Hotbed of Success

www.hotbedmedia.co.uk

The heart of Birmingham’s jewellery quarter is a hotbed of success for a business that has grown to become one of the largest independent television production companies outside of London.

Seven years ago Johannah Dyer had a great idea but found it impossible to get the £120,000 funding needed to get her project off the ground. Fortunately, she eventually got the investment needed from the Creative Advantage Fund – a public sector led venture capital initiative – and Hotbed Media was born.

The award winning programme maker has been so successful that it has now brought out the original investment from CAF which has like Hotbed grown and is now the Advantage Creative Fund.

Hotbed Media is well known for its television programmes both for the BBC and commercial channels with well known programmes to its name including: Win My Wage, Everything Must Go, 100 Worst Britons, Build Buy or Restore Abroad, Solution Street, Star Portraits with Rolf Harris, Date my Daughter and even a Songs of Praise Christmas Special.

But Johannah has not forgotten the importance of the initial investment that made Hotbed Media a reality.

“Businesses in the creative sector can often find it very hard or even impossible to get the initial investment they need from mainstream sources such as banks. I am grateful for the support we have received by from the Creative Advantage Fund and its successor the Advantage Creative Fund,” said Johannah.

The Advantage Creative Fund makes investments of between £10,000 and £250,000 into creative businesses in the West Midlands in exchange for an equity share. It is funded by Advantage West Midlands, the European Regional Development Fund and Arts Council England.

“We are keen to hear from entrepreneurs in the creative sector that have a commercial proposition capable of rapid growth but need an initial investment. Hotbed Media has demonstrated what can be achieved and we are proud to have helped them on their way,” said David Edmonds, Managing Director of the Advantage Creative Fund.