CRUSH RADIO SRA CONFERENCE BID

SRA CONFERENCE BID2011

CRUSH RADIOSRA CONFERENCE BID

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CONTENTSINTRODUCTION 03

WHY CRUSH? 04

CONFERENCE FACILITIES 05

ACCOMMODATION 06

CATERING 06

ENTERTAINMENT 09

THE ORGANISATION 08

COSTS & BUDGETS 09

DATES 10

SUMMARY 10

ENDORSEMENTS 11

Lynette MooreStation Manager

Edited byScott GraceCrush Radio Conference Coordinator

Designed byAlaster Armitage-Brain3rd Year Media Student

INTRODUCTION

As the oldest student-run radio station in the country and a constant ambassador for student-led media as a whole, Crush Radio, the University of Hertfordshire station would be honored to host the Student Radio Conference in April 2011.

Formerly Campus Radio Hatfield, the 1960s-founded station broadcasts live from within a brand new £38 million venue 18 hours a day, 7 days a week on AM and online.

Although the Crush team are thrilled to find themselves in such surroundings after a 50 year history that has included transmissions from a broom cupboard and radio shack, we also feel it would be fantastic to share it and give something back to the wider student radio community.

Florence & The Machine Performingin the newly built Forum 2010

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WHY CRUSH?

The opening of the brand new Forum building brought about the construction of the new radio studio and put Crush, literally, at the heart of the Students' Union. This year has been exciting for us too as in September we become one of the first student radio stations in the country to go live with a second alternative music stream- Crush Underground, from a second studio. With these changes in place and entertainment for every taste being developed by our talented DJ's, presenters and producers we aim to open up student radio to more people than ever and get them just as excited as we are about all the positive changes occurring.

We are spending 2010 celebrating 50 amazing years and would love to make the SRA Conference the flagship event of our birthday celebrations and a step towards a place at the forefront of national student radio campaigns and involvement.

Crush Radio is used by our Students and Alumni not only as an extracurricular activity, but also as a starting platform on which to build their radio careers; Chris Brooks, owner of radio talent firm Yellow Media, formerly of 95.8 Capital FM and Heart, began his career as part of Crush.

We were part of the I Love Student Radio launch event and through our involvement in recent years have realised just how important the Student Radio Association is to our members.

Nothing would make us happier or prouder than to round off a fantastic year with the hosting of the SRA Conference at the University of Hertfordshire Students' Union. We are sure that an event of this magnitude could not only inspire the many students, of all nationalities and ages, who use our station but also influence student stations and presenters nationwide.


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The Auditorium of The Forum has played host to celebrities such as Will.I.AM

The Weston Auditorium is well suited for large conferences

CONFERENCE FACILITIES

The University Of Hertfordshire has some of the best conferencing facilities in the country and these would be readily available. We have a number of lecture halls and auditoriums which could cater for any number of delegates. The Prince Edward Hall can cater for up to 500 people and the Weston Auditorium over 450. Also available to us are various classrooms that can cater from 30 - 150 people depending on the needs of the groups. Room bookings would be made in semester B which starts in January 2011.

The new, £38million venue, The Forum, would be the hub of social activities during the conference. Based in Hatfield, and boasting seven separate spaces, the Forum is a focal point for the University of Hertfordshire community.

Facilities and acts are on a par with those provided by commercial operators with the latest equipment and some of the biggest names in entertainment we accommodate the widest possible range of needs and interests, whether you are looking for a social scene or a quiet area to study or reflect; From big-name headliners such as Enter Shikari, Florence and the Machine and the Black Eyed Peas, to intimate shows and an informal study space, the Forum has been designed to be as flexible as possible to cater for the widest range of interests.

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ACCOMMODATION For the duration of the conference we plan to host delegates in halls of residence. They will be in a modern development, completed in 2004 is the premium accommodation at the University of Hertfordshire. Delegates will be housed in single, en-suite rooms which come equipped with free Wi-Fi internet access as well as a fridges and tea and coffee making facilities. The rooms are in flats with eleven single rooms plus a comfortable kitchen for the delegates to use as they require. This provides a social space for the delegates to network and socialise in.

Each delegate has been give free parking on campus and we have negotiated unlimited use of the Hertfordshireʼs Sports Village gym and swimming pool for delegates for the duration of the conference.

UHSU is also prepared to have their on-campus shops open as required for the duration of the conference.


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CATERING

For the duration of the conference, we have agreed to utilise FoodHertfordshire, the University of Hertfordshireʼs specialist catering department. They are well practised at catering for every kind of event and offer the flexibility we need to offer something new at every meal time during the conference.

Breakfast is being provided each morning in the de Havilland restaurant, this is included in the cost of the room. We have negotiated that for £25, FoodHertfordshire will provide all the catering for the rest of the conference, including a formal three course meal in the brand new Forum restaurant on the final night. This agreement means that we can offer greater variety and flexibility in the food types and venues we need to use. These can be decided in the planning stage of the conference.


ENTERTAINMENTS

The Students' Union is well equipped to fully entertain the delegates for the duration of the conference.

On the first night after delegates have dinned together, we would invite the delegates to join us in the EleHouse, our on campus pub. The EleHouse can house 150 people with ease, and has facilities to hold pub games, karaoke and have a live DJ and we would utilise these for the duration of the evening. The initial idea would be to mix stations up and encourage them integrate over a friendly game of Rock n Roll Bingo, and then have a live DJ either in the EleHouse or move people over to the Attic, our on campus mini-club which provides an intimate setting and perfect for a conference kick off party.

On the second night, we plan to invite delegates to join us in our new Student Union venue The Forum. Saturday nights in the Forum are currently associated with ʻPropagandaʼ which is nationally known as the UK's biggest indie night. We would host the conference guests in an exclusive VIP area overlooking the main stage and dance floor. They would have the use of a private bar and toilets but would be able to use the other facilities in use in the venue that night..

EleHouseThe Forum

The Attic will play host to a small launch party on the first night of the conference

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THE ORGANISATION

The organisational committee is large and work is spread between a number of student members so that everyone can keep inline with their studies. Our University is located just outside London. We can be in central London in less than thirty minutes via train or car. We also have ample space and facilities to be able to cater for any meetings that would need to be held here at UHSU.

Crush Radio is in a larger community of UHSU Media and works very closely with UnionTV, our very own Student TV Station and Universe, our very own student newspaper and they would be willing to provide their expertise and commitment to helping Crush put on this event.

Crush also has good links with local radio stations. Gaz and Babs, formerly of Heart Breakfast, appeared at the Forum during the Forumʼs Got Talent competition last year and are supporters of student radio. We have also had a number of our members working on various work experience projects including; Lauren Farrier, a former Crush breakfast host, working with Heartbeat FM on their Heartbeat Apprentice competition. Also, Harry Kaye, our former Scheduling and Music Manager spent time working with BBC Six Music in 2009 and Lynette Moore, our current station manager has spent time working with BBC Cambridge to help her develop a campus news service here at Crush. Kenny England, a breakfast host on Crush during term time currently hosts Monday-Friday drive time slot on Essexʼs Phoenix FM. Our most famous former DJ is Chris Brookes. Chris has presented on Londonʼs Number 1 Hit Music Station 95.8 Capital FM since 2002. Before Capital he worked for The Chiltern Radio Group, Metro FM, Galaxy, and Essex FM and was the Programme Director of Kix 96 in Coventry. Chris has a company called Yellow Media. The new company has been set up to offer training for radio presenters, news staff and producers at all levels. As a long-standing support of Crush, Chris would happily speak at the conference.


COSTS & BUDGET

We have budgeted for the conference to cost £96 per delegate inclusive of VAT. This is broken down as follows:

Accommodation (including breakfast) = £35 per delegate per night therefore £70 per delegate

Catering = £25 per delegate

Entertainments (provided by uhsu)= £0 per delegate

Administration costs= £1 per delegate

Final Budget= £96 per delegate

DATES

The dates we propose to host the conference are 15th-17th April 2011. These dates are flexible throughout the Easter period. We would be able to facilitate the conference during our term time; however we would have to arrange for hotels, something that we are already provisionally doing.

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UnionTV will be able to provide comprehensive live coverage of the event online


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SUMMARY

Crush Radio has never been so well placed to hold such a prestigious event as the Student Radio Association Conference. We have our new studio located at the heart of our brand new £38million Forum building and a team of over 120 personnel working with the radio station. We have exceptional links with the other on campus student run media outlets such as our student newspaper and student TV station. With the exceptional conferencing facilities readily at hand and the sheer dedication of our students, we would make conference 2011 the best it has ever been.

As Crush Radio enters its 51st year of broadcasting, we are looking for ways to celebrate and the students involved at the station want the SRA conference 2011 to be the climax of our birthday celebrations. To see how many people want us to have this fantastic opportunity, visit www.crushradio.co.uk/conference11.

We are conveniently placed, on the fringes of London to provide great transport links with the capital, whilst maintaining a beautiful backdrop of the English countryside. Delegates from the conference have the option of having everything on their doorstep within the confines of the University, but we would strongly encourage everyone to engage with what is on offer to them, with the historical cities of St Albans and Welwyn Garden City less than fifteen minutes away, and London just thirty minutes away, delegates really have the opportunity to experience the South East and all it has to offer.

http://www.crushradio.co.uk/conference11

http://www.crushradio.co.uk/conference11

ENDORSEMENTS

Crush has had much support from the University, our Students Unionʼs and many friends of the station, as they believe that we are perfect to host such a prestigious event.

“Crush Radio has been a central part of University life at Hertfordshire for many years, providing entertainment and an avenue for the expression of student views. As student media becomes an increasingly important part of campus life, the role of Crush Radio will grow. The University would be delighted if Crush Radio were invited to host the Student Radio Conference 2011”

Professor Tim Wilson, Vice Chancellor, University of Hertfordshire

“I would support and endorse the application from Crush Radio; -the Student led and run Radio Station at the University of Hertfordshire – to host the Student Radio Association Conference. As one of the first Student Radio stations in the UK, first broadcasting in 1960, the station has grown in both size and quality from its early days. Today, the largest and most active Society run by the Union, the Media Society controls and directs Radio, Television, the Unionʼs newspaper and its web-sites. Within “Media,” Crush Radio plays a leading role in helping to inform, communicate with and entertain students and listeners. With over 100 active members their roles range from directing, editing and presenting programmes, to managing and maintaining the technical services and facilities. The Union and University are perfectly placed to host and deliver a Conference to remember.”

Mike Veal, Chief Executive of the University of Hertfordshire Studentʼs Union

“Crush Radio is one of the most exciting and sociable groups to join here at the University of Hertfordshire and I have seen it grow from strength to strength over the past 3 years. The enthusiasm you will see from all of our volunteers is something to be proud of and I hope they get the chance to work with you on the SRA Conference. Each member gets soo much experience and life skills from crush radio, to which I have found myself first hand. I can honestly say that whilst I was Station Manager of Crush Radio, those were the best days of my university life!”

Thom Palser, Vice President Communications & Media, UHSU

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University of Hertfordshire Studentsʼ UnionCollege LaneHatfield, AL10 9ABHertfordshire

web. www.crushradio.co.uktel. 01707 285000fax. 01707 286150

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CRUSH RADIO SRA CONFERENCE BID