Broker Case Study - Touch Productions
The Company
After 12 years in London, Malcolm Brinkworth decided he needed to spend more time with his children - so he moved his company to the South West. Based in Bath for the last two years, Touch Productions has now been producing quality television for all the major UK channels for over 18 years. The company comprises 15 employees and a large network of freelance contractors, and focuses on factual and documentary programmes.
There is a strong audiovisual industry in the South West, with many TV and film companies in the area, particularly in the Bath/Bristol conurbation. South West Screen has set up initiatives to encourage development and competitiveness, and Touch Productions works closely with this network. Along with South West Screen, Touch collaborates wth freelancers, colleges, and smaller independent producers.
Examples include a three-year joint research project with Bath Spa University and UWE into new opportunities in the broadcast industry. The company also runs a 'Joint Venture' scheme which encourages small independent production companies and independent producers to co-develop strong documentary ideas with Touch.
The Meeting
Corrina Fowler of Skillset and Pauline Collins of Train to Gain met Erica Wolfe-Murray, head of business development at Touch Productions.
Touch Productions already takes advantage of many schemes to attract and retain quality staff. The company takes UWE graduate placements for up to 12 weeks, usually in the summer, and works with LEAs and film schools to recruit young people to the industry. New entrants tend to be at least A level standard, are usually taken on as runners. "It gives them the chance to see if the industry suits them," Erica explains. This spirit of collaborating to improve the industry generally sees Touch also taking part in industry best practice days with other creative industry companies.
But while Touch has well-established routes for bringing in new entrants, and is working hard to develop the industry in the South West, it is still an advantage for senior staff to have had some London experience. The company runs training for higher-level staff at intervals, and is currently planning a training day for senior management training day. Erica also said that Touch has considered using Dorset Business Link funding, but up until now this has not been followed through.
The Outcome
Corrina found Pauline was thorough and to the point. "I felt she picked up very quickly on the make-up of the companies: their management structures, their business/skills issues and so on. She didn't waste their time telling them about training which was not relevant to them." Erica agrees: "She mentioned a number of interesting things. The problem was, we were either doing them already or there wasn't time to get to grips with it."
Touch typically recruits graduates, and as Train to Gain offers mostly courses to level 2 their offering is not directly relevant. "Train To Gain seems to offer quite basic courses. We're a small company and can't afford to take on people who are at that level," Erica says.
Pauline has since provided further information for Touch Production about funding options for more senior-level training, but unfortunately the application window was too narrow. "It took me two weeks to get hold of the representative, the funding band was about to close, and I just decided I didn't have time to follow up on it."
Pauline also sent through information on Investors In People, which Erica has filed. "I know exactly where it is and will come back to it," she says. "But I just don't have time to look at it just now."