VMI Books Eurostar to Visit IBC in Amsterdam 21 June 2022 We have been travelling to visit the IBC TV convention in Amsterdam for decades and other than the Superheroes campaign (2017-2019) when we travelled by bicycle, we have always travelled by aeroplane. VMI’s net-zero sustainability policy required us to replace air travel with more sustainable methods of transport, so for the first time, VMI will be travelling to IBC in 2022 with Eurostar!
VMI Lighting Workshop Demonstrates Value of In-Person Events 6 June 2022 Seeing is believing, as they say, and now that we’re all back to business the chance, VMI’s new in-person workshops which allow visitors to get hands on with equipment and … Read more
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.
VMI Christmas Jumper Day to help Save the Children 11 December 2021 VMI took part in Save the Children’s Christmas Jumper Day on Friday 10 December 2021, for us all to wear our silliest, most festive jumper on & donated £124 to Save the Children.
VMI 2021 Client Survey – 96% Service 6 December 2021 In December 2021, we held our 14th annual client satisfaction survey, asking all VMI clients who had hired from us in the previous 12 months exactly what they thought about us and we have included them for you here. Most importantly though, 40 of you voted VMI 4.8 on customer service (3 is average, 4 is good and 5 is excellent), which is equivalent to 96% client approval rating.
VMI Shortlisted for Park Royal Business of the Year award 2022 24 November 2021 For the third year in as many years, VMI has been nominated as a finalist for the West London Business Awards. VMI has been shortlisted as one of three companies for the Green ‘Race to Zero’ Business of the Year but what is really surprising is that also, for the first time, we have been also shortlisted as one of three companies in the category of Park Royal Business of the Year. Read Full Story
VMI Retires all Tungsten Rental Lighting 14 October 2021 Tungsten is the most traditional form of TV/Film lighting still in use today, having replaced expensive and dangerous Carbon Arc fittings. In reality though, tungsten lighting fixtures ought to be called lighting heaters, since 96% of the energy used is output as heat, leaving only 4% to produce light. This makes them immensely inefficient and not at all compatible with modern sustainability ideals and on these grounds, VMI has decided to retire all of its tungsten lighting in October 2021*. Read Full Story
VMI switches to ‘Green’ Gaffer/Camera Tape 14 October 2021 We are starting to look at all aspects of our business processes and supplier LeMark suggested that their new gaffer tape was more environmentally friendly than the regular type. They … Read more
Print and Toner Recycling 13 September 2021 All old ink and toner cartridges are disposed of in a responsible and sustainable manner with a new recycling bin installed by Lewis. We all know that these are very easy to buy and even easier to put into the dustbin when empty but he has found a waste company called Zero Waste Recycling, who will for a small fee, take all of our old cartridges and recycle them responsibly. We are all interested in the pursuit of saving more waste from going to landfill, so well done, Lewis!
Created Net Zero Roadmap 5 September 2021 We’ve created our Net Zero Roadmap! We will reduce our emissions to the limits that technology and society set for us by 2030 and offset any residual emissions along the way.
VMI Stops Using Disposable AA Batteries 16 August 2021 VMI has made the transition to using rechargeable AA batteries and entirely stopped the environmentally harmful use of disposable batteries and shared this practice with the wider rental community.
VMI takes on three new Apprentices 10 August 2021 Our apprenticeship programme has launched! Jonah Mann, Josh Barker, and Matt Fisher are our first recruits. This makes all the nagging, lobbying, meetings and consultations worth it. 200 people applied and of those we invited 42 to an activity event hosted at the London Screen Academy. 13 trainees will become the first cohort of Camera Technician Apprentices, They started a 2 week “boot camp” at the LSA on 24 August to begin a 2-year training programme designed by UK rental companies, which will train them to near Senior Technician standard without any cost to them and whilst being fully employed. Upon completion, they will achieve a formal industry qualification of a level 3 NVQ by August 2023. Read more
VMI Group Recycles 100% of Waste – CERTIFIED 28 July 2021 You heard that right! Our waste reduction plan is working!! For the last year we were able to divert everything we didn’t need any more to be fully recycled or composted, making us 100% landfill-free!! In 2019 we created over 24,000Kg of CO2e, we haven’t performed our 2021 carbon audit yet but we look forward to seeing a huge cut in this number. Read full audit here
Long-awaited UK Camera Tech Apprenticeship standard is rolled out 21 July 2021 More than 200 young hopefuls who initially lodged their interest in the new Camera Tech Apprenticeship programme, were reduced to 100 after the first sift, 56 at the second and just 42 received invitations to the activity and selection day event, hosted at the London Screen Academy on Wednesday 21 July.
First Carbon Audit Complete 5 May 2021 VMI completed its first ever Carbon Audit. Since 2020 was such a peculiar year, we used 2019 as our base year from which all of our carbon saving measures will be compared with. Going forwards, we commit to completing a carbon audit every year and publicly publishing our results. This way, we can demonstrate that we are taking real action to reduce our emissions annually and hopefully be on track with our net zero commitment.
UK’s first Apprenticeship Standard for Camera Technicians now open for registration 14 April 2021 Back in 2019, VMI Managing Director, Barry Bassett, first contacted the TV Industry body, ScreenSkills in order to investigate whether it might be possible to set up a formal apprenticeship standard for UK Camera Rental companies. After some false starts, the first cohort of Apprentices will start this year.
5 years of renewable electricity 10 January 2021 We have been powered solely by 100% renewable electricity since 2016 at all our sites. We are proud that in 2022, all of VMI’s gas and electric supplies of all buildings are supplied by Octopus Energy
VMI’s Barry Bassett wins prestigious Nelsonian Award. 16 December 2020 A surprise announcement by Infinity Photo-Optical Company, saw VMI’s Managing Director, Barry Bassett being awarded their annual Nelsoniantm Award to recognise his work and lifetime commitment to imaging excellence and specifically in publishing his paper on macro and micro cinematography. Full Story
Living Wage Week coincides with VMI’s anniversary achieving accreditation 5 November 2020 One year ago, VMI achieved formal accreditation of being a Living Wage Employer. The Living Wage foundation are the organisation at the heart of the independent movement of businesses and … Read more
VMI help to set up UK’s first Apprenticeship Standard for Camera Technicians 16 January 2020 We want an industry that is accessible to all. For the past 18 months we’ve been working on an apprentice programme specifically for 16-19 year olds (but open to anyone 16 on up). We got in touch with the TV Industry Body, ScreenSkills and we persuaded the Institute of Apprenticeships to approve the design of a new standard. Now our apprentices will gain an NVQ by working with us. We collaborated with many industry companies to create the standard including S+O Media, Panavision, Movietech, ARRI Rental, Shoot Blue, CVP, Focus 24, Shift-4, Brownian Motion, Take-2 and CVP. While we’re proud of initiating this idea, collaborating with the rest of the industry is important if we are to create an industry that is socially just and allows our apprentices to prosper and grow. [Designing an apprenticeship standard pre-zoom took a lot of meetings and a lot of coffee!] Read the full story – it took a LOT of time, perspiration and coffee!
2019 VMI Annual Client Survey – Best Ever Results 4 December 2019 The latest annual VMI client survey had the best results of all time achieving a client satisfaction score of 4.7 out of 5 for the 5th year in a row, which I am utterly thrilled about. (3 is average, 4 is good and 5 is excellent).
VMI is a finalist in two categories of West London Business Awards 25 November 2019 VMI is a finalist in two categories of the 7th annual West London Business Awards, for “Creative/Media Business of the Year” and also the “Responsible Workplace award”. The awards celebrate business excellence, … Read more
VMI’s Green Credentials in the news 28 September 2019 The Guild of Television Camera Professionals has written an article on our green credentials. Alison Chapman of the GTC said VMI was “the best example we have found of a company within the industry really committing to this in a thorough and thoughtful way is GTC sponsor VMI, which has already introduced many sustainable and environmentally friendly practices.” Read More
VMI Sponsors First Prize of Cine Circle Film Festival 27 September 2019 VMI sponsored the 2019 Cine Circle Film Festival, a relatively new film festival designed to encourage recognition for new film makers. Founder, Zbigniew Siwek, describes Cine Circles aims are “to connect, … Read more
We did it! Superheroes raised over £60K in past 3 years to make world landmine-free 15 July 2019 2019 was the final year of the Superheroes ride which actually also attracted the most sponsors for our Superheroes ride so far with 85 sponsors! We were able to raise over £25,000 for MAG, who save people from landmines. [8 intrepid Superheroes, en-route to Amsterdam on the final ride of the 3-year Superheroes campaign. From the left, pictured are: Steve Baxter, Darren Cock, Adam Rodgers, Yevgeny Subbotin, Barry Bassett, Ali Wilson, Daniel Layne, Peter Withers] Read Full Story about why we did did this, how the campaign was started and see pictures of the rides and videos, including letters of support from Prince Harry and the King of Holland!
VMI receives accreditation of Living Wage Employer Status 11 June 2019 Link: https://www.livingwage.org.uk We have received accreditation as a Living Wage Provider. VMI has received formal recognition of its status as a fully accredited Living Wage Employer. This is the only UK wage rate based on the actual cost of living in London.
VMI Bans Single-use Plastic 5 June 2019 Link: https://vmi.tv/about/environment VMI has taken great strides to reduce its impact on the environment and continues to do so, going forward, wherever and whenever possible with a new initiative to ban single-use … Read more
VMI was a finalist for the 6th annual West London Business Awards 22 February 2019 Link: https://www.westlondon.com/west-london-business-awards-2019-shortlist-announced/ VMI was a finalist for the 6th annual West London Business Awards, for the category of Creative/Media Business of the Year at the 2019 West London Business Awards. The award celebrated business excellence, and showcases … Read more
VMI 2018 Customer Survey Results are in 13 December 2018 Link: https://vmi.tv/about/client-satisfaction-survey In December 2018, we held our 10th annual client satisfaction survey, asking all VMI clients who had hired from us in the previous 12 months exactly what they thought about … Read more
VMI is voted finalist for West London Business Awards 2019 27 November 2018 VMI has was a finalist for the 6th annual West London Business Awards, for the category of Creative/Media Business of the Year at the 2019 West London Business Awards. The award celebrated business excellence, … Read more
Major Project saves 30,000KWH per year 7 November 2016 We consolidated seven separate servers into one more efficient server, saving the power to both run the servers and cool them. The project was innovative enough for Ealing Council to give us their Environmental Award!! We save approximately 30,000KWH electricity annually.