Since he began at 2GB, Ben Fordham has been quietly giving opportunities to the next generation of radio presenters, producers and journalists.

He removed a couch from his office and asked for another desk, so that work experience kids could come and work with his show to develop their talent and discover if radio was a career for them.

Ben knows something about work experience programs, he began his career by doing work experience at 2UE.

At this weekend’s ACRAs he was the first to go backstage to crash the photo wall and congratulate some of those who have began their careers in his show.

“I’ve got a big work experience program and a lot of these winners have come through a work experience program I designed… 2GB didn’t have one when I began…

“That’s how I started, so that’s why I decided to do it.”

Spiro, who won a Best Newcomer Award in this year’s ACRAs, was Ben’s first talk back caller when he began on breakfast and is now on the 2GB Breakfast production team… “He started working for us the day after his high school formal,” Fordham told radioinfo.

“I finished school and got a job with Ben at 2GB… If you put in the hours and effort and are surrounded by good people you can succeed, I am indebted to those at the station around me.”

Mitch Churi was also a work experience student and Ben put him on air, at the end of the segment telling listeners, ‘remember the name Mitch Churi’

“To get on air has changed my life… to win this is incredible.

“I was Ben’s work experience kid about 15 years ago, he was great to me, he has called me at every milestone and given me good advice.”