Media Borne Creating More Creative Sector Opportunities With North East Fund Backing

An ambitious North East creative media agency is embarking on the next chapter of its growth story with the help of a six-figure investment from the North East Small Loan Fund Supported by The European Regional Development Fund.

Media Borne provides high-end video production, photography, animation and creative services to a growing roster of clients ranging from North East SMEs to international blue chip companies and the NHS.

The Newcastle-based full-service creative media agency was set up five years ago by managing director Chris Thompson, who at first ran it as a side venture alongside his civil engineering job before eventually turning it into a full-time career.

Media Borne is now using the six-figure investment, which was obtained through regional fund management firm NEL Fund Managers, to build on their expanding range of creative services with a focus on live-streaming technology, e-learning and high-end video production.

The agency is also strengthening its presence in the broadcast sector, with a number of creative documentaries already in development, and investing in the new staff required to support its growth.

Four new jobs are expected to be created over the next year as the business grows, as it aims to break through the million-pound turnover barrier by the end of 2024.

Media Borne offers a one-stop-shop for clients looking to bring their creative ideas to life and level up their marketing efforts with access to some of the most experienced media professionals in the region.

The agency prides itself on their ability to work together with clients to bring them everything they need to make their marketing more impactful, making use of cutting-edge technology and techniques to create a bespoke end product.

Recent projects include a series of dynamic time-lapse films that captured the construction of the landmark Hadrian Tower in central Newcastle over an eight-month period, while they also developed a VR-360 e-learning platform for the NHS Trauma Network.

Media Borne managing director Chris Thompson said: “Our business model is based on developing long-term relationships with clients and providing all the different cutting-edge media services that they require from a single point of contact.

“We’ve built a strong business over the last five years, but with demand for advanced services like live-streaming and media assets continuing to increase extremely quickly, we felt there would be a lot more for us to achieve with the right resources.

“We’ve also made significant progress in the broadcast market this year and it’s an area where we feel there will be a lot of opportunities for us to grow in the future.

“The team is growing, and having put this new growth capital in place, we’re confident that we’ll go past the one million pound turnover mark within the next two years.

“The NEL funding model fit with our growth capital needs, and the advice and support that the team gave us right through the investment process made it easy for us to manage.”

Mike Guellard, senior investment executive at NEL Fund Managers, added: “Chris and his team’s expertise in emerging video techniques and technologies has helped turn a side venture into a thriving business that has the knowledge, ambition and resources to achieve a great deal more.”

Part of the £120m North East Fund and aimed predominantly at smaller SMEs, the £9m North East Small Loan Fund typically offers loans of between £10,000 and £100,000 to businesses in Tyne & Wear, Durham and Northumberland.

It is designed to assist with the creation of over 1,200 new regional jobs in more than 320 SMEs over the life of the fund.

The overarching £120m North East Fund will provide financial support for more than 600 businesses, creating around 2,500 jobs and delivering a legacy of up to £80m for further investment into the region.

For more information about NEL’s investment criteria, visit www.nel.co.uk or contact the investment team on 0345 369 7007.