Having a group of people who are on a similar journey who are also facing the same challenges made everything feel more possible.
Why did you decide to apply for Future North East and what were you hoping to get out of it?
We’d previously been part of Pact’s Future30 scheme, which was an incredible learning ground as a company coming into the industry with no background in TV. As a content marketing agency expanding into the world of TV, we had a lot to learn! The programme gave us foundational insight based on where we were in our journey, so Future North East felt like the next-level step for us.
It gave us the chance to put all that learning into practice with the support of North East Screen and our friends from other awesome indies around the region. We knew we needed the right support and network to scale sustainably and this programme was perfect for that. We hoped we would finish the programme with our first commission but we have exceeded that goal!
How has being on the scheme most helped you and your company over the past two years?
The scheme helped Wander in many ways from connecting directly with commissioners to gaining a clearer understanding of the commercial and international landscape. Pact Future North East helped us sharpen our strategy, pivot our approach and understand where we fit in the industry.
Because we’d already had a taste of the programme through Future30, we came into this scheme with a better sense of what we didn’t know and that made the learning even more powerful. We were able to absorb more, ask better questions and apply the insight straight into our day-to-day. It also gave us credibility and confidence and helped strengthen our relationships with other North East indies which opened up real opportunities for collaboration.
Which masterclass session did you find most useful/inspiring and why?
It’s difficult to say which session was the most useful or inspiring because they were all great for different reasons. But I loved the in-person sessions because of the length, the energy in the room from speakers and the opportunity to catch up with the other indies on the programme without any outside distractions. The final in-person session was great, diving into the world of AI and having the chance to be creative. The in-person sessions are always held in the coolest venues, too!
What's it been like having a peer network of other producers (who are all at a similar stage with their businesses) during the scheme?Having a group of people who are on a similar journey who are also facing the same challenges made everything feel more possible. We shared contacts and advice, worked together, celebrated each other's wins and became good friends!
Lou Tonner & Chloe Clover
What has been the single most beneficial part of being on the scheme?
Although it's hard to just name one single most beneficial part of the scheme, I'd probably say it was the access to experts who gave their insights and inspired us. The industry is changing so fast which makes it super hard when you're an early-stage indie, so having the experts run sessions meant we could learn from their experiences.
Have there been any outcomes or developments from being on the scheme that have surprised you or that you hadn't anticipated?
I think we realised that it's ok (and valuable) to do things the ‘Wander’ way and not the ‘usual’ way. We spent so long trying to learn the rules and do things 'right,' but over time we started to understand that our difference (our tone, style, approach) is our strength.
Being on the scheme gave us the confidence to lean into that. We started showing up more boldly, pitching with more personality and having more fun with it and that’s when the real momentum kicked in. That shift in mindset was something we didn’t expect but it changed everything.
I’ve learned to trust my instincts more, especially when it comes to our tone, our ideas and our approach.
Over the past two years whilst being on the scheme, how has your business developed?
The growth has been huge. In 2024, we were awarded the BBC Small Indie Fund, which allowed us to accelerate our development slate and build out our production capacity. Shortly after, we landed our first full-length broadcast commission, The Lakes: Our Life on the Edge, for the BBC Our Lives series.
Since then, we’ve delivered six inserts for BBC Morning Live and we’re currently in the edit stage for our second full-length Our Lives film, The Ultimate Wingwalker. What surprised us most is that these were all full Wander productions. We assumed our first commissions would need to be co-productions, but broadcasters recognised the depth of experience we already had from the agency side and trusted us to lead.
We’ve also secured paid development with ITV and we’re now developing something top secret with a major broadcaster that will change everything for Wander. Alongside our TV work, we’ve made key strategic moves to connect our two worlds: the bold, fast-paced agency side and our growing TV slate. We're excited to share more about that crossover in the coming months.
How do you feel you have personally developed as a producer and business owner over the past couple of years?
The past two years have been transformational for me personally. I've grown so much in confidence to lead, pitch and find opportunities in an industry that is constantly evolving. I’m much more strategic now, planning better and making decisions based on where we want to go.
I’ve also learned to trust my instincts more, especially when it comes to our tone, our ideas and our approach. There were times early on when I second-guessed whether we were doing it right, but now I know that doing it our way is what sets us apart. We’ve become more ambitious, too. I used to keep the big goals quiet but now I’m comfortable owning them and building a team to make them happen. I’ve also built a much stronger network with great relationships with people across the industry who I can learn from and collaborate with.
Looking ahead, what goals do you have for Wander now that the scheme is almost over?
We have to keep building on the momentum. Our next goals are to secure a returning series, formalise co-productions and strategic partnerships, and scale Wander across agency and TV (merging the two worlds together).
We also launched our GFX (Graphic Visual Effects) service whilst on the Pact Future North East programme and have since worked with a number of indies to design and deliver graphic effects for both one-offs and returnable series. This is something we are ready to scale now and that’s going to be a big focus this year, too.
A huge thank you to Pact and North East Screen. Future North East has helped us grow significantly and we’re super proud to be building something from the North East! We can’t stress enough how grateful we are to have had this opportunity. <3
Future North East was a tailored leadership and development programme for ten ambitious independent production companies based in the North East of England. The two-year growth scheme - which we ran in partnership with North East Screen - began in July 2023 and provided the selected companies with access to industry experts and the tools to help grow their businesses domestically and internationally.
Read More Future North East
Case Studies
Schnoobert
"When we started the scheme, we were essentially a one-person operation with a website. Today, we’re a fully operational and profitable business."
Twenty Six 03
"We are much more aware of needing to work towards new funding solutions
and not rely on broadcasters funding our projects."