£20,000 loan puts studio in the picture

COMMERCIAL photographers and hire studio firm Lithium Studios has received a £20,000 loan to develop its existing building as a media centre.

The company, owned by husband and wife team Wendy and Simon Anderson, plan to use the money to market their photography and web design business as well as further develop Saga House, the Old Salvation Army building in Ossett.

Lithium Studios was founded in 2004 and has customers including Harrods, Asda, Addidas and L’Oreal.

Managing Director Wendy Anderson said: “We have been pleased with how business has been going but needed a cash injection to redevelop the website, improve signage on the building and develop further marketing tools to seek out new clients. We have recently started offering a service where we film ‘walk on websites’, which is when companies can have a presenter on their website, and we needed to market this new service.”

“We are also keen to attract more media companies into our building as tenants. We already have two film companies based here and we would like to develop a thriving hub of creativity. PIF have been very helpful, we have found the mentor support they have offered particularly useful.”

The company received the funding from PIF – an investment fund aimed at supporting growing businesses in Yorkshire.

PIF Lending Manager Ian Atkinson said: “I was really impressed with how well Wendy and Simon have run the business to date, including converting the Old Salvation Army building into a studio complex. This gave me every confidence that they will put the £20,000 to good use to further develop their business.”