Sam Whipple has been described by one launch editor as “the most reassuring person I have worked with.” He’s a consultant with experience managing TV studio projects. He masterminded the plan that ensured that over 2,000 people moved into the BBC’s newly refurbished TV Studios in London on time, on budget and with improved output. His expertise is in planning projects from the moment users interact with new systems through to a successful launch.
He provides a comprehensive change management plan to cope with sensitive changes (changes in the way people work or job losses) to ensure people stay positive and engaged throughout the project.
He spent 15 years as a senior journalist at the BBC working on live Television News output. So he knows what journalists want from a new system and what they will be worried about. His approach minimises risk, ensuring that users are well trained so that they get the most out of the new systems and launch their broadcasts safely.
He is also an executive coach and leadership trainer and combines his change management expertise with an understanding of how to help people thrive through stressful change.
Projects Sam has worked on
ScreenSkills, Implementation Lead for Centre of Screen Excellence: Yorkshire (September 2019 to present)
Working with partners Screen Yorkshire and the National Film and Television School to set up The Centre of Screen Excellence: Yorkshire, which will provide a clear pathway for people from all backgrounds who want to break into the screen industry. The centre is establishing six new courses that will provide students with industry-recognised craft certificates for film and TV in roles such as construction, costume, grip, hair and make-up, lighting technician and production assistant (scripted).
Uzbekistan National Broadcaster, Tashkent, Uzbekistan (March 2019)
Advice on improved planning, newsroom cooperation and scheduling to improve content produced by Uzbekistan 24. On behalf of BBC Media Action.
Uzbekistan 24 News report on Sam Whipple’s consulting work on behalf of BBC Media Action.
Mongolian National Broadcaster, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (September 2018)
Provided advice on launch readiness of its English language channel, MNB World, delivered report outlining timelines, workflows, training needs for successful launch & streamlined workflows.
Hromadske, Kiev, Ukraine on behalf of BBC Media Action (October 2017 and present)
Advised independent Ukrainian media company how to set performance objectives, improve newsroom workflows to enable better cooperation between TV, website and social media teams.
Network 18, Mumbai, India (November 2016 – April 2017)
Working with Innovation Media Consulting, delivered a newsroom model to help a large media company achieve its mission to establish its CNBC and CNN affiliate TV channels and websites as “mobile first” operations. The model included a new organisational structure, with new definition of roles, workflows, planning processes and 24/7 production schedules for web and TV.
Thinking the Unthinkable, London, UK (June 2017 – June 2018)
Change manager for a business start-up. Managed re-branding project and revamp of its website www.thinkunthink.org. Helped define company mission statement & values. Developed a new content strategy, customer relationship management system and advised on team structure.
BBC Sport Africa, London, UK (October – November 2018)
Delivered recommendations on how to streamline workflows for Sport programme produced in English, Swahili and French from London, Nairobi, Lagos and Dakar.
BBC Persian TV, London, UK (May 2018 – September 2018)
Advised on new team structure, workflow and rota schedule to improve output and increase team engagement and morale.
BBC World Service 2020 Programme, London, UK (February – July 2017)
Brought in to trouble shoot the training provision for the BBC’s £280 million expansion of its language services when it was facing problems that threatened to delay the project. Tested assumptions and timelines in existing plans. Recommended ways to minimise risk.
BBC World News, London, UK (November 2016 – January 2017)
Developed new production roles and a staff scheduling model for the BBC’s international 24-hour news channel to improve quality of output and staff engagement.
BBC W1 Programme, 2010-2013
Sam produced the plan to ensure staff learnt how to use the new TV broadcast technology when they moved into the BBC’s London headquarters. He coordinated installations in 4 studios, with 3 different waves of TV programmes over a 15-month period involving over 2,000 people.
“Thanks to Sam’s utterly meticulous planning and dedication, the training and piloting plan was faultless.” Jenny Baxter, BBC Controller of Production
Victoria Derbyshire Programme, April 2015
Sam project managed the launch of the BBC’s pioneering “Digital First” programme. He ensured a safe launch within a very tight 11-week deadline. He produced the plan to get staff to adopt new ways of working to deliver the programme’s digital & social media ambitions.
“The most reassuring person I have ever worked with. I do not think we could have got the programme on air without him.” Louisa Compton, Editor Victoria Derbyshire programme.
BBC Singapore Bureau move, July-August 2015
The project combined the construction of a new studio in Singapore with the redesign of programmes in London. Sam’s launch plan had to work across different time zones and hit its deadline with only 2 weeks between the completion of construction and launch.
“Sam made sure it was so smooth we all pinched ourselves …. Without him I can confidently say it wouldn’t have been possible”. Liz Corbin, BBC Singapore bureau chief.
Digital Transformation/Multi-media Newsroom
Sam played an important role in the launch of the BBC’s Jupiter System – a Media Asset Management and Video Production system. He was involved in the creation of the BBC’s multimedia newsroom where TV, Online and Radio were combined to increase collaboration. He worked on the introduction of a new Online Media Pipeline system to speed up the delivery of video to digital platforms.
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