UKRD Group - History

History

Formed on 22 August 1990 as a company to invest in commercial stations following the relaxation of station ownership laws, its first investment was a stake in Cornwall's Pirate FM 102 which was designed and launched by former County Sound boss Mike Powell who, after leaving County Sound, had formed Infinity Radio. Shortly after the launch, Infinity Radio merged with UK Radio Developments and Powell became CEO of the embryonic UKRD Group. Under Powell's leadership, UKRD became one of the fastest growing private radio groups in the UK, rapidly adding Star FM in Slough and winning the Guildford radio franchise which gave birth to 96.4 The Eagle, the new County Sound (a recreation of the original Guildford commercial station of the same name) and Delta Radio. Since then it has acquired several more stations, and launched further stations on the issue of new local licences.

UKRD acquired a significant minority share-holding in Faze FM which ran Kiss 102 in Manchester and Kiss 105 in Yorkshire. The stations had a branding deal with EMAP's Kiss FM, London. UKRD sold its interests in the Kiss stations in 1997 to the Chrysalis Group who added them to its Galaxy Radio network.

Since 2001, the head of the organisation has been William Rogers, one time leader of Penwith District Council, in Cornwall.

UKRD Group's head office is within the Carn Brea Studios of Pirate FM 102 in Redruth, Cornwall. It also has offices in Guildford and Bristol.

In 2009, it acquired The Local Radio Company and disposed of many non-profitable stations, as well as re-branding Alpha Radio, Minster Northallerton and Durham FM into Star Radio North East.

In March 2010 it was ranked twenty-seventh in the Sunday Times Best Companies to Work For (SMEs).

In March 2011 it was ranked 1st in the Sunday Times Best Companies to Work For.

In March 2012 it was ranked 1st in the Sunday Times Best Companies to Work For.