The head of an award-winning video production company, which works with the likes of the BBC and has its roots in Lancashire, has highlighted the importance of gaining external business support for scaleup business leaders.
Susanna Boccaccio is creative director at Brilliant Trees Media, an independent media production company formed in Preston in 2007. She started her career as a newsreader for ITV before moving into production and then deciding to set up her own business.
After taking a break from the company where she worked for the BBC as well as having her two children, Susanna returned to production with Brilliant Trees and initially worked on corporate videos for organisations including the NHS.
However, her ambition was always to return to TV production work and after changing strategy, Brilliant Trees has grown its team steadily over the past five years by recruiting experts to help Susanna target this market.
The company got its big break in 2023, being commissioned for the production of children’s television series Dodge’s Pup School for BBC’s CBeebies, with Susanna acting as executive producer for the series and leading a team of around 60 people. Brilliant Trees is continuing to grow and is now targeting similar opportunities for further full television series.
Reflecting on the company’s journey to date, Susanna has spoken about the contribution of the external support the business has received, particularly over recent years. Among this was taking part in Two Zero’s Female programme in 2020 to help the company develop its scaleup strategy.
She said: “Before taking part, I did not realise the value of working directly with a cohort of other women who had experience of growing companies. I also received brilliant advice about the importance of being clear with figures – for example when pitching or speaking to lenders.”
Susanna also received support from Boost; Lancashire’s Business Growth Hub around the same time, as well as receiving a Bounce Back Loan during the pandemic, which allowed her to invest in the business to support its future growth.
“At one stage, I was up to a six-figure turnover just with me,” Susanna said. “I started to invest in the business and the team. We brought in experts in television production so we could grow in that sector.”
Susanna has since grown the team to four full-time members, in addition to a large number of freelance production staff which the company employs for specific production projects.
“The growth we have seen has been brilliant, but we would not have done it without focus,” she said. “We’ve now been commissioned for a second series of Dodge’s Pup School and we’re also looking at new opportunities, including speaking to streamers and broadcasters about the content we’re developing.”
Susanna remains heavily involved with the Lancashire economy and is a board member at Creative Lancashire. She is also heavily involved in the University of Central Lancashire’s annual careers event cJAM, which gives students the opportunity to meet and learn from industry professionals from across the UK.
Offering her key advice for Lancashire scaleup leaders, Susanna said: “There is a lot of business support out there and lots of doors you can knock on to ask questions. The turning point for me was having the confidence to invest in the business – sometimes you have to just go for it!”
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