"Without Up To Speed I would not have been able to get a job in journalism. The facilities there are first class and it was a great atmosphere to take my first few steps as a journalist."
Ryan Jennings, Reporter, Maldon Standard
"Up to Speed is friendly and supportive, with brilliantly helpful tutors. Up to Speed has definitely prepared me well for my career, and I know my editor thinks so too!"
Helen Tunnicliffe, Senior Reporter, The Chemical Engineer
"I find that I use my knowledge of Public Affairs every day. I often find myself writing political stories."
Daniel Shane, Editor, Network Middle East
"It is fantastic to have got something to do in my chosen field after taking the course at Up To Speed"
Sean Raymond, Sports Content Writer
"I'm pretty sure that my work experience at the Echo was responsible for me getting the job ... and of course obtaining 100wpm shorthand!"
Alana Lewis, News Editor, Llanelli Star
"We are here to give you the skills to succeed. Contact us now to make sure you are Up To Speed."
Tom Hill, Up To Speed's Founder
"I would recommend a course at Up To Speed to anyone seeking a career in journalism. The tuition is first-rate, the facilities are excellent, and the staff are knowledgeable and supportive."
Timothy John, Assistant Editor, Training Journal
"I really enjoyed my time here and I couldn't have asked for better teachers. It's amazing how much I have learned in these last couple of months. Doing this course has opened many doors for me."
Chrissy Symmons, Reporter, Shropshire Star
"The course is housed in a fantastic setup, giving students the facilities and guidance to develop their own style of journalism to a professional standard. I'm not surprised to hear of the success of past students."
Neil Lancefield, Press Association Multi-Media Journalist
"I'm so grateful for the tuition and help I received during my time at Up To Speed and also after the course finished."
Rebecca Greenow, Celebrity Writer, Reveal
"I learned about Twitter and blogging at Up To Speed and that's how I became an online columnist writing about Formula 1. It's so exciting."
Laura Allard, F1 Blogger and Social Media Executive, Cunard
"Tom could not have been more helpful when it came to advice and help with job applications. "
Ruth Norris, Assistant Editor, Cambridge University Press
"I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Up to Speed and it set me up well to begin my first job as a reporter; I use the knowledge I gained on the course on a daily basis. Mastering 100wpm shorthand was the best thing I've ever done."
Hannah White, Senior reporter, Salisbury Journal
"Up To Speed was a real springboard into sports journalism and the skills I learnt on the course have been highly valuable to my work at Sky Sports."
Rachel Griffiths, Football writer, Skysports.com
"If you're considering working in journalism, the NCTJ is the only place to start. I'd have no hesitation in recommending Up To Speed as the place to begin that career."
Rory White, Used Car Writer, What Car?
"I definitely wouldn't have stood a chance of getting my job if I hadn't been on this course, so thanks for everything."
Jack Kitson, Sports content writer
"The course has set me up really well for the job and I am loving it."
James Bass, Freelance editor, ESPN
"I am so pleased to have found a job writing about sport, it's something I have always wanted to do."
Chris Knight, Sports content writer
"Tom does a great job at Up To Speed. I went from knowing very little about journalism to earning some fantastic grades, invaluable contacts and top-end freelance work."
Michael Dias, Founder, Fame Awaits
"My editor on placement just kept saying that it was a brilliant idea to qualify before going to university."
Becca Parlby, Gap Year NCTJ student
"It's always been a dream of mine to work for a magazine, and I couldn't be happier as I am now the editor of a title."
Alice Rook, Editor, Do More Magazine
"I am really pleased that it has all worked out for me and that my decision to do something different, and not just follow all my friends to university, has paid off."
Heather Findlay, Features Writer, That's Life magazine
"It was absolutely excellent as I got the qualifications I needed and my boss was really impressed that I hadn't just followed everyone else and gone to university."
Laura Herbert, Reporter, Reading Post
"I have no hesitation in describing the knowledge, skills and experience both the course and Tom himself has provided me with as invaluable for securing a job in journalism."
Paul Briden, Writer, Know Your Mobile
"Without Tom's journalism school, I would never have landed my first job. Likewise, my every subsequent career success can be directly or indirectly ascribed to the education I received at Up to Speed."
Up To Speed photojournalism student Ellie Hoskins has landed a job as a photographer with a group of newspapers in East London.
Ellie, 21, joined the Up To Speed fast-track course in Bournemouth after taking a degree in Documentary Photography at the University of Wales, Newport.
During the intensive course at Up To Speed, Ellie honed her photography skills and knowledge with tutors Neil Turner and Hattie Miles, and also learned Media Law and writing. She received 3As and two Bs in her NCTJ Diploma exams and portfolio.
She starts with Archant newspapers in mid-March.
The next NCTJ Photojournalism course at Up To Speed starts in January.
Up To Speed’s Photography students had a chance to shoot two fashion shows this week as guests of Canon Photography at London Fashion Weekend.
The team from Up To Speed in Bournemouth gained first-hand experience of the glamour, glitz and pressures of fashion photography in the event at Somerset House.
“The day was a really good opportunity to see what it’s like to work from the pit and it was really enjoyable,” said Pete Summers, 17, who has already passed all his NCTJ photography exams.
The four-day event follows on the heels of London Fashion Week and is aimed at retail buyers.
Up To Speed’s photography students will be using the images in their NCTJ portfolio, which is the final part of the professional qualification in Press Photography and Photojournalism they started at the end of September.
The students were accompanied by their tutor Neil Turner.
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: A modeal wears a bright dress as she walks the runway during London Fashion Weekend, sponsored by Vodafone, at Somerset House, London, England on February 21 2013. Photo by Peter Summers.
Interview Date for Journalism and Photography Courses
You can apply now for our NCTJ Fast-Track Diploma journalism courses starting in September, 2013 and for our Photojournalism course starting in January, 2014. Both courses are full-time for six months and lead to NCTJ Diplomas in Journalism.
The courses in Magazine, Sport and News will all start on Monday, September 23rd, 2013, while the Photojournalism course starts a few months later on Tuesday, January 14th, 2014.
We have already run three busy interview days and the next available date is Tuesday, February 19.
Our courses can be taken by graduates or by people who have just finished their A Levels.
Photography student Jimmy Karlsson has had a busy week on placement at the Bournemouth Daily Echo.
He has had several photographs published in the newspaper and during the Echo’srolling coverage of the week’s flooding he was also able to put his video skills to good use with these shots of the Lower Gardens.
Jimmy is part of the way through the NCTJ Diploma in Journalism for Photojournalists and Press Photographers at Up To Speed in the Daily Echo building.
He has completed exams in Caption Writing, Media Law, General Photographic Knowledge and Photographic Practice. Next term he will be able to use work from his placements in his portfolio of photography and video.
The students on Up To Speed’s NCTJ-accredited course in Photojournalism and Press Photography are looking forward to work placements next term.
They have secured experience with a range of publications and photographers including:
The Lady
South Wales Evening Post
Getty Images
INS news agency
Sportcam sports photography agency
The Argus in Brighton
BBC
DV8 magazine
Carl Wilson Photography
Bournemouth Daily Echo
Hereford Times
The Northern Scot
They are due to take exams next week and will fit in placements around assignments for their NCTJ Portfolio for Press Photographers and Photojournalists. They are taking the NCTJ Diploma in Journalism for Press Photographers and Photojournalists on a full-time six-month course based in the Daily Echo building in Bournemouth.
Students on Up To Speed’s Photojournalism course have spent the last two Wednesday afternoons covering sport.
They covered varsity rugby matches on the first day and football games on the second week.
A sports photograph is a key element of the NCTJ Photography Portfolio they will submit next term. They were accompanied by their tutor Hattie Miles, who has taken some pictures you can see on our Facebook page.
The students sports photos can be seen on our news site.
The next NCTJ Fast-Track course in Press Photography and Photojournalism starts at Up To Speed next September. The six-month course covers all practical aspects of photojournalism and can be taken by school-leavers, graduates or career-changers.
The courses in Magazine, Sport and News will all start on Monday, September 23rd, 2013, while the Photojournalism course starts a day later on Tuesday, September 24th.
These accredited courses all lead to the NCTJ Diploma, which means you can be qualified within six months of starting.
Glopho founder Simon Walker with Up To Speed’s NCTJ Photojournalism students. Picture by Neil Turner.
Students on Up To Speed’s NCTJ Photojournalism course were given a fascinating insight into the future of photography by a former national news photographer who has set up a social network for news pictures.
They heard about Simon Walker’s 20-year career with The Sunday Express and The Times and about his decision to create Glopho.
It was also a chance for Simon to catch up with a former colleague from The Times, Up To Speed’s photography tutor Neil Turner.
Up To Speed runs six-month full-time courses leading to the NCTJ Diploma in Journalism for Press Photographers and Photojournalists and is based at the Daily Echo building in Bournemouth.
To find out more about the social network Glopho, you can watch this video.
Students on Up To Speed’s NCTJ photography course have been out and about all week putting their skills to the test.
In this case, they were there to record the moment when Bournemouth’s gardeners marked the end of Summer by removing ornaments from flower beds in the town’s Lower Gardens.
2.10.12 ... UTSEndOfSummer ... Up To Speed media school photojournalism students photographing the end of the summer season in Bournemouth gardens, as council workmen take down displays and dig summer out bedding plants. Photograph by Hattie Miles
Even in the age of Facebook, instagram and the iPhone 5, professional photographers all over the world still have to contend with people who hate having their picture taken.
And so we felt it was only fitting that the nine new students starting on Up To Speed’s photojournalism course should start out by sitting for pictures themselves.
The shots were taken by photography tutor Hattie Miles, a highly experienced news and features photographer, who is used to putting people (including photographers) at ease.
