NCW Sixth Form student Leo is a self-confessed radio enthusiast. His love for radio began at the age of seven when he received a CD player with a built-in radio as a gift – and he’s been hooked ever since.

Leo is no stranger to broadcasting either, having made several appearances on his local station, Vectis Radio. So when the opportunity for a week-long work experience placement came up, Leo knew exactly what he wanted to do – and that’s how he found himself spending six days behind the mic at Vectis Radio, each day completing a 3.5-hour shift.

“It was really good to get real-world experience,” Leo shared. “I learned that running a radio station is about so much more than just sitting in front of a microphone and talking!”

His enthusiasm for broadcasting hasn’t stayed confined to the studio. Back at school, Leo has played a leading role in setting up NCW’s very own school radio project. He’s been hands-on in helping install the newly purchased radio equipment and even met with a BBC Hereford & Worcester sound engineer and presenter to get professional advice on launching the station.

Leo explains his love for the medium:
“I love being able to have a voice that’s heard by lots of people and I really enjoy explaining what it’s like to live with a vision impairment. I think radio is a really accessible form of media – as a blind person, it gives me just as much opportunity to be involved as anyone else.”

Leo has high hopes of turning his passion into a profession. After gaining this invaluable work experience and insight into the world of radio, he’s more certain than ever that a future in broadcasting is where he belongs.

Well done Leo! You can listen to some of his shows below: