In this new series, we will introduce you to the innovation pioneers of Ealing – small businesses with big dreams of doing new or better things to benefit our area and beyond.
In November last year, Ealing Council launched its pioneers fund, a scheme that provides grants to small and medium sized businesses to help them grow, develop new products or expand their workforce while stimulating the local economy. The £1million pot was shared out among 12 selected businesses based in the borough, that were each able to demonstrate how the funding would help accelerate growth and create new jobs.
Meet the pioneers
In the first part of a series looking at some of the pioneers, we spoke to Barry Bassett from VMI.TV and found out more about how the company intends to use the grant.
Founded in November 1980, VMI.TV hires out camera and digital equipment to TV and movie productions.
Already committed to a net-zero strategy and awarded ‘Hero of Net Zero’ at COP26 last year – and also recently designated a local ‘Climate Leader’ by Ealing Council – VMI now plans to build a new sustainable lighting division. The aim of this is to work towards replacing highly inefficient tungsten lighting in the TV and film industry and promote more energy efficient alternatives.
‘Reducing the industry’s carbon footprint’
VMI is running a series of free three-hour, in-person workshops for busy producers and crew to directly compare and contrast the latest generation lights. The first of these workshops is on 18 May at West London College’s Studio, the home of the original BBC Ealing Studios. You can book your place on to the workshops on the VMI.TV website.
Barry, the managing director of VMI.TV, said: “By running these courses with Ealing Council’s support and in conjunction with West London College in Ealing Green, we are able to provide these courses entirely free of charge.
“Our experience is that clients are acutely aware of the need to change to low-carbon models in everything they do but freelancers are too busy working, to properly research more efficient alternatives.
“With the help of the pioneers’ grant we will educate and inform our clients and the wider industry to use more sustainable fixtures and accessories.
“All of our existing clients, shooting documentary, music, scripted drama and feature productions are potential beneficiaries of this project. Promoting the latest low-carbon lighting will help influence the bigger players to follow suit and steer the industry towards universally adopting low-carbon lighting technologies and reducing industry’s carbon footprint.”
You can follow VMI.TV’s innovation projects on Instagram or Facebook.
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