Full line-up announced for UK Community Radio Network Conference in Bradford

The UK Community Radio Network (UKCRN) is proud to announce the full line-up for its annual conference, taking place in Bradford on Saturday, 25th October.

This year’s event marks a major milestone as the community radio sector celebrates 20 years of broadcasting, connection, and impact across the UK, with the conference supported by headline sponsor BeBroadcast.

Stephanie Hirst, renowned Hits Radio presenter and former BBC Leeds and Capital FM presenter, will take to the stage during the afternoon to share her personal journey in radio. Stephanie will reflect on her career, her passion for the medium, and the vital role community radio plays in engaging and empowering local audiences.

A special anniversary panel, led by Dom Chambers of Sound Vision, will explore the evolution of community radio over the past two decades and its future trajectory. He’ll be joined by Jason Rosam of Riverside Radio and other key voices from the sector.

Later in the day, a forward-looking panel hosted by UKCRN Co-Founder Rebecca Steers will delve into the future of community radio, covering topics such as technological innovation, legacy planning, and training for the next generation of broadcasters.

Kerry Cobb, Events Manager at Fix Radio, will present a case study on the station’s success in serving the UK’s builder community through a commercial model on National DAB, while staying true to community-focused values.

Additional sessions include:

PR training with headline sponsors Be Broadcast
A spotlight on the work of the Cornwall Media Network in connecting stations in the region
Insights from Ashdown Radio on creating events that diversify income and strengthen local ties with businesses and the third sector.

Outside of the Conference Hall, businesses working with the sector will be on hand to engage with delegates, with stalls including Devaweb, DHD Audio, MediaSite UK, Promo Only, TM Studios, Radio News Hub, Radio Today and Vortex Communications.

A limited number of afternoon tickets have been released for those arriving early for the Community Radio Awards to join in the conversation at £10 per person.

To ensure accessibility, 20 bursary places have been released for the UKCRN Conference and Community Radio Awards. These bursaries include a full ticket to both events and a £50 contribution toward travel and accommodation.

The places have been made possible through generous financial support from Aiir, Be Broadcast, Steers Media, Broadcast Bionics, Rupert Brun, All In Media and the UK Community Radio Network.

The weekend will conclude with a Development Morning on Sunday, 26th October in Bradford City Centre, offering attendees the chance to network, receive feedback on demos and CVs, and build skills for future success in the industry. Tickets are just £5 including refreshments.

Details of the 2025 Bursary Scheme can be found at https://ukcrn.radio/bursary, with applications open until 5 pm on Thursday, 17th October 2025.

Tickets for the UKCRN Conference & Community Radio Awards in Bradford are available via communityradio2025.eventbrite.co.uk, with Early Bird tickets remaining on sale until 18th October 2025.

Could you host the conference and awards?

Our tendering process is always open, you can check out the tender document HERE

It is a developed process, so if you would like to express an interest and have a discussion do email us [email protected]

Thanks to Autopod, recordings of all of the Connecting Communities National Conference sessions 2022 have been made available to listen again, for 12 months following the event.

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