b'26 Partner News Spring 2021EnterpriseCloudbass Multimedia and University of Derby continue to deliver the next generation of Outside Broadcast EngineersUniversity of Derby has been running engineering related entertainment degree programmes since the mid-90s and many of its graduates have gone on to either work or establish their own companies within the industry. One such company, Cloudbass, was established in 2002 by former University of Derby Programme Leader, Steve Knee, and two graduates of the Universitys Sound, Light and Entertainment Technology degree programme, James Lacey, and Michael Beaumont. After starting with the crewing of broadcast engineers, they soon started to win their own contracts and over the following decade, expanded numerous times. The company now employs upwards of 70 staff members and has a regular freelance pool of over 250. Cloudbass operates fromin September 2016, the Programme isbe able to create an industry focussed, three sites, Ripley - Derbyshire, Pinewoodcurrently in its fifth year and has 10 studentspractical Degree Programme with University Studios and Glasgow. The company nowon its final year who are regularly gainingof Derby. The Directors and myself, who provides crew and facilities for clients andvital industry experience by working on theare all graduates of Derbys Programmes, broadcasters such as the BBC, ITV, Skycompanys full range of high profile contracts,really wanted to be able to give something Sports and Eurosport.including British Superbikes, Question Timeback and to facilitate the training and and Sottish Premier League football. Thisdevelopment of young people entering In a feature for CEO World Magazine, theexposure to real world jobs ensures that thethe OB Industry, says Justin Davey now Entertainment Engineering subject areastudents are equipped for work when theyHead of Human Resources and Education at at University of Derby was ranked 3rdcomplete their studies. In fact, CloudbassCloudbass. best in the world and 1st within the UK forhas already employed recent graduates of Entertainment Engineering courses. Thesethe programme to work on a full time basis.Bryan Buobo-Nwosu, a recent graduate of programmes have always been accredited,the programme and now staff member at firstly by the IIE and later by the IET after theThe University of Derby and Cloudbass areCloudbass says: I studied the BSc(Hons) merger between the IIE and the IEE in 2006. still working together to ensure that ourBroadcast Engineering at Derby not quite unique programmes not only allows studentsknowing where it would take me. I worked After employing numerous graduates fromto be taught by the some of the leadingat our local BBC Evening News during surrounding Universities, Cloudbass, workingAcademics in the field of Entertainmentmy degree and once I had graduated with academic and ex-University of DerbyEngineering but also to gain, first-hand, realaccepted an offer from Cloudbass to come student, Justin Davey, decided to launch anpractical experience of working on largeand work as an Engineer. I am currently education division to not only train its ownscale Outside Broadcast events. As well asregularly involved in the British Touring Car staff in-house, but also to offer industryworking on site, the students can also accessChampionship; Sky Sports Boxing and I focussed teaching to Universities. Havingequipment and facilities at Cloudbass to helpengineer the Question Time Zoom audience always placed education at its very core andthem with other learning activities, such aseach week.working closely with the University of Derby,their final year projects.Cloudbass was extremely proud to be ableMore information on Cloudbass and to launch their own BSc(Hons) BroadcastAfter teaching for almost 15 years acrossUniversity of Derby can be found at Engineering and Live Event Technology ina variety of programmes at major Eastcloudbass.com and derby.ac.uk conjunction with University of Derby. StartingMidlands Universities, it was really nice to'