Member Article

Sky’s the limit for TV businessman

A daredevil sky diver has swapped jumping out of aeroplanes for TV production as he embarks on an exciting new venture.

Ambitious film-maker Blair Stent launched his own production company, aptly named The Office Above, in April this year and already looks to almost double his projected turnover in the first year.

The 33-year-old Teesside University graduate, who has won gold medals for his sky diving, has big plans to recruit.

He has already taken on a part-time assistant and is looking to take on a new full-time member of staff at his office at Victoria House, on Teesside University’s premises in Middlesbrough.

But he aims to have a team of 10 staff, as well as a graduate recruitment pool, within the next 18 months.

Blair’s impressive credentials include a second class honours degree in leisure, computing and technology – gained before his sky diving exploits which included 3,500 jumps and five UK national gold medals – before he graduated from Teesside University in 2012 with a first class honours degree in TV and film production.

“I always wanted to start my own business but wondered if I had the experience and knowhow to do it,” says Blair, who’s originally from Bath and first moved to Teesside in 2009.

“Then I did a three-month internship for Northumbrian Water I knew I had what it takes, I had some really great feedback from the CEO and that convinced me to go for it.

“I started in April as a sole trader and a couple of months later it reached a point where I was turning down business. It was annoying the first time it happened, but the second time I thought I’ve got to do something about it.

“So I moved to Victoria Building two months ago and since then I’ve taken on a part-time member of staff and I’m currently looking for a full-time employee.

“In my initial forecasts, we were looking at turning over about £36,000 in the first year, but we’re closer to £54,000 now and if we get more work in, which I’d expect to, we’ll exceed that again, so for the first year I’m delighted.

“Within two years I want a staff of 10 and a graduate recruitment pool. I think there’s a fantastic opportunity for students at Teesside University now.”

The Office Above has recently completed a month-long project for Northumbrian Water, which included a series of educational videos for consumers, and Blair is currently working on a project for Digital City Innovation, which involved filming the Film Design It Build It (DIBI) conference in Gateshead.

Blair says a large part of his fledgling firm’s success is down to being a member of BNI’s Prince Bishop Chapter in Bishop Auckland.

He added: “I signed up to BNI in June and I thought I might start to see a return in four-to-six months, but I got my first return after three weeks and about another five or six leads to follow up as well.

“We have an open day this Friday when businesses can come along for free, no obligation, and just see what it’s all about – there’s sure to be plenty of business passed around the room so it’s a great opportunity.”

• The Prince Bishop Chapter of BNI is holding its open day from 6.30am this Friday (October 25) at Manor House Hotel in West Auckland, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham. Anyone interested in going can contact Blair direct on 01642 738950 or email bstent@theofficeabove.com

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Martin Walker .