Edinburgh Napier University

Radio ENRG – Talk, Tunes, Tales & Talent

ENRG (Edinburgh Napier Radio Group) is our student radio station, which broadcasts live from our Merchiston campus, Monday – Wednesday. Alongside this, the ENRG website hosts both articles and podcasts written, edited and published by ENU students. As of 2023, there are 26 shows and 18 podcasts, with a staff of 35 presenters and managers. It is a well-loved student institution, and an invaluable opportunity for many Journalism students to gain hands-on experience of presenting, hosting, interviewing and content creation of all types.

Radio ENRG launched on Monday 18th November 2013 at 3pm with ‘ENRGize’, the show for all things Edinburgh Napier. It began as an individual major project by student George Ward, but soon developed into a student radio station following the recent closure of the student newspaper, Veritas. The current Dean of the School of Arts & Creative Industries, Diane McLean, was the module supervisor at the time. George’s supervisor for his major project, Allan Boughey, is the longest serving presenter at the station. He is still a member of the Journalism teaching staff at ENU, and has supported and helped with the development of ENRG over the years.

As more students and staff got involved, the project developed from a student newspaper in audio form into a full media platform, and a space where students could practise the skills they were learning on the Journalism course and build their confidence alongside their skills, knowledge and understanding. 
BA Journalism Programme Leader Carolynn Scott said of the station:

'I see ENRG as a hugely valuable part of the journalism department. It allows students to come together, to take ownership of the ever-expanding network, and create a sense of community that would be hard to replicate. It’s inspiring to watch our students collaborate on projects and each year welcome new classmates into the ENRG family. From the social aspects, allowing students to meet peers from other year groups and courses, to the opportunity to gain hands-on real life experience, you can’t put a price on what ENRG brings to the department.'

Our 10th Anniversary 

Ten years, hundreds of shows and thousands after the first broadcast, RadioENRG invited current and former students and staff to reflect on their memories & journeys with the station and look ahead to the next ten years of ‘talk, tunes, tales and talent’.

Radio ENRG founding station manager, George Ward, wanted to celebrate the success of the platform so far and reflect with former presenters on their time on the channel. The ‘Birthday Bonanza Broadcast’ aired between approximately 2-8pm and included a number of interviews with past and present members of the ENRG team.

Of the experience, George said:  
‘It was surreal to be back and I was hugely impressed by the passion & enthusiasm from all of the current students & staff involved. The 'ENRG' brand has expanded enormously over the years and I am truly delighted how it has given so many people a platform to create & collaborate, to present & produce and to learn & improve.’ 

Some alumni sent through voicenotes reflecting on their time at the radio station and what they are up to now. 

Former station manager and presenter Cassie Burke, now a Content Marketing Director in the US, said: "Radio ENRG was by far one of the best things I did as a student. I have so many fond memories of countless hours in the booth, loading up music and jingles, figuring out the logistics of live performances and late-nights on campus producing the 24-hour charity broadcast.’ 

Former presenter Emily Grieve shared her memories of her show which inspired her current career. ‘My show was called Positive Vibrations... it was a nice, eclectic mix of feel-good songs. I now run Miss Mobile Disco which is a full-time mobile wedding DJ job! Radio ENRG was a key part of getting me into DJing and having that creative outlet alongside my course was definitely one of the highlights of my time at Napier and sparked my interest in what I do now as my full-time job.’

To listen to our shows, read our articles and find out more about Radio ENRG, visit the website here.