Reform Radio
Reform Radio is a Manchester-based not-for-profit Community Interest Company that operates an online radio station and delivers free creative skills training (DJing, music production, podcasting, comedy, wellbeing) to 16-25 year olds in Greater Manchester, funded primarily through public grants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersManchester, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Reform Radio does
Reform Radio is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company (CIC) registered in the United Kingdom and operating from Bonded Warehouse at 18 Lower Byrom Street, Manchester. The organization's primary activity is operating an online radio station that broadcasts music, arts, and culture content, distributed via website streaming, DAB digital radio, YouTube, TikTok, Soundcloud, and Mixcloud. Built on a professional broadcasting platform with award-winning recording studios and audio production facilities, the station functions as both a media outlet and the engagement layer for the organization's youth development mission.
The commercial core is a portfolio of free creative training programs (DJ Sessions, Music Course, Radio Course, Podcasting Course, Comedy Course, Positive Frequencies wellbeing program, Run the Show, Soundcamp, and Money Matters) targeting young people aged 16-25 in Greater Manchester, particularly those struggling to find employment. Reform Radio is primarily funded by grants from public bodies including MAES, Manchester City Council, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Youth Music, Arts Council England, the European Social Fund, the Education and Skills Funding Agency, The Prince's Trust, and the National Lottery Heritage Fund. All educational courses are free to participants, with travel and lunch also covered.
Secondary revenue comes from studio hire and end-to-end podcast production services for external clients, plus voluntary donations via the Ko-fi platform. The organization operates an in-house record label, Rhythm Lab Records, originally an Arts Council England-funded project, and is signed on multiple social platforms to support outreach. With 11-50 employees and no disclosed financials, Reform Radio functions as a community-led social enterprise whose go-to-market relies on referral partnerships with local councils, community organizations, and a resident DJ network of 300+ participants.
Reform Radio firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Reform Radio
- Legal name
- Reform Radio
- Website
- https://reformradio.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Reform Radio is a Manchester-based not-for-profit Community Interest Company that operates an online radio station and delivers free creative skills training (DJing, music production, podcasting, comedy, wellbeing) to 16-25 year olds in Greater Manchester, funded primarily through public grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Reform Radio industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Radio Broadcasting
- NAICS
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (516110), Sound Recording Studios (51224)
- SIC
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public/Noncommercial Radio Broadcasting (NPR, Community, Campus) (MPAIAEAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Internet Radio & Streaming Broadcast Stations (Simulcast/Online-only) (MPAIAEAE), Digital Radio Broadcasting (DAB/DAB+, HD Radio) (MPAIAEAD), Radio Streaming & Catch-Up Audio Platforms (MPAIADAJ)
Keywords
Where Reform Radio is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Manchester
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Reform Radio business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Funding and Grants: Reform Radio operates as a registered Community Interest Company (CIC) primarily funded through grants and funding from public bodies including Manchester Adult Education Service (MAES), Manchester City Council, Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), Youth Music, Arts Council England, European Social Fund, The Prince's Trust, and National Lottery Heritage Fund. All educational programs and courses are free to participants as they are funded through these grants.
- Studio Hire: Reform Radio offers studio hire and podcast production services through their podcast-production page, generating revenue from external clients who wish to use their award-winning facilities.
- Donations and Community Support: The organization accepts donations through Ko-fi platform and encourages community support for their not-for-profit activities.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free educational programs funded by grants |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Studio hire services |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels11 records
Reform Radio product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Reform Radio operates an online radio station broadcasting music, arts, and culture from Bonded Warehouse in Manchester, available via website streaming and DAB digital radio. Alongside the broadcast, the organization delivers a portfolio of free creative training programmes for young people aged 16-25 covering DJ sessions, music production, radio presenting, podcasting, comedy, and wellbeing, funded primarily through public grants. It also generates earned income from paid studio hire and end-to-end podcast production services using its award-winning facilities.
Product overview
Reform Radio is a not-for-profit community interest company operating an online radio station from Bonded Warehouse, Manchester. The organization offers a portfolio of free creative training programmes (DJ sessions, music production, radio presenting, podcasting, comedy, and well-being courses) alongside podcast production and studio hire services. The core offering combines radio broadcasting with youth development, using creative engagement to help young people develop skills for employment in the creative industries. Funded primarily by MAES, Manchester City Council, Youth Music, and Arts Council England.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Online Radio Broadcasting Online radio station broadcasting music, arts, and culture from Bonded Warehouse in Manchester, available via website streaming and DAB digital radio to young people, residents, and a global online audience.
- Creative Courses and Workshops Portfolio of free creative training programmes for young people aged 16-25 covering DJ, music production, radio presenting, podcasting, comedy, and wellbeing, with travel and lunch provided. Funded by public grants and free to participants.
- Studio Hire Paid rental of Reform Radio's award-winning professional recording studios for external podcast production and audio recording needs, available on a pay-as-you-go basis.
- Podcast Production End-to-end podcast production service for external clients, delivered using Reform Radio's award-winning studios and team, recognized with Audio Production Awards and British Podcast Awards.
- Rhythm Lab Records Reform Radio's in-house record label focused on fostering collaboration and creative relationships between artists, originally funded by Arts Council England.
Quantifiable outcome
- Won Outstanding Project Award at Youth Music Awards 2021
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Reform Radio
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Reform Radio technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Reform Radio partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- One Manchester and Gorton CentralminorPartnership with One Manchester and Gorton Central for delivering the Podcasting Course in Gorton area of Manchester.
- MHA (Manchester Health and Care Commissioning)minorPartner in the Money Matters financial literacy program along with Manchester City Council, providing wrap-around support for participants.
- Do As You PleasecorePartnership with Do As You Please for delivering beginner DJ courses. Reform Radio collaborated with this organization to deliver the 2023 beginners DJ course teaching beatmatching and gig promotion skills.
- shesaid.sominorInternational partnership with South African community organiser shesaid.so for the Mutualism EP collaboration program connecting South African musicians with Manchester producers.
- Rhythm Lab RecordscoreRhythm Lab Records is Reform Radio's in-house record label, originally an Arts Council England funded project exploring collaboration and fostering new creative relationships. The label was handed over to young people for six months as part of the Career Starter project.
- Curious MindsminorPartner in the Hope Continues Project along with Hope Streets and National Heritage Lottery, which funded the Artist in Residence program.
- Hope StreetsminorPartner in the Hope Continues Project along with Curious Minds and National Heritage Lottery, supporting the Artist in Residence program.
- Manchester Imagination LibraryminorPartnership providing free books each month until children are 2 years old for families involved in the First 1000 Days storytelling program.
- Thirty Pound GentlemanminorPartner in the Soundcamp project, contributing mentors including Jenna G and Danny Fahey (Thirty Pound Gentleman) to the music bootcamp program.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Reform Radio competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Rinse FM: UK community and pirate-heritage online radio station combining music broadcasting with talent development and youth engagement. Comparable hybrid broadcast-plus-cultural-development model.
- Worldwide FM: London-based independent online radio station focused on global music, arts, and culture. Similar curatorial online-radio identity serving culturally engaged listeners.
- Balamii: London-based independent online radio station with a resident DJ community and strong cultural-music focus. Closely comparable community-driven online broadcasting approach.
- Soho Radio: London-based independent online and DAB radio station mixing music, talk, and culture with a community of resident DJs. Directly comparable independent local community broadcaster.
- NTS Radio: London-based independent online radio station with global streaming reach, a resident DJ community, and a strong cultural/music focus. Closely comparable online-community radio model targeting similar creative audiences.
- Sub FM: UK underground electronic music online radio station with roots in community broadcasting. Comparable grassroots online-radio identity targeting niche music communities.
- Resonance FM: London-based not-for-profit community radio station focused on arts, music, and culture with significant volunteer and resident-DJ involvement. Comparable arts-and-culture community broadcaster with similar non-commercial mission.
Broad incumbents
- Hits Radio Pride / Bauer Media Audio UK: Bauer Media operates UK-wide commercial radio stations including Hits Radio, which Reform Radio has produced content for (Tough Talks). Larger incumbent broadcasting group that interacts with Reform Radio as a partner rather than direct competitor.
Regional players
- Refuge Worldwide: Berlin-based community online radio station with a strong DJ residency model and cultural programming. Comparable community-radio and creative-development ethos, though operating in a different geography.
Emerging players
- Jamal Edwards' SBTV / youth media peers: UK youth-focused digital media platform historically combining broadcast content with talent development for young creatives. Comparable youth-development-through-media mission, though operating in online video rather than radio.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Reform Radio social profiles
Digital presenceReform Radio financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Reform Radio leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Reform Radio funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Reform Radio M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Reform Radio
What does Reform Radio do?
Reform Radio operates an online radio station broadcasting music, arts, and culture from Bonded Warehouse in Manchester, available via website streaming and DAB digital radio. Alongside the broadcast, the organization delivers a portfolio of free creative training programmes for young people aged 16-25 covering DJ sessions, music production, radio presenting, podcasting, comedy, and wellbeing, funded primarily through public grants. It also generates earned income from paid studio hire and end-to-end podcast production services using its award-winning facilities.
Is Reform Radio a public or private company?
Reform Radio is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Reform Radio founded?
Reform Radio was founded in 2013. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Reform Radio based?
Reform Radio is headquartered in Manchester, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Reform Radio make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Funding and Grants are the primary driver. The others are studio Hire and donations and Community Support.
Who are Reform Radio's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Rinse FM, Worldwide FM, Balamii, Soho Radio, NTS Radio, Sub FM and Resonance FM. Hits Radio Pride / Bauer Media Audio UK is listed as a broad incumbent. Refuge Worldwide is listed as a regional player. Jamal Edwards' SBTV / youth media peers is listed as an emerging player.
Does Reform Radio have an API?
No public API is recorded for Reform Radio.
What industry is Reform Radio in?
Reform Radio's product category is Community Radio Broadcasting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIAEAB, Public/Noncommercial Radio Broadcasting (NPR, Community, Campus), with a secondary code of MPAIAEAE, Internet Radio & Streaming Broadcast Stations (Simulcast/Online-only). Its NAICS code is 516110 and its SIC code is 4832.