VMI began life in January 1979 as a small video business in North West London, in the earliest days of VHS. As the industry changed, so did VMI: from video sales into broadcast hire through the 1980s and 90s, earning Hire Company of the Year by 1996, and expanding into digital editing, crewing and screening facilities through the 2000s.
VMI has been early to every major format transition. We were among the first UK rental houses to commit seriously to HD, stocking ten complete HD camera kits by 2004 before most competitors had entered the market. We bought our first ARRI Alexa cameras in 2010, built a dedicated drama department the same year, and have continued to invest ahead of the curve ever since, through 4K, large format and today’s 8K and anamorphic renaissance.
Along the way VMI became known for more than kit. We helped establish the UK’s first apprenticeship standard for camera technicians. We became a Living Wage employer. We banned single-use plastics, switched to 100% renewable electricity in 2016 and founded the industry-wide sustainability working group that now shares best practice across UK rental companies. We have been named West London Company of the Year and won national climate awards.
In 2026, VMI joined the RD Group, uniting nearly five decades of rental expertise with RD Studios London and RD Content’s production capabilities. Today VMI supplies drama, documentary, commercial and feature productions across the UK, with the same values it started with: invest in the best equipment, look after clients properly, and never stand still.