VMI 2021 Carbon Audit Shows 9% CO2 reduction 19 May 2022 Our second annual carbon audit of 2021 is complete and demonstrates that VMI has reduced its total carbon emissions, according to the Science-Based Target Initiative from 234TCO2e to 213TCO2e, a reduction of 8.9% compared to the 2019 baseline, on target with our net-zero by 2030 strategy. We only started our formal net-zero journey mid 2021, so this is a terrific result since many of our initiatives had yet to be completed. The breakdown of each Scope emissions are as follows Scope 1 emissions had reduced from 54TCO2e to 37.6TCO2e Scope 2 emissions also reduced from 13TCO2e to nil, as all electricity for 2021 was using exclusively green tariffs. Scope 3 (excluding CapEx purchases), increased from 167TCO2e to 175TCO2e Some of the increase in scope 3 emissions can be attributed to a greater detail of measurement, such as a detailed analysis of employees commuting, which was not undertaken in 2019. Our commitment is to publish our results every year, so view the full report here.
Bristol Building 10.6KW Solar PV Installation 15 May 2022 VMI’s Bristol building has been fitted with a 10.6KW Solar PV array, to provide the majority of it’s power requirements. As part of this initiative, we have also replaced all lighting in Bristol facility with known Lumens/Watts-rated LED lights, to match Acton. This has reduced light-caused energy consumption by up to 90%. Even with EVs, 10.6KW is a lot more power than the Bristol branch is likely to use except at peak times and since our surplus is now being sold to the grid, we will in some small way help fortify Britain’s green power generation. Click here to see before and after pictures!
Bristol Solar PV cuts power use by 56% 15 May 2022 Amazingly, Bristol’s Sola PV installation has cut their power use by more than half (56%), though the pictures tell the full story though! (Data from Octopus energy readings taken 25-April – 22 May but excluding 13 May when the installation was in progress). Previous daily average (18.92KWh. After installation, daily average reduced to 8.31KWh. Reduction of 10.61KWh per day of electricity use from grid or 56.1%)
VMI London has 10KW of Solar Panels Installed 10 May 2022 In May 2022, in spite of having a 100% green electricity tariff since 2018, VMI installed 10KW of solar panels to its London HQ to generate most of its own power. With rising energy prices and fleet of electric vans coming, this looks like a good move to make.
Environmental Grant won from West of England Combined Authority and European Regional Development Fund 4 May 2022 50% Funding for environmental improvements to Bristol was sought and approved from the West of England Combined Authority and European Regional Development Fund. They helped to fund improvements to Bristol’s building for:• replacing existing fluorescent lighting with LED equivalents;• applying insulation above false ceiling.• replacing single-glazed rooflights with triple-glazed equivalents;• and a solar photovoltaic (PV) array. Website Link
VMI is voted one of the UK’s Best Workplaces 4 May 2022 Having achieved a Great Place To Work certification for VMI, we were invited to enter the UK’s Greatest Workplace Awards and were delighted to be officially ranked 62 as one of the UK’s Best Workplaces …more
VMI donates full ARRI camera kit to West London College 3 May 2022 West London College is proud to announce a significant partnership with camera rental company, VMI, who supply camera packages to the TV Industry for dramas, feature films, documentaries, music videos and more. The partnership will ensure students on media courses at Ealing Green College will have access to cutting-edge equipment, with VMI donating a full ARRI digital camera kit, worth £100,000, to the college. The camera kit is still used in industry production and this particular camera was most recently used for shooting season 22 of ITV’s “Midsomer Murders” in summer 2021, which is due to continue airing throughout 2022. …more
VMI E-BIKE SCHEME OPEN DAY HELD 6 April 2022 VMI held a BLIKE open day in April for our staff to try out the full range of E-Bikes available to lease from BLIKE. The scheme has been set up as an alternative to the existing Cycle-to-Work scheme, to personally lease E-Bikes as a healthier and cost-effective way of commuting and which is also very tax-efficient. I can personally attest to these bikes also being a LOT of fun!
Bristol Building Roof Insulation and Triple-Glazed Roof Lights Fitted 1 April 2022 We replaced the single-glazed roof lights with triple glazed (U-value 1.6) and sprayed foam insulation to the underside of the steel roof of our Bristol building to improve its thermal efficiency.. These two initiatives are predicted to save 6.6T CO2 per year.
VMI Awarded Ealing Business Pioneers To Promote Sustainable Lighting Use In Film and TV 1 April 2022 VMI has been awarded an Ealing Business Pioneers grant to help fund running in-person courses to spread awareness of the benefits and advantages of the latest LED lighting technology. The grant will be used to promote high efficiency lighting technologies which can help to reduce power and energy toward climate sustainability goals. Read more
We publish updated VMI Environmental and Sustainability Policy 28 March 2022 We updated our Environmental and Sustainability Policy and uploaded it here. We strongly believe in the power of community and continues to share ideas and solutions that inspire wider industry action and in June 2021, we committed to becoming a net zero organisation by 2030 and to halve its carbon emissions by 2025 using 2019 as the baseline year. These aren’t just words, so we have backed them up with a commitment to promote a plant-based diet and giving staff an additional annual day’s leave, if they haven’t used an aeroplane in the previous year for personal use. Download VMI Environmental and Sustainability Policy Document
VMI Sponsors KIFF Film Festival 7 March 2022 VMI loves to support new entrants to the industry and is proud to be a partner of a brand new film festival in June, which aims to celebrate a diverse … Read more
VMI stops stocking Polyboards and pioneers sustainable replacement 23 February 2022 Polyboards are horribly unsustainable and their size makes them difficult to dispose of, so we have found a practical sustainable alternative and have stopped supplying the originals. The new Lastolite Rapids are even more versatile than the original, as we supply them with a variety of covers including black, white, silver and diffusion and can be easily assembled in 60 seconds.They can be reused over and over and even fit into a car – try that with an 8×8 poly!
Camera Technicians Apprentice Scheme Builds on Successful First Year 18 February 2022 The new Apprenticeship Standard for Camera Prep Technicians is looking to expand after a successful first season launch. Last summer, nine trainees became the first cohort of apprentices to participate … Read more
VMI is Double Winner at 2022 West London Business Awards 16 February 2022 VMI Named West London Company of the Year For Leading On Climate Change The actions and leadership of VMI and its Managing Director in galvanizing the industry around net zero targets have been recognised by West London Business. VMI have won two prestigious awards at the West London Business Awards. It is named West London Company of the Year 2022 while MD Barry Bassett won Business Leader of the Year. Read More
Company Food Poll 10 February 2022 What kind of company polls their staff to see what food they would like to eat for catered events? We do! In February 2022, we polled the entire VMI staff and overwhelmingly, people asked us to provide them with predominantly vegetarian food. Interestingly, only one person voted for a 100% meat diet, though they admitted that this had been a mistake (they were vegetarian!) We have now adopted the results of the poll so all food supplied by VMI from now on will be in the proportions of 70% vegetarian, 30% meat, in line with staff wishes.
VMI GROUP RECYCLES 100% OF WASTE – 2021 CERTIFIED 4 February 2022 Since 2019, as part of our annual carbon audit, we audit our waste every year to confirm that our waste reduction plan is working. For the entire 2021, just as in 2019, we were able to divert everything we didn’t need any more to be fully recycled or composted, making us 100% landfill-free!! Click here to read the 2021 reports.
Launch of VMI Microsite to show 20-year Sustainability Journey 31 January 2022 Not many people know that we have been working for almost 20 years to make VMI into a more sustainable and socially equitable company. We are totally committed to becoming a Net-Zero company by 2030 have launched a microsite to share our journey.
VMI Donates Lights for Student Training 21 January 2022 VMI has partnered with Bristol-based college, boomsatsuma, donating a range of lighting equipment for BA Hons Filmmaking Production and Post-production degree student skills development, Jan 2021. Degree students based at … Read more
VMI is a certified Great Place to Work! 20 January 2022 VMI has always striven to be a place that people enjoy working in and a recent independent audit by organisation, GreatPlaceToWork, has confirmed that 96% of VMI’s workforce judge VMI … Read more
VMI E-Bike Scheme Launched 12 January 2022 VMI launched the BLIKE scheme as an alternative to the existing Cycle-to-Work scheme, to personally lease E-Bikes as a healthier and cost-effective way of commuting.
Latest BECTU Guidance Adopted 7 January 2022 Jason Henwood, working with the Bectu Camera Branch, has published the latest guidance document detailing policies and and recommendations to help camera assistants, producers and rental companies to adopt more sustainable working … Read more
2021 VMI Annual Client Survey – Best Ever Results 4 January 2022 The latest annual VMI client survey had the best results of all time achieving a client satisfaction score of 4.8 out of 5, or 96% client approval rating, which I am utterly … Read more
VMI wins National Climate Award 31 December 2021 VMI won a national award being crowned “Hero of Net Zero” by the UK Government at the international COP26 climate summit in November 2021 for its work on sustainability. More than 160 businesses entered the competition, making a commitment at the UK Business Climate Hub to achieve net zero by 2030, 20 years ahead of the Government’s own climate commitment. VMI.TV won over the competition judges for taking responsibility for their sectors environmental impact, spreading the sustainability message as founding members of the Bectu’s-Film-For-Future group. VMI.TV, Bristol and London-based camera rental company, crowned Hero of Net Zero at COP26 awards ceremony. Small business celebrated for original and creative actions taken to cut their own greenhouse gas emissions. The company urges other businesses to commit to net zero at UK Climate Hub. Read the full story of this amazing achievement here.
Formal commitment to Net Zero on Government Business Climate Hub 30 December 2021 The Government Business Climate Hub keeps a register of all UK companies who have committed to a net Zero Pledge and August 2021 saw VMI also adding its name, committing it to. Halving our greenhouse gas emissions before 2030 Achieving net zero emissions before 2050 Disclosing our progress on a yearly basis In doing so, we are proud to be recognised by the United Nations Race to Zero campaign, and join governments, businesses, cities, regions, and universities around the world that share the same mission.