Film production company set for growth thanks to new grant

October 12, 2020

A Shropshire film production company has its sights set on growth thanks to a £10,000 grant from a new business support programme.
The Ludlow-based Wild Edric Media company has used the  money – from the Marches Small Equipment Grant (SEG) –  to help it buy a £30,000 multi-camera professional-standard live streaming package.
Wild Edric Media director Carl Walker says the new equipment will help it target a new and growing sector of the market by broadcasting live performances straight to the internet.
The grant scheme, which is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund and supported by the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership and Marches Growth Hub – is part of a £3million funding package which also includes the Marches Building Investment Grant.
Carl said the grant had come at just the right time for the company.
“‘We are a little unique amongst film production companies in that we do a lot of work with theatres and live events such as conferences, awards evenings and such like..
“We believe this current situation has changed our behaviour and focus towards more virtual events and this investment means we can now offer high-end live streaming services to clients who are looking to reach a wider online audience, create revenue opportunities through Pay Per View and reduce carbon impact through reduced travel to events such as conferences.”
Programme manager Caroline Cattle said she was delighted the company had been successful in its application.
“This is precisely the sort of company that the Small Equipment Grant was set up to help. It can provide grants of between £1,000 and £10,000 and makes all the difference to a company’s ability to expand and offer new services or products.”
Grants of between £1,000 and £10,000 are available under the programme, which is open to small and medium-sized companies across Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin.
The grant is available as a contribution of up to 50 per cent and primarily covers B2B companies. Items purchased must exceed £500 in value and have a life expectancy of three years. Eligible projects must lead to the creation of at least one part time job within six months or the creation of a new product or service to be used by other businesses.
Because of restrictions imposed by the ERDF, the scheme is not available to retail businesses, restaurants, drinking establishments and fast food takeaways, online retail or rental businesses, farms involved in primary production, or local social welfare facilities.
Details of the scheme are available through the Marches Growth Hub.
The Marches Growth Hub Herefordshire can be contacted on 01432 261758 or email business@herefordshire.gov.uk
The Marches Growth Hub Shropshire can be contacted on 01743 250526 or email marchesgrowthhub@shropshire.gov.uk
The Marches Growth Hub Telford & Wrekin can be contacted on 01952 567589
or email enterprisetelford@telford.gov.uk
Herefordshire Council is the accountable body for the scheme. Full details are available from the programme team on seg@herefordshire.gov.uk or by calling 01432 261511.

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The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership has now ceased trading and transferred all its functions to Shropshire Council working with Telford & Wrekin Council and Herefordshire Council, in line with the UK Government's plans for devolution.

The Marches LEP was established in 2011 and hands over an impressive legacy from its 13-year life. In that time the LEP invested over £196m in projects across the Marches, securing in excess of £100m of match funding and supported more than 66,000 business interactions.

The schemes supported have made tangible differences to local communities, increasing skills, creating jobs and improving the physical appearance of many towns.

We would like to thank all the LEP Board Members who have given their time freely over the life of the LEP, as well as all the staff who worked for the LEP over the years. We also want to thank our delivery partners, local education providers and local, regional and national stakeholders who helped us achieve so much.

The Marches Growth Hub will continue to support businesses and will be managed by Shropshire Council, supported by Telford and Wrekin and Herefordshire Councils. Each of the three Local Authorities will also continue to provide direct business support locally. Details of this support will be available through the Marches Growth Hub website and from the Local Authorities directly. Website: www.marchesgrowthhub.co.uk | email: enquiries@marchesgrowthhub.co.uk.

The Marches Careers Hub will continue to be delivered and will be managed by Shropshire Council, supported by Telford & Wrekin and Herefordshire Councils. Website: www.marchescareershub.co.uk | email: info@marchescareershub.co.uk

For any queries about Getting Building Fund (GBF), Local Growth Fund (LGF) and Marches Investment Fund (MIF) projects supported by the Marches LEP please contact: gary.spence@shropshire.gov.uk

For any finance queries please contact: michelle.hodgkiss@shropshire.gov.uk

The solvent liquidation of the Marches LEP is being managed by the Evelyn Partners Limited. For any matter related to this please contact: Camilla.Mulholland@evelyn.com

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