On Wednesday 24^th May 2017, Learning Waves Skillnet commenced its Diploma in Creative Radio Advertising with GoCreate Academy.  The course was launched in the BAI in Dublin with Learning Waves Skillnet and Go Create Academy.  The course is accredited through the London College of Music and it is the first time this course has been run in Ireland.  The course launched with 16 participants from across the Independent Commercial Radio Sector engaging in the six month programme.  Stations represented on the course include, East Coast FM, Highland Radio, Today FM, Corks 96FM, Shannonside, Classic Hits 4FM, Spin South West, WLRFM, FM104, KFM, Radio Kerry and 98FM.  The course will be delivered mainly online with a series of workshops over the six months where participants will get to network and to hear from experts across the world in relation to creative radio advertising.  The course will culminate in an exam for all participants in October 2017 which will be assessed by the London College of Music. 

Learning Waves Skillnet has been working with GoCreate Academy for the last number of years in relation to Sonic Branding and this course is an ideal follow on from such courses.  In the course participants will learn:

• How to guarantee your ideas win clients over and gets them to say YES.
• How to create radio commercials that just beg to be listened to.
• Why confusing radio commercials with press advertising kills business.
• How to influence your listeners on a subliminal level (& unlock their subconscious).
• Become a confident and persuasive speaker.
• How to gain an industry awarded and industry endorsed qualification in creative radio advertising.

Speaking about the programme, Learning Waves Skillnet Project Manager, Teresa Hanratty     said that, ‘this is an exciting venture for Learning Waves Skillnet and the course will allow creative production people from across the sector to develop their skills, to network, to gain a qualification in their specific role in radio and to ultimately create more creative radio advertising for clients which will benefit the client and the radio industry as a whole’. 

The programme comes as an ideal follow on from the recent Choose Radio event, held in Dublin last week.  The event was aimed at radio sales houses and agency staff and focused on putting radio front of mind when planning advertising campaigns for clients.  During the event there was a call for the industry to become more creative and this programme will certainly further develop the creative skills of those participating in the programme. 

Participants have now commenced the programme online and will take part in a webinar of May 29^th and the next workshop for participants will take place in Dublin on June 28^th 2017.  It is an exciting programme and we will bring you updates from the programme as they are happening. 

Pictured below at the start of the course were : Picture 1(David Strutt, 4FM, Emma Carroll, 98FM and Denis Vasavour, 98FM), Picture 2(Emily Owens and Carolyn Goulden, Today FM) and Picture 3(Canice Wilson, Highland Radio).