Simon Cousins

A media professional with almost 40 years industry experience.

Through Simon Cousins Media

Ltd, founded in 2018, I worked for a range of clients delivering live events streamed to a global audience, public relations and communications contracts, corporate films (including editing and voiceover) along with conference chairing and media training. Prior to starting my own company, I worked for the BBC for 30 years. I started in News and Current Affairs working in Shetland, Glasgow, Aberdeen and New York before moving into live radio features production followed by radio documentaries.

In 2002, I became an Assistant Producer on BBC Scotland's, "Landward". Three years later I was made Series Producer tasked with achieving a primetime transmission slot for Scotland's longest-running magazine show. During my tenure I used the Landward brand to produce a series of hour-long documentaries on subjects ranging from the Brazilian beef industry, to the threat posed to Scotland's soft fruit industry by Brexit.

I own and operate two cameras – Sony FX6 Cinemaline and Sony A6500 – and edit on Final Cut Pro.

Director at Simon Cousins Media Ltd (2018-05 – Present)

After leaving the BBC I set up a Media consultancy specialising in Project management, Public Relations, media Training and corporate film-making. I work with clients across a range of sectors from the events and tourism industry to scientific institutions and farming organisations.

Executive Producer at RHSTV (2021-04 – 2024-06)

I established a live streaming service for the Royal Highland Show during the Covid lockdown. This evolved into RHSTV which streamed multiple channels, nine hours a day to over 400,000 viewers in more than 100 countries worldwide.

Communications Director at SkyeConnect (2018-11 – 2025-01)

I developed the reputation of SkyeConnect as the authoritative voice of tourism in Scotland's second most popular destination. I was responsible for guiding the industry through the Covid pandemic and lobbying Governments for relevant support packages. I produce a regular Podcast on matters related to the tourism industry called "Skyetime".

Consultant at SAC Consulting's FAS TV (2020-01 – 2023-03)

I helped set up and guide Scotland's leading Agricultural college in creating an online TV channel to replicate the work of the organisation's Farm Advisory Service. I edited the first 30 episodes of the series and provided the voiceover for all episodes.

Producer of corporate films at Self-employed (2018-08 – Present)

As well as producing an item for the One Show I have made a number of corporate films for organisations such as the Moredun research Institute, Moredun scientific, SkyeConnect, the Falklands Islands Government and the Royal Highland Society.

P/T Lecturer at Robert Gordon University (2020-01 – 2022-10)

In January 2020 I started a part-time role as a Post graduate lecturer in Broadcast Journalism in the School of Creative and Cultural Business at Robert Gordon University.

Series Producer - "Landward" at BBC Scotland (2005-03 – 2018-05)

When I was appointed to this role my primary objective was to relaunch and reinvigorate a 35-year-old BBC brand that was under-performing in terms of audience figures. By subtly altering the editorial agenda, shifting the target audience, changing the format, bringing in new presenters, changing the transmission slot and raising the production values, I created a programme that exceeded all objectives. This was achieved in a period of challenging efficiency targets where budgets have been reduced by an average of 10% per year.

Through the introduction of innovative digital end-to-end production tools and techniques the team produced more material, to a higher standard for less money than five years previously. In this role I dealt with Government Ministers, Chief Executives of Quangos, Environmental bodies, and Unions.

Writer and Producer - "Who is going to pick the fruit" at BBC Scotland (2017-10 – 2018-04)

This one hour documentary explored the impact of the Brexit referendum vote on the fruit farming sector and the thousands of migrant workers who travelled from across Europe each season for work.

Writer and Producer - "Prawn Wars" at BBC Scotland (2015-01 – 2015-07)

This one hour documentary followed the working lives of four west coast inshore fishermen, battling to make a living and coming into conflict in the search for Langoustine.

Writer and Producer - "Scotland's Harvest" at BBC Scotland (2014-05 – 2014-09)

This one hour documentary, using an experimental hybrid format of observational and presenter-led documentary, drew an exceptionally large audience and was critically acclaimed.

Commonwealth/Olympic Steering Group at BBC Scotland (2010-02 – 2014-06)

In the build up to Glasgow hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2014 I was appointed to the BBC Scotland Steering Group to plan all Broadcast output relating to the Olympic and Commonwealth Games.

AP/Director - "Landward" at BBC Scotland (2002-08 – 2005-02)

I initially joined the Landward team as a Video Journalist, writing, presenting, shooting and editing my own films ready for Broadcast. Within a couple of months I began Directing film crews and presenters on a range of food, farming and environmental short films as well as 30 minute specials on the Brazilian Beef industry and the Royal Highland Show.

Commonwealth Games - Reporter at BBC Sport (2002-07 – 2002-08)

At the Manchester Commonwealth Games in 2002 I was a TV Reporter covering the Athletics and Swimming events as well as compiling a Corporate Video of the event for the BBC Senior Management Team.

Project Management team at BBC Corporate Centre (2001-07 – 2002-06)

In 2001 BBC Director General, Greg Dyke, launched a Cultural Change Programme called "Making it Happen", which aimed to define the BBC Values and Goals. For a year I worked on one of the seven key themes - "Valuing People" - identifying and researching a range of employee benefits. My work resulting in the introduction of Flexible Holidays and the Childcare Voucher Scheme.

Scottish Representative at BBC Forum (1995-06 – 2002-06)

In 1995 I was elected by BBC Scotland staff and Management to represent the Division on the newly created BBC Forum. The body had the remit of holding regular debate on key issues facing the organisation. My role was to represent the interests of Scotland in discussions with the Director General and members of the Senior Executive Team.

Writer/Producer - "The History of North sea Oil" at BBC Scotland (1999-01 – 1999-06)

In 1999 I wrote and produced a landmark Documentary series for BBC Radio Scotland on the history of North Sea Oil. This ten part series received critical acclaim and has been used by the University of Aberdeen as a key element of its Social History courses.

Producer at BBC Documentaries (1999-06 – 2001-06)

Over the course of two years I produced radio documentaries for a range of BBC outlets including the World Service, Radio2 and BBC Scotland. These included a three part series on the state of fishing stocks around the world for BBC Scotland, a four part series for the World Service analysing the effectiveness of International Development Aid in Uganda and History of the New Romantic Movement for Radio 2.

Daily Live programme Producer at BBC Radio Scotland (1995-07 – 1999-06)

Over the course of four years I devised and produced a range of live daily output for Radio Scotland including "The Slice", "Now You're Talking" and "Fair Deal". I also presented a season of the Radio Scotland Saturday Sports show and stood in as a presenter on the Arts series "The Scottish Connection".

Broadcast Journalist at BBC News and Current Affairs (1991-10 – 1995-06)

As part of the Aberdeen-based news and current affairs team I reported on daily news issues, specialising in the Oil and Gas and Fishing industries. I also presented daily news bulletins for the North east and Northern Isles.

North America reporter at BBC News and Current Affairs (1991-04 – 1991-09)

For six months in the spring and summer of 1991 I was BBC Scotland's North America reporter based in the New York Bureau. I filed daily news reports for BBC Scotland outlets. Significant stories during this time included reporting from the United Nations in the aftermath of the first Gulf War and the arrest of the serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer.

Staff member at BBC News and Current Affairs (1990-03 – 1991-03)

In the Glasgow newsroom I carried out a range of roles including sub-editor, reporter and producer of weekly current affairs output.

Station assistant at BBC News and Current Affairs (1989-07 – 1990-02)

In my first staff position with the BBC I was the Station assistant at BBC Radio Shetland working on all News and feature output and presenting a range of programmes.

Freelance at BBC News and Current Affairs (1986-04 – 1989-06)

After leaving school I worked on a freelance basis at BBC Radio Shetland before attending University and throughout my University career.

Leadership Excellence Programme – BBC (2009-01 – 2009-12)

LLB Hons in Law – University of Hull (1989-01 – 1989-12)

Highers – Anderson High School, Lerwick, Shetland (1986-01 – 1986-12)

O Grades – Anderson High School, Lerwick, Shetland (1985-01 – 1985-12)