Cover Feature

M-STUDIOS: MAKING VIDEOS FOR THE DIGITAL AGE

You’re looking to market your company. You need a bright idea to stand out from the crowd. M-Studios can help you see the big picture with their creative video services.

We’re not talking about shaky wedding footage or predictable drone shots here. Rory and Lizzie McAllister are seasoned industry experts, with an impressive portfolio spanning a combined 40 years of work for the BBC, local TV and radio, theatre and events. Rory specialises in filming and editing, while Lizzie writes storylines and scripts, and coaches clients who want to be their own video stars. Using their creativity to the full, their company makes fun, vibrant videos telling the real story behind a business – its people, values, aims, unique selling points – making sure your message is heard loud and clear. Whatever your brief – adverts, social media, internal comms, charity – Rory and Lizzie help you find the best promotional angle and then elevate it some more. Rory explains, “I think our unique selling point is the fact that we have the technical ability, combined with a proven background in storytelling and scriptwriting. In our experience, this sets us apart from other video production companies.” Rory’s enthusiasm and passion for his work are infectious, and it all started at a very young age. “I was around four when I started ‘broadcasting’ my own radio show – my listeners numbered three, all family! It was mainly Roland Rat impressions and records.” Bitten by the entertainment bug, Rory progressed to theatre work and then film school, culminating in a video production and media degree. He branched out into local radio, and then on to celebrity interviews covering “all the juicy stuff” in front of and behind the camera. To top it all, he has also worked in national media, with TV audience warm-up stints for Strictly and The One Show, and working for 5 Live and Radio 4, alongside countless other high-profile commissions. Setting up a creative studio in Worcester was a natural progression, and M-Studios got off to a flying start in 2019, working with a host of high-profile clients like national tutoring service Kip McGrath and engineering giant AECOM. Then Covid hit. “The pandemic was like a hi-speed train hitting a wall. It completely derailed us,” Rory concedes. “But it was also a wake-up call. It helped see what we really valued in life and business.” The couple switched back to BBC and voiceover work until rules were eased for ‘essential services’. “We took business advice, and discovered that as a communications production company, we could take on projects that wouldn’t otherwise be possible.” So, for example, with church concerts, M-Studios filmed “little Songs of Praise episodes with a presenter, readings and songs”. While an extremely tough experience, Covid helped M-Studios reinvent its services, and Rory believes he can do the same for others. “Many businesses are at a crossroads when it comes to making the most of their image and brand. Video may be a 1980’s word, but it’s the future. “In this digital age, video and audio projects can really enhance a business profile. “We’ve just done a humorous Mastermind-style video for an insurance broker whose specialist subject was property. It’s about being creative. We also help companies create professional podcasts so that it doesn’t sound like it was recorded in a bedroom”. Video and podcasts add impact to websites and are an easy fit for a very diverse range of channels from social platforms such as LinkedIn and Instagram. Rory adds, “The key to attracting customer interest is compelling content, great imagery, good stories and a plotline that pulls them in. “A quick sell can be done in less than 90 seconds, while, for example, parents looking at a prospective school will happily browse through a 3-minute video while the kids are in bed. “If your content is interesting and informative, people won’t just swipe through it. Our background in telling stories to thousands of people is our greatest strength. We come up with great ideas every single day and put them into meaningful messages that grab attention.” Find out more at m-studios.co.uk.

Rory and Lizzie of M-Studios in action.

The key to attracting customer interest is compelling content, great imagery, good stories and a plotline that pulls them in.

TRUELINE PRODUCTS HAS THE WINNING ‘EDGE’

Award-winning family firm Trueline Products, of Kidderminster, are proud to be ‘Made in Britain’. Having celebrated nearly 30 years in the fabrication industry, this highly skilled team continues to fly the flag for UK manufacturing.

Steve and Anita Mares founded Trueline in Telford back in 1994, as a specialist producer of EWI render beads for the construction industry. After moving the company to Kidderminster, their son Luke Wellings joined the family business and contributed to its rapid growth. Together they mapped out a clear strategy, which has seen Trueline enjoy an exponential rise in investment, sales, production and innovation ever since. Having built a solid reputation as a trusted supply chain partner, Trueline moved to their current home on Firs Industrial Estate and opened a Glasgow office. In fact, many of their contracts are repeat orders from satisfied customers seeking specialist solutions for external wall insulation, rendering and facades. Two years ago, the company invested over £600,000 in new machinery and a new paint line to double capacity, followed this year by a major IT investment which offers customers real-time updates on orders and delivery. They are also ISO 14001, ISO 9001 and ISO 45001 accredited. And to put the icing on the cake, the whole team’s efforts are winning awards. They’ve already been recognised by their peers with a ‘Supplier of the Year’ trophy at annual industry awards INCA (the Insulated Render and Cladding Association). Now the company are finalists in ‘Family Business of the Year’ and ‘More than 50 Employees Business of the Year’, at this year’s SME National Business Awards. Winners will be announced in December at Wembley Stadium, so good luck to the team! Trueline’s boom in business continues to this day with significant expansion plans on the cards. What does Steve and Luke put the company’s enduring success down to in a competitive marketplace? Steve says: “We are really proud to be a homegrown company, still based in Worcestershire, with a strong customer base across the UK. We particularly value our team and their achievements. “Innovation in our design and products has also been crucial,” he adds. “A substantial amount has been invested in state-of-the-art machinery and software, ensuring that we always have extensive stock capacity and short lead times for orders right across the UK. “Also, of course, we invest a lot in our team in terms of training and development. They have made Trueline the company it is today!” Luke agrees: “Investing in our team is essential to us. We couldn’t have achieved everything to date without such a skilled workforce. In fact, many of the team have been with us for over 15 years, or even longer!” The company is currently on a recruitment drive for apprentices and to fill positions across the manufacturing side of the business. Steve concludes: “We’re committed to building on our tradition of quality craftsmanship and continual growth, and are always on the lookout for enthusiastic, keen people to join our workforce, who are passionate about manufacturing, innovation and technology and willing to train and learn on the job, or skilled employees who may be looking for a new challenge.” With such a strong track record of investment in their people and products, it’s safe to say that Trueline Products looks set to enjoy many more years in business as a key industry supplier. More information at truelineproducts.co.uk.

The team celebrate their win at the INCA Awards.

RECENT PROJECTS

Trueline Products have worked on a wide and complex variety of projects for the construction and development industry. These include: The second phase of the ---state-of-the-art training and ---teaching facility at Brighton and ---Hove Albion Football Club, in ---Sussex. The expansion forms part ---of the club’s commitment to the ---women’s team. Solving structural challenges on a ---historical railway building, now a ---Wetherspoons in Aberystwyth, and ---designing and manufacturing ---bespoke copings and brackets. The Premier Inn, in Faversham, ---where the company worked with ---the main contractor on a new hotel ---near the M2.