Pact Appoints Two Expert Consultants to Drive Nations and Regions Indie Growth
Pact has appointed former BBC Commissioning Exec, Nick Shearman and former Pinewood Studios Group Business Development Head, Jules Robinson to boost its support to Nations and Regions indies.
Shearman and Robinson take up their part-time, fixed-term roles on 1st March and bring with them decades of industry experience. Over the next six months they are tasked with providing structured support for Pact members through the creation and delivery of regular workshops and resources aimed at helping Nations and Regions indies with the overall development of their businesses and productions.
Indies based in the Nations and Regions make up almost 40% of Pact’s 600 member companies and the new appointments are just the latest investment from Pact to bolster its offer to them with the aim of driving growth outside of London. In 2019 Pact opened an office in Leeds, which is staffed by two permanent members of the Pact team (currently, the office is closed due to COVID restrictions but staff continue to work remotely). In 2020 Pact launched the Growth Accelerator, an ever-evolving online resource offering a one-stop-shop of information and tools accessible to indies wherever they are based in the UK.
Shearman and Robinson’s work will compliment these existing resources, as well as Pact’s on-going online programme of activities for members which is spearheaded by Managing Director of Business Development & Global Strategy, Dawn McCarthy-Simpson MBE.
Commenting on the appointments, Pact CEO John McVay OBE said: “Our expanded focus on the Nations and Regions over the past few years has enabled us to identify where best to concentrate our investment. The appointment of Nick and Jules with fantastic business and production-specific skillsets will enable us to work with our members in the Nations and Regions to help them to achieve growth in a post-pandemic world.”
Nick Shearman, Pact Nations and Regions Production Development Consultant said: “Having been based in the West Country most of my working life, I'm delighted to be working with Pact at such an important time for Nations & Regions companies, to support them and broadcasters in developing a greater balance of work and growth across the UK, and to encourage new diverse talent to flourish.”
Jules Robinson, Pact Nations and Regions Business Development Consultant said: “I am very excited to be joining the wealth of experience at Pact and look forward to working with and helping production companies in the Nations and Regions develop and grow.”