth Media Trust at the start of 2003 to work in Sponsorship and Promotions. In January 2004 Dawn moved to Vibe 105 fm Radio to work in News. Dawn has continued to go on from strength to strength working for Emap. She married Andrew Fraser, Commercial producer at Vibe in 2005.