About me
> I help people hone their communications skills, networking techniques, and business skills.
> I have a particular focus on finance and organisational skills training for freelancers and small businesses in the creative industries.
> I’m also focused on helping people moving through redundancy into self-employment.
> My aim is to help people do all this while having fun and reducing stress.
> I set up David Thomas Media in 2005 to support charities in developing media interview skills, and to work with freelancers who would rather hide under the duvet than open a spreadsheet.
> In networking skills courses I like to concentrate on how to build professional relationships over time while not being a pain in the neck.
> I also mentor creatives to help them be better trainers.
> My career has been built over 40 years as a trainer, broadcaster and manager. I worked in the BBC for 22 years as a journalist, editor and head of department. Much of that time was at the BBC World Service and local radio. I’ve been all around the world, working with broadcasters from Eastern Europe, the Far East, Africa and the Caribbean.
Industry
Skills
L&D / Training Developing & Delivering Training Materials Business Development Film and TV Production
Work history
Head of BBC English
BBC
Jun 1996 - Jan 2005
Ran the BBC's educational production department for English language training overseas.
Responsible for developing online services for English learners around the globe.
Freelance finance and networking skills training
ScreenSkills, production unions and others
Jan 2005 - Present
Running various online and in-person training for freelancers to helps them become more businesslike and navigate the world of self employment in the production industries