In the past year, talkSPORT, Times Radio, Virgin Radio and talkRADIO have helped to open up a career in broadcasting to 15 people from a range of backgrounds through apprenticeship and Kickstart schemes.

Eight Kickstart interns – 16 to 24-year-olds on Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment – joined on six month paid payments, trained for a NCTJ Certificate of Foundation Journalism qualification, and received on-the-job experience and mentoring.

Nine apprentices have also joined the fold – creating a route into national broadcasting – for two years. Working with News Associates, each get training and on the job experience, with a competitive salary, and a fully-funded NCTJ Diploma in Journalism.

Award-winning Virgin Radio Pride UK was launched in June 2021 as a pop-up station for the LGBTQ+ community during pride season – and it will be back in 2022 for more.

Seeking to reduce inequality by addressing important issues in the core programming, the station is staffed by a diverse range of presenters including Tia Kofi, Matt Cain, Emma Goswell, Debbie Ryan, Phil Clifton, Shivani Dave, Vicki Blight, Alex Milsom and Stephen Sullivan.

It covered a range of topics from what it is to be bisexual in 2021, how LGBTQ+ communities helped shape dance music from Disco to House queer culture, and growing up black and gay in the white male dominated world of rock.

It won Brand Campaign of the Year at the Proud Scotland Awards 2021.

In January 2021, a Diversity Action Group was created. It includes representation from on air and off air talent to consult on everything from our content output, discussing sensitive issues for minority communities, to helping drive inclusivity. The group is co-chaired by Kathryn Anastasi, Head of Live Sport at talkSPORT and presenter Hugh Woozencroft. This group has also been involved in creating values to which we work and making recommendations for how to cover key events like International Women's Day and Black History Month both on and off-air.

talkSPORT’s award-winning six-part documentary series charts the history of black footballers in England. Narrated by Jessica Creighton, spans from the late 19th Century to the present day with insights from current and former players and managers. Contributors were influenced by those first trailblazers in the English game, and then became pioneers themselves, who broke down barriers whilst playing professionally for English clubs and for England.  The series has received multiple radio industry awards, including a Gold  at the 2021 ARIAs. 

talkSPORT won Network of the Year award against stiff competition from across TV and radio at the Sports Journalism Awards in 2020.

The judges praised talkSPORT for “making a number of innovative changes in this past year to diversify their audience and enhance their credibility”. 

Reshmin Chowdhury hosts the network's marquee GameDay coverage and Laura Woods became the station's first weekday female breakfast host in March 2020. There is also notably more racial diversity on air in key slots including Darren Bent, Glenn Johnson, Trevor Sinclair, Clinton Morrison, Hugh Woozencroft and more.

The SJA judges added: “With a commitment to developing young journalists, the future is bright for this radio station.

Virgin Radio’s Chris Evans celebrated the 10th anniversary of his 500 words initiative with this year’s competition focused on the global Black Lives Matter movement. 

Almost 6,000 children, aged between 5-13, submitted stories expressing their personal experiences, tales of empathy, learning and respect, building on the international conversation around Black Lives Matter. 

The illustrious judging panel, chaired by Angellica Bell and Michael Underwood, also included Malorie Blackman OBE, Charlie Higson, Francesca Simon and Frank Cottrell-Boyce. All royalties from the accompanying book will be matched by the publisher and donated to children’s charities dedicated to ensuring young people of all backgrounds are given the best opportunities in life.