A leading broadcast producer who has worked on some of the UK’s biggest TV shows has been enticed to back to Nottingham thanks to support from the Nottingham Technology Grant Fund (N’Tech).
David Marsh has worked with the who’s-who of TV from Ant & Dec and Jimmy Carr to Michael McIntyre, on shows such as A League of Their Own and 8 Out of 10 Cats, plus events at the London Olympics in 2012. He returns to Nottingham to strengthen the team at video production company Skeleton Productions, based at the Sir Colin Campbell Building on the University of Nottingham’s 35 million pound Innovation Park.
Skeleton was launched 10 years ago by three University of Nottingham post graduates and has now grown to be one of the leading video production companies in the region. With a team of 15, Skeleton also has a network of 3,000+ freelance film makers across the country – providing video services and digital campaigns across the UK for blue chips clients such as Standard Chartered Bank and AstraZeneca and Sport England as well for leading local players Experian, Boots and University of Nottingham. The later having sent Skeleton as far afield as China and Malaysia to do shoots.
From small beginnings Skeleton has grown steadily, developing its ranges of services in line with the changes to the digital landscape. Skeleton is a leading provider of recruitment videos for the higher education sector and delivers corporate and web videos, animation, viral and training videos as well as video hosting and analytics as part of its suite of video marketing services.
The £84,000 N’Tech Grant will provide Skeleton with the investment it needs to flourish and grow the business. The grant will enable the business to recruit an additional eight members of staff, in addition to David. As well as investing in new video production, motion graphics and editing equipment the grant will also assist the company to extend its services and thus broaden its customer base. The company is currently recruiting for a new creative director, web developer and digital market specialist.
N’Tech grants are geared towards the growing life science, digital content and clean technology sectors; the N’Tech fund is run by Nottingham City Council. The programme is focussed on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within the greater Nottingham area. N’Tech is a core element of the Nottingham Growth Plan a blueprint for the city’s future business growth and one of the most ambitious strategies of the UK’s Core Cities. Measures introduced as part of the plan have played a key role in encouraging new business formation through various finance and support packages.
Skeleton’s managing director Jonathan English has just been appointed as President of Nottingham City Business Club, and he is also Vice Chair of the Invest in Nottingham Club. He has also participated in another Nottingham Growth Plan initiative the Growth 100 scheme with The University of Nottingham to provide businesses with practical advice through specific themed workshops and also mentoring from business experts.
Jonathan commented “The N’Tech grant will facilitate a boost to our business and allow us to recruit additional new talent and invest further in Skeleton. Both N’Tech and Growth 100 are examples of the support available to ambitious businesses in the city who want to grow. We’re really delighted that the N’Tech grant has enabled us to lure David back to Nottingham, he’s such a great person to be part of the team.”
Sir John Peace, Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire and Chair of the Nottingham Economic Growth Board commented: “I know the team at Skeleton Productions personally and they are a fine example of an ambitious and progressive business in Nottingham using the support available as part of the Nottingham Growth Plan to develop and expand their business.”
N’Tech grants are funded solely through the Government’s Regional Growth Fund (RGF). Nottingham City Council secured RGF from the Government for grants to help fast track development of businesses based in the city. The funding can provide grants of £20,000 to £1million per successful company to support growth and expansion.
The N’Tech fund has so far had 46 successful applications across the digital content, life sciences and clean technology sectors and awarded grants to the value £5.8 million with 950 jobs created and safeguarded. N’Tech closes to applications on 30 September 2014.
Councillor Nick McDonald, Portfolio Holder for Jobs and Growth at the City Council, said: “Skeleton Productions is exactly the sort of business that Nottingham’s new economy is about. It is a dynamic business; ambitious and focussed on the quality and innovation of its offer. Skeleton Productions is a great ambassador for Nottingham’s digital sector and we are very pleased to be able to support its expansion and development through this N’Tech grant.”
