Nicola Beckford

Nicola Beckford is an award-winning BBC journalist. She presents the regional television news programme Midlands Today on BBC One during BBC Breakfast and at lunchtime. Her career includes presenting Woman's Hour, You & Yours, and Pick of the Week on BBC Radio 4. She has also hosted Midlands Today's evening news and BBC news bulletins in Bristol and Cambridge. Before her presenting career, Nicola reported for the BBC's One and Six O'Clock News, Radio 4's Today Programme, and Radio 5 Live. Nicola was among the first BBC journalists to utilise the Freedom of Information Act to uncover stories, influencing government changes in UK law. In 2012, she revealed on BBC Radio 4's The World at One that hundreds of children were detained in police cells due to a shortage of mental health hospital beds, leading to changes in the Mental Health Act. While reporting for the BBC Six O'Clock News, she uncovered that many hospital patients in England were victims of serious preventable errors termed "never events." This work led to invitations to speak at various conferences, including the Health and Safety Executive and the Scottish Parliament. With over twenty years in broadcasting, Nicola is also an accomplished conference and awards host. Her highlights include hosting the Interchange Conference and interviewing retail expert Mary Portas during her "Work Like a Woman" book tour. Before her broadcasting career, Nicola worked as a secondary school teacher in Birmingham, where she aimed to inspire her students to reach their potential. Her research and presentation skills suit her for various corporate events. Nicola Beckford is available for conference facilitation, awards hosting, panel debates, interviewing, and voiceovers. To book her for your next event, contact the PepTalk team.