RTS / Atos Young Technologist 2018

Awards Ceremony

Monday, 26 November, 2018

gareth_reid_is_awarded_young_technologist_of_the_year_2018

The Royal Television Society (RTS) has announced the winner of its annual RTS Young Technologist Award, sponsored by Atos, and presented in memory of A.M. Beresford-Cooke. Gareth Reid, Technology Support Engineer at BBC Wales, was selected to receive the award by panel of industry expert judges, chaired by Digital Media Consultant Terry Marsh.

Gareth graduated from the BBC Broadcast Engineering scheme with BEng Hons after joining as an Engineering Apprentice in 2013. Following his graduation he joined BBC Wales as a Technology Support Engineer based in Cardiff, supporting TV and Radio facilities for multiple National Radio Stations and TV programmes in both English and Welsh language. He has also been involved in the training and development of the new systems being installed due to the relocation of BBC Wales in 2019.

Terry Marsh, Chair of the RTS Young Technologist Award jury, said: “It was a very strong field this year, however Gareth’s application stood out immediately due to his carefully considered answers, personable approach and his clear natural leadership working alongside both trainees and established engineers. He is not only excelling in his career, but also volunteering at the BBC Academy to provide advice for future apprentices, naturally aligning himself with the essence of this award as we celebrate the outstanding technologists of the future.”

Gareth Reid added: “I am delighted & privileged as a Broadcast Engineer to be recognised as the Young Technologist of the Year 2018. Working in this constantly changing industry, I strive to provide the highest level of support possible to both production and engineering teams across the BBC, while continually developing my skills in the latest standards and technologies available on the market.

Each day brings new & complex challenges which can require detailed fault finding and repairs at a moment’s notice. Working with colleagues, both experienced and newly qualified, allows us to share our knowledge to craft a solution that not only fixes the problem but ensures that our services and content stay on air for our viewers & listeners to enjoy.”

Kevin Murphy, BBC Wales Technology Support Manager said: “I am delighted that Gareth is this year’s RTS Young Technologist of the Year. He has played a key role in supporting all Broadcast Technologies within BBC Wales. The ambition and drive which he has shown in particular with the IP proof of concept we setup, coupled with an eagerness to both mentor and disseminate his knowledge to his colleagues make him a valuable asset to us here in BBC Wales.”

The runner up and recipient of the Coffey Award for Excellence in Technology 2018 is Alex Snell from BCi Digital.

The Young Technologist Award was established by the RTS with funds received from the family of A.M. Beresford-Cooke – a distinguished engineer who contributed much to the development of British broadcasting technology through his work on towers and masts for VHF and UHF transmission. The aim of the award is to advance education in the science, practice, technology and art of television and its allied fields. The winner gets an all-expenses paid trip to IBC while the runner-up receives the Coffey Award and a technical book of choice.

About Atos:

Atos is a global leader in digital transformation with approximately 100,000 employees in 73 countries and annual revenue of around € 12 billion. European number one in Big Data, Cybersecurity, High Performance Computing and Digital Workplace, the Group provides Cloud services, Infrastructure & Data Management, Business & Platform solutions, as well as transactional services through Worldline, the European leader in the payment industry. With its cutting-edge technologies, digital expertise and industry knowledge, Atos supports the digital transformation of its clients across various business sectors: Defense, Financial Services, Health, Manufacturing, Media, Energy & Utilities, Public sector, Retail, Telecommunications and Transportation. The Group is the Worldwide Information Technology Partner for the Olympic & Paralympic Games and operates under the brands Atos, Atos Consulting, Atos Worldgrid, Bull, Canopy, Unify and Worldline. Atos SE (Societas Europaea) is listed on the CAC40 Paris stock index.

Winners

Young Technologist of the Year: Gareth Reid

Nominees: