Jacob Dyer’s journey to Bournemouth wasn’t about the course or the facilitiesit was about one thing: radio.
Growing up in a military family, Jacob moved constantly as a child. Every time he began to settle in and find friends, it was time to leave again. It was unsettling. So at eleven years old, he asked his parents if he could go to boarding school for stability. Whilst it was tough being away from his family, this meant it was the first time Jacob got to stay in one place, make and maintain friendships and feel at home.
Although Jacob never saw himself as academic, he discovered his passion for radio when recording broadcasts with his dorm mates. Radio became his passion, and he instantly knew it was what he wanted to do in the future.
When it came to choosing a university, Jacob knew he wanted to stay on the south coast, and his main goal was to find the best student radio station. And there was one name that stood out from the rest.
“I wasn’t looking at universities-I was looking at student radio stations. I looked at who had the best student radio within the area, and I found Nerve Radio, and that’s what brought me to Bournemouth University.”
“I knew I wanted to be a radio presenter, so was torn between studying Media Production and Journalism. I ended up choosing Media Production because I saw there was an audio unit, but in all honestly, I came to Bournemouth purely for the radio.”
When he arrived at BU, he made a beeline at SUBU’s Freshers Fair to find Nerve Radio. He’d already been messaging committee members over the summer, and Freshers’ Fair meant he had the chance to meet them and have a tour of the studio. Within weeks, Jacob had his own show.
By the end of his first year, he ran for and was elected as Head of Daytimes, managing 30 shows and supporting new presenters.
“It pushed me out of my comfort zone, but I learned a lot and realised how much I enjoyed helping other people grow. That role really boosted my confidence, and by the end of the year, I knew I wanted to go for the Station Manager role.”
One of Jacob’s proudest moments was hosting a 24-hour charity broadcast featuring student presenters from across the south. The event earned Gold at the Student Radio Association (SRA) Amplify Awards and Silver at the Student Radio Awards.
“It was intense, I was physically and mentally exhausted, but it was an unforgettable moment. The atmosphere carried us, and we managed to push through the tiredness, and by the end of the broadcast I was in tears – it meant so much to me.”
Jacob’s talent caught the attention of our staff team who invited him to host the SUBU Awards - his first live presenting gig outside the studio. He loved it and returned the following year.
“I am radio through and through, but I’ve always been interested in all aspects of presenting. It was an incredible experience and opened my eyes to everything else that the
Students’ Union has to offer!”
This led to paid work as a Content Creator, where he brought energy and creativity to promoting SUBU initiatives and continued presenting for SUBU, including hosting the Full-Time Officer Elections Results Night.
Heading into his final year, Jacob was elected as Station Manager at Nerve Radio – the dream he had working towards since his first day at BU. That summer, he refurbished the podcast studio, building a second desk, adding mics, sofa and creating a space to meet the growing demand for podcasting. Leading a brand-new team,
Jacob introduced news bulletins, new music and tech teams, and extended broadcasting hours to include more students.
“It wasn’t just about my show anymore. It was about helping everyone else thrive.”
Jacob’s leadership earned him Outstanding Contribution to Nerve Media at the 2025 SUBU Awards.
“Honestly, I’ve loved being part of Nerve Radio. It has pushed me in ways I didn’t expect, I’ve learned so much about leadership, resilience, and how to build something meaningful. Getting this recognition meant the world… It made all the work feel worthwhile.”
Nerve Radio gave Jacob more than airtime-it gave him direction. He’s now exploring opportunities in community radio, where he can continue to build connections. Jacob has recently been elected as South Regional Officer of the Student Radio Association, which Nerve Radio holds membership for.
“It was a great experience meeting top producers and presenters, whilst getting honest feedback and seeing the industry up close. I’ve had the opportunity to visit Global Radio’s studios and attend the Student Radio Conference, where I’ve chatted with the likes of Capital presenter Jordan North.
“I’ve also had a reality check, where I realise that I may not ever end up in the industry. But I’m going to keep knocking at radio’s door and pushing to fulfil my dream.”
For Jacob, SUBU’s continued support for Nerve Radio is something he doesn’t take for granted.
“Some universities have lost their stations. But SUBU’s support means students like me can follow our passion. Nerve Radio didn’t just bring me to BU-it made my university experience.”
“My involvement with SUBU has helped to shape my future. I’d say over 70% of my time has been spent on SUBU and Nerve Radio, 20% on my course, and 10% to Lollipop at The Old Fire Station!
“Being able to be part of Nerve Radiothrough SUBU has made my dreams come true. I get excited every time I walk into the studio, and being part of Nerve has hands down been the best part of my experience at Bournemouth University.”
You can also find the full 2024/25 Impact Report here.