Business London Press

Creator-First Social Platform Luupli Moves to Institutional Seed Stage After Strong Beta Growth

Technology

News Desk

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17/02/2026

Creator-First Social Platform Luupli Moves to Institutional Seed Stage After Strong Beta Growth

Luupli has begun an institutional seed raise after securing $600,000 in early pre-seed funding, marking the next phase in the growth of its collaborative social technology platform.

The initial capital, provided by angels, friends and family, enabled the company to bring its beta product to market. Since launch, the app has reached 42,000 total installs and maintains strong user reviews across both major mobile ecosystems.

As the creator economy accelerates towards an estimated $480 billion valuation by 2027, Luupli is targeting a structural role within the sector by enabling co-creation, shared ownership and improved monetisation pathways, particularly for users in emerging markets.

Current milestones include:

Non-dilutive support: Access to over $1 million in startup credits from Nvidia Inception, Google for Startups, Microsoft for Startups, GitHub, Mixpanel and Founderpass.
Grassroots validation: $600K raised from personal networks provided the foundation for early product development and market entry.
Early traction: 42,000 organic installs achieved without paid campaigns, demonstrating strong product-market resonance.
High user satisfaction: App ratings of 5.0 on Apple and 4.6 on Google Play indicate positive user experience and engagement.

The platform is designed to move away from attention-driven models and instead promote collaborative discovery and shared revenue opportunities.

Its proprietary Luups feature enables creators to produce content collectively. In Ghana, users are already using the tool to develop episodic collaborative micro-drama, an emerging content format native to the platform’s architecture.

“The fact that angels, friends and family invested in Luupli before we had traction speaks volumes about the belief in our mission,” said Degraft Osei Kwame Jnr, Co-founder & CEO. “We’re building a platform where collaboration—not competition—drives discovery and income. We invite investors to help us democratize the creator economy for the $480-billion market ahead.”

Additional development includes an AI-based creation tool and music generator aimed at enabling royalty-free production with full IP ownership, alongside a localised payments system designed to reduce foreign exchange barriers and streamline creator payouts.

The founding team combines operational, people-management and product expertise. Degraft Osei Kwame Jnr brings more than 15 years’ leadership experience across supply chain and hospitality sectors, including award-winning sustainability programmes. Sid Pednekar previously supported organisational effectiveness at TikTok for a workforce of 7,000 across multiple regions, and Cletus Osei-Kwame specialises in building and scaling digital platforms.

Together, the leadership team aims to deliver scalable infrastructure that embeds creation, ownership and monetisation into a single ecosystem.

Luupli is currently offering limited participation in its seed round to institutional investors. Enquiries can be directed to [email protected], and the platform is available for download on the Apple App Store and Google Play, with further information at Luupli.com.

Four Wins for BearJam at 2026 Lens Awards Highlight Cinematic Approach and AI Innovation

News Desk

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16/02/2026

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Four Wins for BearJam at 2026 Lens Awards Highlight Cinematic Approach and AI Innovation

BearJam has been honoured with four awards at the 2026 Lens Awards, marking a major moment for the independent video production company as it continues to build momentum within the branded content and corporate film industry.

At the London ceremony hosted at The Brewery, the company was recognised with:

Bronze in Best Documentary Style Video for its collaboration with Company of Cooks
Silver in Best Use of Artificial Intelligence for a project with SD Worx
Silver in Best Use of Video in the Food and Beverage Sector for work with Company of Cooks
Gold in Best Use of Video in the Property, Construction, and Facilities Management Sector for a Landsec production

The films that secured the awards can be viewed online, with judges highlighting BearJam’s strong visual storytelling, polished cinematic style and forward-thinking use of AI tools.

Descriptions of the winning entries and details about the judging process are included in the Lens Awards 2026 Winners Book. The results reinforce BearJam’s position as a creative partner delivering high-impact content across a broad range of sectors.

Achieving recognition in four distinct categories is a significant accomplishment for an independent studio.

James Hilditch, Founder and Creative Director at BearJam, says, “To be shortlisted for four awards was exciting. To win all four, including a Gold, is something I’m genuinely proud of. What I loved most was celebrating with the people behind the work. I enjoy every part of the production journey, from the first scribbled idea to the final touches in post, and an awards night feels like the perfect way to celebrate that process together as a team.”

The Lens Awards are among the most established annual programmes celebrating excellence in corporate video and communications.

The initiative is run by Communicate Magazine. Rebecca Pardon, the editor, said in the Winners Book, “Now in its sixth year, the Lens Awards for Corporate Video exists to help navigate this unsteady terrain. This year’s programme celebrates more than ingenuity, but also monitors the pulse of an industry in flux. Each entry is a snapshot of ambition, as well as a testament to the skill required to combine creativity with strategy.

We hope the Lens Awards offers both inspiration and insight, and serves as a reminder that corporate communications need not only be technical and serious, but also cinematic, provocative and memorable. Congratulations to all the winners!”

New Research Shows How Far UK Audiences Go for Live Entertainment

News Desk

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13/02/2026

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New Research Shows How Far UK Audiences Go for Live Entertainment

Whether it is the excitement of a sold-out concert or the anticipation before a theatre performance begins, live events continue to captivate audiences across Britain.

A survey involving 2,000 participants nationwide, commissioned by Bauer Media Outdoor UK and carried out by OnePoll, indicates that people across the country attend numerous events annually and are willing to travel well beyond their local area to do so.

The findings underline the growing influence of experiential tourism, demonstrating how live entertainment sustains cultural vibrancy while offering brands the chance to engage audiences during their journeys to events.

Speaking on behalf of Bauer Media Outdoor, Marketing Director Ben Hope, says: “Live experiences are now a major driver of movement, spend and energy in towns and cities across the UK. Music, sport and cultural events don’t just fill venues, they create ripple effects across transport networks, high streets and local businesses.

As more audiences travel for shared experiences, particularly outside London, brands have an opportunity to connect with people in the moments they’re actively exploring and engaging with places. Out of Home plays a role in that ecosystem, reaching people in real-world environments while supporting the public infrastructure that helps these destinations thrive.”

Key findings

Nearly 10% of Brits are attending 10 or more live events a year
Almost half (44%) of Brits are willing to travel to another part of the UK to attend music festivals and gigs
40% of people are willing to travel to another part of the UK to attend live sporting events
Just under a quarter (24%) of Brits are willing to travel to another part of the UK to attend regional cultural events
The majority of survey respondents travel to events by car (79%)
Nearly a fifth of respondents (19%) would travel as far as 50 miles to attend an event – the equivalent of Manchester to Leeds by car
The most common range of money spent by an individual attending an event is £101-£150
A third of people expect to spend the bulk of their budget on tickets (33%), followed by accommodation (27%), and then travel (16%)
When looking specifically at people from the North East of England, 31% of survey respondents from this region spend more on accommodation than anything else
39% of people remember noticing Out of Home advertising when travelling to a public event
35% of people consider Out of Home advertising to be the most noticeable when attending an event away from home
A third of tourists agreed that Out of Home advertising “adds to the atmosphere and excitement of attending a major show”
Over a third (36%) of eventgoers from the North East think that their home region offers the best experiences and events
Opinions are split on whether there are enough cultural events taking place outside London. 30% think there is the right amount, 27% think there are not enough, 12% think there are more than enough, and 31% are not sure

Phoenix Arts Club Provides Lifeline to Performers After Greek Street Live Shutdown

News Desk

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12/02/2026

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Phoenix Arts Club Provides Lifeline to Performers After Greek Street Live Shutdown

Another chapter in London’s struggling cabaret and live music scene has closed, with The Room Where It Happens at Greek Street Live ceasing operations last week. The sudden announcement left numerous performers, including pianists, hosts, singing waiters and musical theatre artists, without regular employment.

The loss reflects a continuing pattern across the capital, where venues that once nurtured cabaret and theatrical performance are vanishing. In recent years, audiences have seen the closure of The Theatre Café, Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club, Nightjar Soho, Haus of Cabaret, Proud Embankment, The Windmill, Café de Paris and, imminently, Banana Cabaret.

Determined to counter the impact, The Phoenix Arts Club has announced it will become the new long-term home for the team behind The Room Where It Happens Showtunes Singalong. The move preserves jobs for affected performers while sustaining an important element of London’s musical theatre community.

From Saturday 14 February, audiences can experience Sing Out, Louise!, a refreshed late-night musical theatre piano singalong created by the team previously behind Overtures Piano Bar and The Room Where It Happens. The show will run Wednesday through Sunday evenings, beginning at 10.30pm, with plans to shift to a 9pm start time as scheduling allows.

Tickets are priced at £10 on the door, while a £10 monthly membership option offers savings for frequent visitors. Seats can be reserved in advance at https://phoenixartsclub.com/events/sing-out-louise-showtunes-singalong/

Colin Savage, Creative Director of The Phoenix Arts Club, said: “London is losing spaces that give performers regular, paid work – particularly those working in musical theatre, cabaret and live music. The Phoenix Arts Club has been part of that ecosystem since 1988, and it felt essential that we stepped in. This is about keeping artists working and audiences connected to live performance.”

Dave Cribb, who previously produced and programmed the Showtunes Singalong at The Room Where It Happens, added: “This isn’t just about one show – it’s about an entire community of musicians and singers who rely on these spaces. With so many venues closing, London risks losing something culturally distinctive. I’m hugely grateful that The Phoenix Arts Club is giving us a place to continue, rather than seeing this work disappear altogether.”

By welcoming the production into its programme, The Phoenix Arts Club ensures that displaced performers retain a West End stage, helping to sustain live cabaret and musical theatre at a time when such opportunities are increasingly under threat.

EE Reinvents Trade-In as Integrated Marketplace Feature to Support Tech Expansion

News Desk

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12/02/2026

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EE Reinvents Trade-In as Integrated Marketplace Feature to Support Tech Expansion

UK mobile network builds scalable trade-in capability into core customer journey, supporting omnichannel growth across technology and gaming

EE has repositioned trade-in as a central feature of its marketplace platform, embedding the functionality directly into its purchasing flow and creating a scalable framework designed to underpin its continued expansion into technology and gaming sectors.

The development addresses a growing consumer trend: many households retain unused devices rather than monetising them through trade-in schemes. Against a backdrop of rising living costs and increasing sustainability expectations, EE recognised the opportunity to deliver a unified experience where customers can both upgrade and trade in devices within a single journey.

Rather than layering a separate trade-in service on top of its systems, EE redesigned its infrastructure to make trade-in native to its marketplace environment. This approach reduces friction for customers while providing the business with real-time visibility over volumes, valuations and commission performance across multiple categories.

EE’s digital product and architecture teams identified that trade-in shares structural similarities with product returns, encompassing device collection, logistics coordination and financial reconciliation.

Working alongside Marketplacer, its marketplace platform partner, EE assessed whether existing returns and marketplace processes could be adapted for trade-in. A successful proof of concept demonstrated that the company could manage device catalogues, intake and settlement using current workflows, avoiding costly one-off integrations.

“Once we realised trade-in could follow the same pattern as returns, everything clicked,” said Nagendra Kanakapura, Consumer Tribe Architect at EE. “It gave us a fast, low-risk path forward and allowed us to move with confidence.”

The solution was implemented at pace. An initial core team expanded into more than ten squads operating simultaneously, enabling EE to roll out the feature across both its app and website while retaining strong governance over delivery.

At launch, the trade-in platform supported six device categories, ensuring a consistent digital experience. Customers receive instant quotes during checkout, with the trade-in value automatically deducted from their purchase price, streamlining the upgrade process.

“We saw trade-in as a way to make upgrading easier for customers, while supporting our expansion into new tech categories,” said Daniel Boulton, Digital Product Manager at EE.

“To do that, we needed a solution that could scale quickly and integrate directly into the customer journey.”

From a commercial perspective, the embedded model provides enhanced data transparency. EE can now track trade-in performance across its product portfolio, supporting informed decisions around inventory management, pricing and customer engagement strategies.

The approach also aligns with environmental objectives by encouraging refurbishment and responsible recycling while recapturing value from unused household technology.

By making trade-in a fundamental marketplace capability rather than an external add-on, EE has established a model that can scale across channels and new product areas. Plans are in place to broaden device coverage and introduce the service into assisted retail environments, strengthening omnichannel integration.

The initiative illustrates how retailers can leverage existing platform architecture to accelerate innovation while reducing implementation risk. By adapting workflows already embedded within its systems, EE delivered a new service without the delays associated with fully bespoke development.

For marketplace operators, the case underscores the importance of flexible system design. Infrastructure originally supporting returns and third-party seller operations has been repurposed to power a consumer-facing trade-in function, enabling faster deployment and sustained operational oversight.

With trade-in now live across digital touchpoints and fully integrated into the purchase journey, EE has reinforced its broader strategic ambitions in technology and gaming. The scalable structure ensures responsiveness as consumer behaviours evolve and additional product categories are introduced.

The model also enhances loyalty potential, as customers engaging in trade-in are demonstrating clear upgrade intent and deeper engagement with EE’s expanding ecosystem.

For further details, read the full EE trade-in case study.

Tradesman Saver accelerates growth with new sub-brands and refreshed identity

News Desk

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11/02/2026

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Tradesman Saver accelerates growth with new sub-brands and refreshed identity

Tradesman Saver, one of the UK’s leading providers of insurance to tradespeople, has kickstarted ambitious growth plans for 2026 by expanding its services alongside the reveal of new branding.

Already well-established in the construction sector, Tradesman Saver has now launched four sub-brands – Electrician Saver, Carpenter Save, Cleaner Saver, and Professional Saver – to cater for more people operating in various lines of work.

The expansion of its services coincides with an update to the Tradesman Saver branding, featuring a more refined visual identity that reflects the modern, professional business it is today and creating a stronger, more relatable connection with its customers.

Launched 18 years ago, Tradesman Saver became one of the first specialist insurance providers to offer a digital end-to-end experience for customers, enabling them to quote, buy and renew entirely online and at a time that suits them. After hitting the 10,000 customer mark in 2019, the brand continued to expand and in 2024 was acquired by Jensten, a leading broking and underwriting group, with the aim of achieving further growth. Having recently announced its own acquisition by leading global private equity firm Bain Capital, Jensten has invested significantly in Tradesman Saver’s digital presence to reach even more customers.

Dean Laming (pictured), managing director for Tradesman Saver, said: “We’ve always had a clear goal to become a leading provider of specialist insurance in the UK, particularly within the construction sector. To achieve that, we knew we needed greater investment and the ability to scale at pace, which is why the acquisition by Jensten in 2024 was such an important milestone for us.

“As the business has evolved, our brand needed to evolve with it. The launch of these targeted sub-brands for key trades and professions shows we’re serious about supporting more of the UK’s workforce, while our refreshed look and feel is a sign of our ability to compete effectively amongst established brands. We have real credibility and confidence embedded in the business today.”

Tradesman Saver’s unique, value-led offering to customers goes beyond basic insurance requirements, with 24-hour access to legal support, free mental health counselling services, and accidental death and overseas work cover provided as standard.

Dean added: “While price plays an important role in customer buying decisions, the cheapest policy doesn’t always deliver the right level of cover. What matters most is having insurance that provides comprehensive protection, backed by a professional partner who understands the unique challenges and working environments faced by tradespeople and other professions.

“Our focus has always been on delivering value, not just low prices, ensuring customers have the protection they need for every part of their work. These recent changes in the business make a clear statement about our commitment to quality, clarity and specialist cover that goes above and beyond to help those who need it.”

Find out more about Tradesman Saver here.

Engage Employee Summit 2026 Brings the Future of HR and Engagement to London

Events
HR

News Desk

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11/02/2026

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Engage Employee Summit 2026 Brings the Future of HR and Engagement to London

Engage Business Media has announced the return of the Engage Employee Summit in 2026, bringing together senior leaders from HR, internal communications and employee engagement for two days of learning and collaboration. The free-to-attend event will be held on 20–21 May 2026 at Evolution London.

Now in its 11th year, the Summit will expand its format to accommodate a growing audience, with more than 3,000 professionals expected to attend. The event will feature 250 speakers, 120 exhibitors and six dedicated topic stages alongside the main stage, creating a comprehensive platform focused on the evolving world of work.

The Summit programme is shaped around a central theme of human-centred organisations, where technology supports rather than replaces the employee experience. Day One examines current challenges facing organisations, from engagement fatigue and skills shortages to changing leadership demands and the realities of managing hybrid and frontline teams.

Across both days, attendees will engage with practical case studies, open discussions and evidence-based insights designed to highlight what is delivering results in practice. Day Two looks ahead to emerging trends, including AI adoption, workforce flexibility, new career models and shifting expectations around wellbeing, reward and communication.

The sessions will explore how organisations can adapt their structures and strategies while maintaining trust, capability and resilience. Delegates will also have access to a dedicated Summit app, providing tools for networking, accessing live content and interacting directly with sessions and speakers.

The Engage Employee Summit will feature six topic stages, alongside a high-impact main stage, covering the critical levers of modern workforce strategy:

Organisational Culture & HR Leadership – exploring culture, trust, employee voice and the changing identity of HR, including leadership in an AI-enabled workplace and culture in a borderless world.
Talent, Skills & Workforce Evolution – for talent and workforce leaders focused on dynamic skills strategies, hiring decisions, retention under pressure and predictive workforce planning.
Internal Communications & Employee Voice – aimed at internal communicators and engagement specialists working to cut through the noise, elevate employee voice and prove impact through measurement and insight.
Communication & the Connected Workplace – focused on reaching deskless and dispersed teams, digital engagement and redefining what “connected” really means at work in hybrid and frontline settings.
Wellbeing, Diversity & Inclusion – examining mental health, resilience, psychological safety, financial wellbeing and inclusion as a cultural foundation, as well as the next era of employer-supported wellbeing.
Reward, Recognition & Future Benefits – for reward and benefits leaders designing human-centred, data-informed strategies, from recognition that truly works to personalised benefits and the evolving reward value exchange.

Across these stages, delegates will access cutting-edge insights, practical tools and actionable strategies spanning leadership, talent, communication, wellbeing, reward and the digital workplace.

As part of the agenda and exhibition, the Summit will host 120 leading employee engagement and HR software providers, integrated as strategic sponsors and partners. These organisations will showcase how technology can enable culture, communication, listening, wellbeing, reward and recognition at scale, helping senior leaders translate strategic ambition into operational reality.

Throughout the two days, sponsors will deliver live demonstrations, product walk-throughs and case studies aligned to the Summit themes, illustrating how platforms are being used to strengthen connection, measure sentiment and drive meaningful behaviour change. Positioned at the heart of the exhibition, they will offer consultative conversations, practical tools and proof-of-concept examples to help attendees accelerate transformation in their own organisations.

The 2026 Summit is shaped by the Engage Employee Advisory Board, a group of senior leaders whose expertise and insight ensure the programme reflects the most pressing challenges and opportunities facing employee engagement professionals.

Featured speakers for 2026 include HR, internal communications, reward, wellbeing and talent leaders from brands such as Google, Visa, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Bupa, British Airways, Heathrow, Gymshark, Jaguar Land Rover, Diageo, the NHS, PwC UK, Starbucks, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, Lloyds Banking Group, Standard Chartered and many more. Their sessions will spotlight real-world case studies, measurable outcomes and replicable approaches that delegates can adapt within their own contexts.

The Engage Employee Summit is designed for senior leaders responsible for people, culture and transformation, including:

CPOs, CHROs and senior people leaders shaping culture and organisational transformation

Internal comms and engagement specialists who shape the stories employees hear every day
HR, people and culture leaders driving healthier, more equitable employee experiences
Wellbeing and inclusion leaders aligning support, equity and lived experience with organisational purpose
Reward and benefits leaders redefining value, recognition and benefits for the modern workforce
Talent leaders accountable for attracting, developing and retaining critical skills in dynamic labour markets

Delegates will leave with new perspectives, proven frameworks and practical tools to strengthen satisfaction, performance, loyalty and overall employee experience at individual, team and organisational level.

Hosted at Evolution London, the Summit benefits from a state-of-the-art venue supported by the latest AV technology. The space is optimised for learning, networking and business development, with turnkey exhibitor solutions and premium branding opportunities for partners.

Networking is built into the event design, with:

Topic-led roundtables for focused peer-to-peer discussion and knowledge-sharing
An AI-powered meetings programme and concierge service to facilitate tailored 1–2–1 meetings with senior professionals
An interactive event app enabling delegates to connect, access live content and engage with speakers and sessions in real time
A Summit Party after Day One, combining networking with entertainment to help delegates reset ahead of an energised Day Two

The Engage Employee Summit offers an all-access pass free of charge for approved senior HR and employee engagement professionals, including access to:

Six topic stages and main stage keynotes
Interactive interviews and panel debates
Pre-arranged one-to-one meetings, focus groups and roundtables
Full use of the event networking app

Registrations are subject to approval and are not available for suppliers or vendors.

MORCure Partners with Prof. Yorgo Modis to Advance Understanding of MORC2-Related Disorder

News Desk

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11/02/2026

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MORCure Partners with Prof. Yorgo Modis to Advance Understanding of MORC2-Related Disorder

MORCure has announced a new research initiative with Dr Yorgo Modis, a globally recognised scientist specialising in virology and immunology and a Wellcome Trust Senior Research Fellow at the University of Cambridge. The collaboration marks an important step in expanding scientific understanding of MORC2-related disorder (M2RD).

The study will explore how inherited mutations in the MORC2 gene disrupt normal biological processes and lead to disease, including serious neuropathies that can affect young children.

MORCure co-founder and CEO, Anna-mai Andrews, notes “We are thrilled to have recruited Prof. Modis to apply his expertise and cutting-edge approaches to help us understand MORC2-related disorder. We firmly believe the work of Prof. Modis and his team will lead the way to identifying new ways to diagnose and treat this disorder.”

Previous peer-reviewed work by Prof. Modis and his research group has shown that MORC2 is essential for regulating gene activity during the earliest stages of embryonic development. In the newly announced project, his team will apply advanced computational methods, including artificial intelligence-driven molecular modelling and molecular dynamics simulations, to analyse how specific genetic mutations alter the behaviour of the MORC2 protein.

“With an increasing number of families affected by M2RD, MORCure addresses an important need for a better understanding of the disorder, how to diagnose it and ultimately how to treat it”, said Prof. Modis. “We will draw on our deep expertise on MORC2 molecular structure and function to determine the effects of mutations associated with M2RD on the ability of MORC2 to perform its essential gene-regulatory functions. Integrating insights from powerful neural network-based computational models and molecular dynamics simulations on some of the fastest available processors will allow us to make accurate predictions of the individual effects of each known M2RD-associated mutation”.

The project is expected to lay the groundwork for experimental validation of how MORC2 controls transcription at the molecular level. MORCure and Prof. Modis plan to use these advances to support the development of new diagnostic approaches and therapeutic strategies for people affected by M2RD.

In parallel, MORCure continues its broader mission through collaboration with a distinguished Medical Advisory Board and Board of Trustees, working to increase global awareness of M2RD, improve patient–clinician connections, and drive research into a rare disorder that is still commonly under-recognised and misdiagnosed.

Fragrance Du Bois Joins Forces With The Blind Poet to Reimagine How Fragrance Is Experienced

Lifestyle

News Desk

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11/02/2026

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Fragrance Du Bois Joins Forces With The Blind Poet to Reimagine How Fragrance Is Experienced

Fragrance Du Bois has revealed a creative partnership with Dave Steele, the acclaimed poet and advocate known internationally as The Blind Poet. Diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa, Dave channels his loss of sight into poetic work rooted in intuition, emotion and sensory awareness.

“The fragrance industry is built on visuals. Campaigns, bottles, faces, lighting, seduction through sight. Which is why this collaboration with ,Fragrance Du Bois feels so powerful.” said Dave Steele.

Responding solely to sensation and emotion, Dave developed a collection of poems inspired by Cavort, Secret Tryst and Lovers. His writing captures longing, intimacy and emotional chemistry without relying on visual cues. “For their For Lovers collection, they chose to work with someone who doesn’t experience fragrance visually at all. I’m registered blind. I write from instinct, memory, emotion and sensation. This collaboration isn’t about inclusion as a tick box. It’s about trusting a different perspective to tell a deeper story. And that’s where the magic lives. Grateful to work with a brand willing to do something genuinely different.”

Dave also highlighted the challenges many people with disabilities face within luxury environments. “A lot of people with disabilities feel anxious about going into luxury spaces like high-end fragrance departments because they fear being judged or not belonging. That’s why this campaign matters. Having Fragrance Du Bois promote disability in a positive, visible way sends a powerful message that these spaces are for everyone, and that’s something worth shouting from the rooftops.” added Dave.

Although fragrance is often communicated through visuals, its essence lies in how it makes people feel, through memory, instinct and personal connection.

“Working with Dave on our For Lovers campaign was about trusting a different perspective to tell a deeper story. One that isn’t driven by what you see, but by what you feel. We’re grateful for the honesty, sensitivity, and insight he brought to this collaboration, and proud to share work that challenges convention in such a meaningful way.” said Jonnie Swarbrick, Founder and Creative Director.

The For Lovers collection reflects love in its many dimensions, the spark of attraction, the intensity of closeness and the emotions that remain long after the moment has passed. Through this partnership, Fragrance Du Bois encourages audiences to experience scent beyond imagery, embracing emotion as the truest form of connection.

Local Video Production Makes TV Advertising Viable for Small Businesses

Business

News Desk

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11/02/2026

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Local Video Production Makes TV Advertising Viable for Small Businesses

TV advertising is no longer reserved for large brands with six-figure budgets, according to BearJam, an independent local video production company that says new technology and production models are giving small businesses access to broadcast advertising for the first time.

Recent figures from ad-spend provider Guideline indicate that UK advertising investment is set to grow by 5.5% in 2026, with connected TV predicted to rise by 15%. As digital advertising costs increase, businesses are increasingly looking to television as a channel offering stronger audience targeting and clearer performance measurement.

David Sanderson, Director of Business Development at Sky Media, said, “More than 4,000 businesses have already advertised on TV for the first time with Sky. Adsmart from Sky gives brands of any size access to the UK’s most trusted and impactful advertising platform, enabling them to reach the right audiences, build fame, and accelerate business growth.”

BearJam says the combination of Sky AdSmart’s addressable TV capabilities and locally produced creative allows businesses to reduce spend without sacrificing production quality or broadcast compliance.

“Where TV advertising used to cost £200k, it can now be done for £20k, opening up more opportunities for businesses that haven’t had that kind of exposure before.” Said James Hilditch, Founder and Creative Director at BearJam.

The company explains that instead of funding large national campaigns, businesses can focus on targeted local placements supported by efficient production schedules and smaller crews.

Now, £20k can get businesses:

A professionally produced, broadcast-ready TV advert (typically 20–30 seconds), created with TV compliance in mind
A lean, local shoot schedule (often 1 day) with a small crew to keep production efficient
Edit, sound mix, and delivery in the formats required for TV placement
Support with Clearcast-ready assets and guidance on approvals
A starter media test on addressable TV (e.g., Sky AdSmart) targeting specific postcodes and audience profiles
Performance reporting to understand reach and frequency, and to inform the next round of spend
Optional cutdowns/versions for social and digital, so the same creative works across channels

“TV used to feel like a walled garden. You needed big budgets, big agencies, and you were often paying for reach you didn’t actually need. What’s changed is that small businesses can now target the right postcodes, measure performance properly, and produce creative locally without compromising on broadcast quality.

When you combine addressable TV platforms like Sky AdSmart with a local production partner, that £20k budget can start to cover both the media placement and a properly crafted TV-ready ad. And because you’re not trying to speak to the whole country, you can focus on a clear message, a local audience, and a plan you can actually build on.

The opportunity isn’t ‘TV for TV’s sake’. It’s TV as a credible, high-attention channel that sits alongside digital, and often gives you more control than people assume.” Added James Hilditch.

BearJam expects the continued growth of addressable TV and local production to further lower barriers to entry, enabling more small businesses to treat TV as a realistic and scalable advertising channel.

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