Key Information

Date: Thursday 12th March 2026, 12-5:30pm 

Location: University of Essex
Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ

Price: £6 for members
£12 for non-members which includes £5 off future membership

What do you get? Three hours of training workshops and talks with audio industry leaders, plus a 90 minute facilitated speed-networking session to gain insights on career paths. Light refreshments during the day.

Foot In The Door
A day of training & connections

Thursday 12th March 12-5:30pm

University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ

Foot In the Door is a one-day event for people at entry and early career level in audio, to build skills development and open access to people and expertise, through training workshops and a facilitated speed-networking session. At each event delegates have the chance to meet with around 40 industry leaders, who share job and training opportunities and their top tips for elevating your audio creations and CV. Plus you'll meet around 100 peers and build your own professional network.

Thanks to BBC Sounds and Broadcast Bionics for supporting Foot In The Door.

Programme

Check back over the coming weeks as we share speakers, industry guests and session topics. In the meantime, have a look at our previous events to get an idea of past sessions and speakers.

Our guests will share top tips and advice on production, presenting, brand, technology and more, across podcasting, radio and streaming. The guests are from all areas of the industry, from the BBC, commercial, independent and community audio sectors.

Timetable and Details

12:00 Arrival and registration

12:30 Welcome and In Conversation 

13:15-14:00 Choose between;

  • Getting the most from your speech based content
  • Is Making Music Radio about the bits in between the tracks?

14:00-14:45 Session - Practical Pathways into Radio for Emerging Talent

14:45 - 15:30 Choose between,

  • Making Audio – Presenting, Producing and Executing great content
  • Marketing & Socials: How to get the best out of your Podcast, your socials and you!

15:30 Coffee and Tea Break

16:00-17:30 Speed-networking - ask everything you want to know from all of our industry guests in record time!

 

The training workshops and speed networking session are ticketed and open to all, with a half price discount for Audio Academy Members. You must purchase a ticket if you wish to attend these sessions as a delegate.

If you are not already a member, you can join here and benefit from the reduced rate for this and future events, as well as accessing our full resources hub online. If you would prefer to come along and check it out first, you can still benefit from a £5 discount on a year's membership if you choose to join after the event. And remember, it's worth checking to see if you are eligible for free membership, if you are part of one of our Patron Member Organisations.

 

Confirmed Speakers and Guests:

Click their image to connect on LinkedIn.

Chris Brooks, Programme Director, Radio Essex
Sam Bailey, Deputy Director, BFBS
Sam Bailey, Deputy Director, BFBS
Akylah Rodriguez, Presenter, BBC Essex
Akylah Rodriguez, Presenter, BBC Essex
Jake Peach, Presenter, Producer and Content Creator, BBC & Freelance
Jake Peach, Presenter, Producer and Content Creator, BBC & Freelance
Will Jackson, Communications Manager, WorldDAB
Will Jackson, Communications Manager, WorldDAB
Mim Shaikh, Broadcaster and Actor
Mim Shaikh, Broadcaster and Actor
Helen Quigley, Creative Audio Producer
Nick Pitts, Content Director, Magic Classical & Jazz FM
Nick Pitts, Content Director, Magic Classical & Jazz FM
Mike Cass, Radio Strategist and Programmer
Mike Cass, Radio Strategist and Programmer
George Willis, Operations Team Leader, BBC Media Operations
George Willis, Operations Team Leader, BBC Media Operations
Ashley Paul, Presenter & Producer, BFBS Colchester Breakfast
Ashley Paul, Presenter & Producer, BFBS Colchester Breakfast
Georgy Jamieson, Podcast Producer
Georgy Jamieson, Podcast Producer
Fee Mak, BBC Radio 1Xtra
Fee Mak, BBC Radio 1Xtra
Matt Fisher, Founder & Creative Director, Hundred Hand Slap
Matt Fisher, Founder & Creative Director, Hundred Hand Slap
Conor Knight, Presenter
Conor Knight, Presenter
Mary Sweeney, Audio Describer, ITV
Mary Sweeney, Audio Describer, ITV
Natalie Ladley, Studio Director, BBC 5Live
Natalie Ladley, Studio Director, BBC 5Live
Jon Frewin, Senior Journalist, BBC World Service
Jon Frewin, Senior Journalist, BBC World Service
Shahid Hussain, Executive Editor, BBC Essex
Shahid Hussain, Executive Editor, BBC Essex
Ore Olukoga, Presenter, BBC Radio 1
Ore Olukoga, Presenter, BBC Radio 1
Karen Pearson, CEO / Founder, Folded Wing
Karen Pearson, CEO / Founder, Folded Wing
Alex Williamson, Freelance Producer, Media & Communications Expert
Alex Williamson, Freelance Producer, Media & Communications Expert
Kizzi, BBC Asian Network
Kizzi, BBC Asian Network
Matthew Hallsworth, Assistant Producer, Absolute Radio, Presenter, Radio 1 Anthems
Matthew Hallsworth, Assistant Producer, Absolute Radio, Presenter, Radio 1 Anthems
Henrie Kwushue, Kiss Xtra
Henrie Kwushue, Kiss Xtra
Paul Sheehan, Director of Staring at Sound
Paul Sheehan, Director of Staring at Sound

Check out our previous events