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Helen Thomas

Head of BBC Yorkshire, responsible for all television, radio and on-line services across the county, Helen Thomas, gained a BA (Hons) in Management from Bradford College in the 1980s.

Helen ThomasHelen began her career as a trainee reporter at Radio Aire in Leeds and then joined the BBC in York in 1985. Helen then took a break from her career to start a family but was tempted back to Yorkshire Television in Leeds and then the Minster Sound Radio Group before re-joining the BBC as Editor of BBC Radio Humberside in 1999. Helen was in charge of local programmes for East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire from March 2004, when the BBC created a new regional headquarters. She has been a director of the Broadcast Journalism Training Council.

“I was a student at Bradford College in the 1980’s and, like many, have fond memories. A particular highlight was the opportunity to spend a few months in the United States of America while a US student spent some time in Bradford. The exchange was ahead of it’s time. I lived in the halls at Lesley College in Boston - just down the road from Harvard Yard!

My work placement was on the 44th floor of the Prudential Tower - the home of W.E.E.I. News Radio 59. It was 24 hour news from the heart of Boston full of energetic, creative people. I shadowed a news reporter on stories across Boston seeing new technology at work in an all speech station - while studying the management structure as part of my course.
I have never forgotten the experience and left determined to work in the media.

I have used that determination and my fair share of luck to work in both radio and television across Yorkshire. As Head of BBC Yorkshire I can still remember the days when I looked out of the 44th floor window in Boston knowing exactly what I wanted to do. Thanks, Bradford College!”

Photograph supplied by BBC Yorkshire