Radio producer : Training

For employed staff, training is usually on the job, with individual training needs agreed at an annual appraisal. Freelance producers may get subsidised training from media organisations such as Skillset: The Sector Skills Council for Creative Media . Many courses can be completed via online training. With the emergence of multi-skilling across the media, producers are increasingly involved in all aspects of radio, including presenting, editing and sound recording. Many producers learn these skills from experienced colleagues or by attending short in-house training courses.

BBC Academy  offers a number of short courses for producers and would-be producers, including some free online courses open to anyone interested in production. For its staff, the BBC has a system of attachments through which individuals can gain experience in other jobs for up to six months. This is a common route for progression from broadcast assistant to producer.

It is important that producers keep up to date with technical and multimedia developments, especially following the expansion of digital radio. Skillset and the British Film Institute (BFI)  produce the Media Courses and Multimedia Courses Directory , which provides information on relevant training courses and providers. Courses are available on a short or longer term basis and cover technical production and broadcasting skills.