Member Article

Digital agency Stone's Throw Media continues growth journey with client successes

The team at leading video, animation and livestreaming agency Stone’s Throw Media have delivered new client projects and high-profile successes as they secure further growth in 2021.

The digital agency, based on Wolverhampton Science Park, has worked with leading theme park Chessington World of Adventures for the first time, while producing work for longstanding clients house builder Redrow and the University of Wolverhampton.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary this October, Stone’s Throw Media invested to prepare for growth, increasing the team to eight and has seen revenues grow by 25% during the past year, despite the impact of Covid-19 on the wider economy.

Partnering with Surrey-based Chessington, Stone’s Throw produced an animated marketing video to play on park TV screens park for Find ‘N’ Seek, a new initiative in which attendees can buy a personalised adventure book, create their own online avatars and embark on a quest to fill out the book by scanning QR codes at 11 locations around the park.

They produced a light-hearted video showing a custom avatar family created, dropped into the park and embarking upon a series of fun scenes as they explore the park. There were some technical challenges as the artist’s work created for the initiative had to be customised by Stone’s Throw to be animated for the video, which is being shared on Chessington’s social media channels.

Head of Animation Jamie Cartwright said: “Working for a theme park was an exciting opportunity for the team. We worked closely with Chessington to reach a final product that we feel proud of, so we cannot wait to see it being shown in the park itself.”

For Redrow, Stone’s Throw produced a video on the company’s efforts to improve diversity within its workforce to externally promote their efforts in creating a more inclusive working environment.

The video included interviews with five staff members offering their perspectives on joining Redrow from different backgrounds, as well as their verdicts on what diversity meant to each of them. Group CEO Matthew Pratt also appeared to speak about opportunities and fairness within the company.

The Redrow video was part of its entry for the Inspire Awards, marking diversity and inclusion in the UK construction, engineering and housing industries, which saw the house builder named as finalist in the inspiring awareness campaign category.

Sonal Haja, Content Manager at Redrow, said: “I really enjoyed working with Stone’s Throw as diversity at work is a topic that I feel passionate about. The filming team were great, making staff feel at ease and comfortable.”

Founders Matt Weston and Mike Chinn, who met while undergraduates at the University of Wolverhampton, have continued the link by providing services for the University since launching Stone’s Throw Media.

Last month they provided video and livestreaming work for an event celebrating the University of Wolverhampton’s long-standing partnership with the British Judo Association, held as the doors were officially opened on new world-class sports facilities.

The British Judo Association’s Centre of Excellence is based at the University’s Walsall Campus and sits alongside the University’s sports education and research facilities. The University’s Institute of Human Sciences and British Judo Association have worked in partnership for ten years, with the collaboration now extended until 2032.

Stone’s Throw Media provided video and livestreaming services for the event, which also included a send-off for the Team GB Olympic and Paralympic judo teams, which included University of Wolverhampton business management student Chelsie Giles, who won bronze in the women’s 52kg event to land Britain’s first medal of the Tokyo Games.

Matt Weston said: “We have set up Stone’s Throw Media to generate growth in 2021 so it was fantastic to work with such a high-profile new client as Chessington World of Adventures while linking again with well-established partners like Redrow and University of Wolverhampton.

“By supporting existing clients during the Covid-19 pandemic, pivoting to offer more digital-based services during lockdown and maximising new business opportunities, we have seen revenues grow by 25% in the past year.

“As we mark our 10th year operating in the West Midlands, we want to continue to grow by delivering high quality work for every client which helps them achieve their marketing and communications goals, bringing further success to their organisations and our company.”

The collaborations are the latest successes for Stone’s Throw Media in 2021. In June they worked with new client Birmingham Royal Ballet to film Director Carlos Acosta for the We Are West Midlands panel event, part of the annual Birmingham International Dance Festival (BIDF).

Stone’s Throw Media has notched up another award success by being named as a finalist for the Small Business category at the 2021 West Midlands Business Masters Awards, organised by regional news website Business Desk. The winners will be revealed on November 11.

The small business prize nomination is the latest award finalist placing for Stone’s Throw Media. Mike Chinn was a finalist for Online Event Producer of the Year at the national CN Agency Awards. Mike and co-founder Matt Weston are finalists in the young leader and professional services categories at the West Midlands Leadership Awards, also organised by news website Business Desk, to be announced on September 17.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Chris Leggett .