After a decade in UK, European and US radio, audio and multimedia content production, broadcast journalism and programme presentation – split evenly between commercial and public sector operators – Simon began teaching radio and media production at FE and HE levels.
Simon entered teaching in 2007 at Gateway College in Leicester, teaching a BTEC Radio cohort. In 2008, he became a lecturer on 51Âþ»'s Radio Production BSc programme, teaching students from across the Creative Media Technology department.
Simon became Programme Leader for Radio Production and Technology BSc in September 2012, and he completed the Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education in 2013. He became Programme Leader for Media Production BSc in January 2015.
The second strand to Simon’s 51Âþ» life is the university’s student-community radio station, 107.5 DemonFM. The station has existed since 1995 under regular student Restricted Service Licences, and since 4 May 2009 as a Community Radio Licence. Simon is a Director on the Board of DemonFM.
Simon began his radio career with Chrysalis Group, first at their base in Leeds with Galaxy 105 (now Capital 105) and then in London with Galaxy Network (now Capital Network): three and a half years as news-desk journalist, then network entertainment news editor, presenter & producer. Simon moved to Chrysalis New Media as an audio producer and web journalist with puremix.com.
Simon spent two years freelancing in London: as a multimedia content producer with Carlton Television; an assistant producer on a Radio 5 Live documentary for World AIDS Day; an interactive TV platform producer - the 'red button' at onDigital - later ITV Digital and finally Freeview; and as a syndicated broadcast producer for Carl Cox@Space in Ibiza, carried by Juice, Beat and Fire in the UK; by OksigenFM in Bosnia; by DanceFM in Ibiza; by Sky Music Choice across Europe and by WorldSpace satellite radio across the continental United States.
Simon spent the next four years as network producer and broadcast journalist for the BBC’s new DAB service, BBC Asian Network. He produced ‘Late Nights with Adil Ray’ (the star of the BBC’s TV comedy show Citizen Khan), a role including delivering the 11pm and 12am news bulletins for the network.
Simon also worked on live debate phone-in programmes with Sonia Deol; arts and culture programming with Nikki Bedi; and spent three months producing the news-led Drivetime programme, also with Nikki. He also produced several of the key music programmes with Bobby Friction, as well as Panjabi Hit Squad.