How to apply for 30 Under 30
Applications for the ReelWorld Radio Academy 30 Under 30 are now closed. But please read on for some of our most frequently asked questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will nominations open and close?
The Reelworld Radio Academy 30 Under 30 will open for nominations on 26 June 2024. Entry deadline is 23:59 on 15 August 2024.
How do I enter?
All entries must be submitted via our online awards platform.
Who can enter?
Any individual who has been working in UK radio or audio for at least 12 months. All nominees have to be 29 years old or under on 31st August 2024 to qualify.
You can put yourself forward, or Radio Academy Members can nominate someone else - you should not do both. There is no advantage to being both nominated and entering yourself; in fact, it can confuse and complicate the judging process.
Do I need to be a member of the Academy?
If you are being nominated by someone else, they need to be a Member. If you aren't a member yet, that's fine - we will give you a year's free membership as part of your prize.
Can I nominate myself?
Yes, we encourage people to put themselves forward. Just make sure you can provide details of a referee so we can confirm details of your entry if needed.
Can I nominate someone else?
Of course, and sometimes it's easier to write great things about other people! We encourage people to nominate others. Just make sure your Radio Academy membership registration is up to date.
Can I still enter if I am already a 30 Under 30 alumni?
A few years ago, we introduced the "one time only" rule, to make sure there's a fair opportunity for new nominees. So, if you're lucky enough to have already made our list previously then we cannot accept another entry from you.
Please don't enter more than once
There is no advantage to doing this, and it can confuse and complicate the process. Apply today.
What information do I need to provide?
- Full name
- Your date of birth and pronouns
- Your current job title and current place of work
- Your address
- Your contact phone number
- Your social media handles
- Career to date* - Tell us about the nominee’s career journey to date. We’re looking for you to bring their CV to life, so feel free to add colour with examples so the judges can get a real sense of the nominee (250 words)
- Outstanding career moment of the past 12 months* - Tell us about one moment in the past year that you feel exemplifies why you’re nominating this person - what has made them stand out from the rest? (250 words)
- Overcoming obstacles or adversity* (optional) - In order for our judges to understand a nominee’s experiences and journey more fully, you can detail any significant barriers (they could be societal, geographical, financial or cultural barriers for example) a nominee has overcome to achieve the success they’ve achieved, that you'd like judges to consider as part of the application
- A headshot, suitable for publication (2MB maximum size)
- The nominee's CV, max 2 sides of A4, ideally in PDF format
- One supporting document, no bigger than one side of A4, such as a screenshot, an article, an award citation etc - not to be used for an additional statement
- One URL that provides supporting information or evidence, such as a piece of media (no longer than 5mins)
- If you are self-nominating, you will also be required to provide a professional reference who will be able to verify the experience you've set out in your application.
- If you are nominating someone else, you will need to provide your name and contact details, and confirm that you have their permission to enter them.
*This year, we're pleased to accept a video or audio upload (maximum length 3 minutes) in answer of these questions instead of a written response, if preferred.
What are the judges looking for?
The ReelWorld Radio Academy 30 Under 30 is judged by dozens of senior leaders from across the sector, including the BBC, commercial radio, independent production and podcasting. As with all Radio Academy initiatives, we aim to ensure the judges are representative of the industry and the wider UK population.
The judges will be scoring your application in three areas:
- Impact - has your work made a significant difference to your audience, your colleagues, or your community? Tell us how your work has helped people or changed lives. Take the opportunity to give us quantitative as well as qualitative analysis of your work.
- Scale - have you done something really big and impressive in your short career to date? Maybe your audience figures took a huge leap with action you took or led? Whether it's at a community, town or national level, tell us something that will make us go wow!
- Quality - how is your work of an industry-leading standard, raising the bar for the rest of your sector? Show us that you're second to none in what you do. Maybe you were recognised by your boss, your station or team for some amazing output? Show us the evidence for what was said or measured.
The collected judges scores are then passed to the Chair's Committee for final adjudication and selection of the final 30 names.
Good luck to everyone who applies.
