Like an Egg Productions, a Pontypridd-based film production company whose co-founders include two University of Wales Alumni, has been announced as the winner of the prize for Best Enterprise in the Welsh heat of the Lloyds TSB Enterprise Awards. Developed to recognise the entrepreneurial talent emerging from universities across the UK, all UK businesses run by university students, or by those who have graduated in the last five years, are eligible to enter The Lloyds TSB Enterprise Awards.
The Best Enterprise award goes to the business judged to show real potential for growth over the next five years and Like an Egg Productions, which was established in 2010 by University of Wales Alumni Rob Godwin and Keiran McGaughey alongside their fellow co-founder Chris McGaughey, was recognised due to the work the business has done with charities and community groups in the South Wales Valleys as well as their teaching and running of workshops.
Demonstrating a great deal of business acumen through the creation of their website to display their work as a means to overcome barriers to business development, their work has resulted in significant growth, more than doubling their turnover in the last year.
Both Rob and Keiran studied film and video at the University of Wales, Newport and after two years of freelance work decided to start their own Film production company, recently moving into their new studio space in Pontypridd in January 2013.
While Kieran’s role focuses on business management and a producing role when it comes to the actual work, Rob’s focus is on creating and delivering the projects. Their work is very varied from Community filmmaking and workshops to high end corporate jobs. Recent clients include Valleys Kids, Welsh Water and the Wales Millennium Centre. They also make music videos, and were recently nominated for a UK Music Video Award.
As winners of their regional heat, Like an Egg Productions took home a £5,000 prize and will now also receive a two year mentoring package from Lloyds Banking Group.
Speaking about winning the award Keiran said:
“This award means everything to us - to be celebrated like this and have someone recognise our achievements is unbelievable. With everything we’ve gone through in the last two years and even in the last six months, when we haven’t stopped, it has helped us to look up and see where we’ve been going. And knowing that other people recognise what we’ve achieved is fantastic.
“The business mentoring is going to be really essential to us. As professional film makers, that’s what we do day in day out and it’s what we know. What we can lack is business know-how and where we’ve got today has been as a result of us learning along the way. Having someone come in and give us advice to help us grow that much quicker, and help us bring sustainability to the business is unbelievable - we can’t wait!”
Like an Egg Productions will now go on to compete with the 15 other winners from the regional heats at the grand final on 23rd April in Edgbaston and if successful will win further cash prize of £50,000 to invest in their business, and a two-year mentoring prize from Lloyds Banking Group.