Producer Fraser T Smith has announced the launch of the Future Producer Academy, in partnership with collecting society PPL and the Music Producers Guild.The initiative was formally unveiled last night as Smith was presented with the Outstanding Contribution To UK Music prize at the MPG’s annual awards in London. The academy aims to boost the careers of emerging producers from under-represented backgrounds through a combination of financial and educational support.“I’ve had an unorthodox career journey and there have been many times when I’d loved to have a more experienced hand in the business sit down and help me understand how things work”, says Smith.“The idea of the Producer Academy is to do just that”, he explains.