Three years ago, nobody had heard of Earworm.
We were a tiny Bristol startup with an idea about where podcasting was going, a handful of clients, zero real track record and – probably – more confidence than evidence.
Last night, we were named Marketing & Advertising StartUp of the Year at the UK StartUp Awards.
It feels slightly surreal writing that.
Awards obviously aren’t why you build a business. They don’t make the difficult months less difficult, they don’t fix your cash flow and they certainly don’t guarantee what happens next.
But every now and then, I think it’s worth stopping and acknowledging how far you’ve come.
And this one means a lot.
Building a creative business in Bristol
Earworm started here in Bristol in 2023, and the city has been a huge part of our story.
We now work with organisations including IG Group, Cisco, KPMG, Soldo and Mirakl, producing video podcasts and content that reaches audiences around the world.
But we’ve built the company from Bristol.
There’s something about the creative community here that I think is quite special. Bristol has world-class agencies, production companies, animators, filmmakers, designers, strategists and technologists – alongside a slightly rebellious streak that stops the city feeling like it’s trying to imitate somewhere else.
It’s a good place to build a creative company.
And I think we should probably shout about that more.
We’ve learned a lot in three years
The Earworm of today looks very different from the business we started.
We’ve made mistakes. We’ve hired brilliantly and occasionally badly. We’ve launched things that worked and things that didn’t. We’ve changed our pricing, our processes, our technology and probably our minds about almost everything at least once.
But a few beliefs have become stronger.
Great creative work needs to produce a result.
The lines between creative, content, media and performance are disappearing quickly. It’s no longer enough to make something beautiful and hand it over.
Clients increasingly want to understand what happened next.
Did people watch it? Did they engage? Did it reach the right audience? Did it change behaviour? Did it create commercial value?
That’s pushed us to become much more interested in the technology and data surrounding the content we produce – not just the production itself.
You have to be willing to tell clients the truth.
Sometimes the answer isn’t another video.
Sometimes a podcast isn’t working.
Sometimes the format needs to change, the strategy isn’t clear enough, or the audience simply hasn’t been properly understood.
Some of the strongest client relationships we’ve built have come from being prepared to have those conversations rather than simply producing whatever was originally briefed.
And you have to keep changing.
The creative industry is moving incredibly quickly.
AI is changing production. Distribution is changing. Search is changing. YouTube is increasingly central to podcast consumption. Brands are becoming media companies in their own right.
I don’t think creative businesses can afford to be precious about how things used to be done.
Our job is to keep learning faster than the market changes.
The bit I’m most proud of…
I collected the award, but Earworm isn’t me.
It’s the people who come into work every day and obsess over an edit, challenge an idea, solve a client problem, find a brilliant guest, improve a process or stay that little bit longer because they care about what we’re putting into the world.
Building a company is strange because you’re usually looking forward.
There’s another target. Another hire. Another client. Another problem. Another idea.
You rarely turn around.
Last night gave me an excuse to.
Three years ago, we were trying to convince people to take a chance on a Bristol startup they’d never heard of.
Today, we’re producing work for some of the biggest organisations in the world.
So thank you to every client who took that chance, to everyone who’s worked with us along the way, and especially to the team building Earworm today.
What happens next?
We’re nowhere near finished.
Over the next few years, our ambition is to build Earworm into one of the world’s leading video podcast and content agencies – and to prove that a globally ambitious creative business can be built right here in Bristol.
For now, though, I’m allowing the team – and myself – to enjoy this one. Probably over a few beers.
Then it’s back to work.
Bath based animation studio Spud Gun Studios has been named Creative Tech Business of the Year at the SPARKies 2026 and shortlisted as a Small Business finalist at the upcoming EntreConf Awards.
Spud Gun Studios is the independent studio behind Mashed, one of the largest online animation channels in the world, with over 7 million followers and more than 2 billion lifetime views. The studio produces animated content for gaming and entertainment brands including Larian Studios, Devolver Digital, PlayStation, Ubisoft and HoYoverse, and is developing original IP including its first series Killer Princess and America’s Next Cryptid for Tubi.
The SPARKies award, presented at St George’s Bristol on 16 July, recognised the studio’s work at the intersection of animation, gaming and digital content. Spud Gun Studios was founded in Bath and has grown into one of the UK’s most watched animation producers, reaching approaching 500 million views annually across YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook.
The EntreConf Awards nomination follows shortly after, with the ceremony taking place on 1 October at Aerospace Bristol. The awards celebrate entrepreneurial businesses across the South West and Spud Gun Studios has been named a finalist in the Small Business category.
Tom Payne, Managing Director and cofounder of Spud Gun Studios, said: “Winning Creative Tech Business of the Year at the SPARKies was a brilliant moment for the team. To then be shortlisted for the EntreConf Awards on top of that is a real vote of confidence in what we’re building here in Bath. We’ve always believed that world class animation can come from outside London and these nominations show that the wider business community is starting to see that too.”
Spud Gun Studios recently joined Bristol Creative Industries and is a member of the region’s growing creative and digital community.
A few days ago, MOYA Studio was named Creative Startup of the Year for the South West at the UK StartUp Awards 2026. Now we are heading to the national finals in September, representing the South West region. We’re still a little stunned, honestly.
But the award isn’t really where this story starts. It starts with a bag. And a lot of frustration.
When I launched my own handbag brand back in 2022, I hit a wall that nobody in the industry talked about openly. The fashion manufacturing world simply isn’t built for startups. Designers raise their fees and limit iterations the moment they hear the word “Startup”. Manufacturers want minimum orders we can’t meet. The worst is that nobody in this process supports the experimental, trial-and-error mentality that startup founders have. And if our idea is genuinely new, which the best ones always are, there’s no roadmap to follow.
Through my work as a freelance bag designer, I saw the same problem happening repeatedly. A founder is often stuck in no man’s land, caught between a designer who didn’t understand production and a manufacturer who couldn’t see the vision. I realised how broken the process was.
So I built the thing I wished had existed.
MOYA Studio is an end-to-end design and development consultancy for bag and accessory startups. Not a design agency. Not a sourcing agent. One partner who holds the whole picture, from a rough concept through design, prototyping, sourcing and into manufacturing – until the founder receives the products at their doorstep. The creative vision and the commercial reality, kept in the same room throughout.
In just one year, our studio has supported 20 founders across the US, Europe and beyond. Products that are genuinely new, from modern motherhood bags, patent-pending smart bags to pet carriers or sustainable accessories, built by people who are close to real problems and brave enough to do something about them.
The award is a wonderful thing. But if we’re honest, it belongs as much to those founders as it does to us. The ones who trusted us with their idea at the earliest, most vulnerable stage. That kind of courage deserves the right support. We’re just glad we get to be that.
MOYA Studio is Bristol-based. We’re heading to the national finals in September.
Come say hello at www.moyabagstudio.com
A few weeks ago An Dara Saol a nabbed the Short Form award at the RTS West of England Awards!
Apart from feeling royally chuffed, it’s just such a relief to have some recognition for our hard work.
This project was years in the making. Hundreds of conversations, endless script drafts and a graveyard of brilliant ideas. We also had plenty of impossible ideas that somebody, somehow, figured out how to pull off. (🤫 that’s us!)
The absolute best part about this whole project was working with our client.
The team at Saol Media trusted us enough to give us the creative keys early. They didn’t just slide a finished script across the table and say, “Hey, make this look pretty.” We actually got in the trenches together. Wrestling with the story, ripping things apart (physically and metaphorically), simplifying and rebuilding, and then doing it all over again.
What birthed out of that turmoil was a beautiful 5 part series that tackles some mature and heavy questions for teens without feeling boring. It’s honest, accessible and hopefully a lot of fun to watch.
We never just want to make things look cool. We want to help people figure out what they’re actually trying to say. Lots of people have wonderful ideas but getting those ideas to connect, resonate and getting people to actually care… that’s the hard part that we’re interested in.
Working on An Dara Saol was a reminder that the best productions are bit like conducting an orchestra, it only works when everyone is working as one.
A huge shoutout to everyone involved, especially the team at An Tobar Nua for having the guts to back a bold idea and stick with it to the very end. And a big thanks to RTS West of England for the kudos!
Now we’re off to find somewhere to put the award where it looks impressive on video calls.
Omni Productions is proud to announce that its impactful project, “AXA Safe Spaces,” has been named the winner of the Social Change category at this year’s Brand Film Awards, run by prestigious industry publications PRWeek and Campaign. Created for global insurer AXA, the project took top honors in a highly competitive category, successfully beating out exceptional shortlisted documentary series including inDrive and TED: My Big Idea.
AXA Safe Spaces is a pioneering web-based awareness and training program developed to help employers and employees create safe and supportive workplaces for people affected by domestic and sexual abuse.
While the website was initially created for internal use at AXA, it has now been made freely available to all employers and individuals globally. The program provides ready-to-use resources based on the practical 3R methodology: Recognise, Respond, and Refer. Through real-life stories and expert insights, the training equips individuals to recognise the signs of domestic abuse, respond with empathy and practical support, and accurately refer victim-survivors to appropriate professional services.
The initiative has already scaled significantly. AXA Safe Spaces is currently accessible worldwide, available in 11 languages, and has secured endorsements from major multinational companies including Accor, L’Oréal, Engie, Orange, Publicis, and LVMH. Building on the momentum of this award win, the team is actively working to expand the project’s global reach.
Work is currently underway to launch new versions tailored for the Korean and Turkish markets. Additionally, Omni Productions and AXA are currently developing a comprehensive set of FAQs for the site designed specifically for businesses and organizations, helping them better understand how to roll out the resource and effectively support their people.
For more information and to access the training, visit the AXA Safe Spaces platform.
For four decades, a home-grown Bristol initiative has helped launch hundreds of creative careers across the South West and South Wales.
Now, as the South West Design + Digital Student Awards celebrates its 40th anniversary, the organisers are inviting a new generation of final-year university students to step into the spotlight.
Founded in 1986 by Bristol creative agency Proctor + Stevenson, the awards were created with a simple aim: to close the gap between education and the creative industries. What began as a small initiative to showcase promising student work has since become the region’s longest-running creative awards programme, helping emerging designers take their first step into professional careers.
Over the past four decades, hundreds of students have been recognised through the awards, with many going on to build successful careers across the design, branding, advertising and digital industries, both in the UK and internationally. For many, the awards represent the first moment their work is seen beyond the university studio, opening doors to agencies, studios and creative employers across the region and beyond.
Ailsa Billington, Managing Director at Proctor + Stevenson, explained:
“Reaching 40 years is a remarkable milestone, but what matters most to us is the talent behind it. These awards were created to give students a platform and a bridge into the industry. Over the years we’ve seen hundreds of careers begin here, which is something we’re incredibly proud of.”
Every year, the awards offer cash prizes, along with valuable opportunities for networking, industry exposure, portfolio reviews, and a paid internship with us here at Proctor + Stevenson.
By participating, ten students have the chance to be recognised as finalists, with three category winners and one overall ‘Ultimate Creative Champion.’
Since their inception, the awards have helped guide many notable design careers. Past winner, Chris Roberts, now at Dyson, credits the awards with helping launch his career.
“I was the Design Awards winner in 1994. As a result of the Design Awards and winning one of the awards that night, I was offered a job by one of the judges and also offered a job by Proctor and Stevenson. I took the job at Proctor and Stevenson and ended up working there for eight years. That really kickstarted my career actually. I am now a Creative Director at Dyson, where I’ve been for nearly 20 years.”
The 2026 awards are open to final year students studying creative courses at universities in the South West of England and South Wales. Categories include:
Students are encouraged to submit any project, including previous university work, as long as it aligns with one of our three categories. It’s free to enter and students can find our full entry guidelines here: Entry guidelines
Entries are now open until the 29th May 2026.
Creative projects can be submitted here: South West Design + Digital Student Awards 2026
Web developers, digital innovators and tech professionals are gearing up for the sixth annual Umbraco Spark innovation conference, returning to Bristol this spring at We The Curious on Friday 20 March 2026. Organised by Bristol digital agency Gibe Digital, the event has become a fixture for developers from across the UK and Europe to share insights, ideas and practical knowledge around the open‑source Umbraco CMS and broader .NET ecosystem
Speaking about the conference, Steve Temple, Technical Director and Co‑founder of Gibe Digital, describes Spark as “a calendar highlight” that brings together “so many talented developers from the amazing Umbraco community.” Steve adds that the event leaves attendees “feeling inspired, armed with fresh knowledge to take your Umbraco projects to the next level.”
This year’s programme features a single main track of deep‑dive technical talks, practical demos and forward‑thinking sessions on topics such as load‑balancing for scalable apps, Umbraco Search, next‑generation back‑office features, and experimenting with AI‑driven accessibility tools.
Schedule Highlights:
Thursday, 19 March – The day before the main conference kicks off with a full-day Hackathon & Package Jam for the community, followed by a pre-party at a local game bar with ping pong, bowling, karaoke, food and drinks.
Friday, 20 March – A Harbour Run at 7 AM starts the day, followed by registration with coffee and pastries. The main track runs 9 AM–5:30PM, featuring technical talks, lightning sessions and demos. The Package Awards celebrate standout contributions, and the day wraps up with an after-party. Attendees also benefit from lunch, refreshments, a free cloakroom, and quiet/multi-faith rooms to support wellbeing.
Tickets & Pricing: Standard tickets cost £150 + VAT, available until the end of February or until sold out. Grab your ticket here.
Umbraco Spark continues to cement Bristol’s status as a hub for creative tech events — combining local community energy with the global expertise of the Umbraco ecosystem.
As proud members of Bristol Creative Industries, Bristol24/7 would like to extend an invite to fellow BCI members to their upcoming Bristol Legends event at Ashton Gate on 6th March. This is a new initiative to celebrate the city and raise vital funds for independent journalism, social impact projects as well as for AntiBanquet and the work they do to tackle food insecurity in the city.
Bristol Legends will be an incredible celebration of Bristol’s culture, creativity, innovation, positivity and its many incredible communities. It will feature a three-course dinner from Josh Eggleton, the AntiBanquet team and other top Bristol chefs; a very special award show hosted by Jayde Adams; some amazing Bristol performers; and quite a few surprises along the way. The room will be full of 750 people from Bristol businesses and beyond, including some of the city’s leaders in culture, innovation, sustainability, community and beyond.
Bristol24/7 are now looking to engage individuals and businesses who are in a position to take tickets or a table at the event or to donate tickets or table to those who can’t afford to attend. We’re delighted to be able to offer a discount on full tables for BCI members. Please get in touch will [email protected] if you’d be interested in joining us. In the true spirit of collaboration, members may like to come together and purchase a combined BCI table or two…
The awards show will be followed by a party in a transformed concourse which will include some truly legendary Bristol bands and djs, a full spectacular show from the Invisible Circus set to a live musical score, holograms of local heroes of the past and a very special guest. Separate tickets for the Bristol Legends Party can be purchased here.
A legendary evening awaits…
Thanks to all the love and support from our amazing community, we have been named the 8th best workspace in the UK by the 2025 Tallys, and the highest ranked workspace in the South West.
All there is to say is thank you. To our members, our supporters, our incredible team, and to everyone who makes Square Works what it is.
When we started Square Works way back in 2019, we could never have imagined the amazing community we would build over the years – to be ranked so highly amongst many other incredible workspaces across the country is a privilege, and we couldn’t have done it without you.
To find out more about The Tallys and why Square Works has been ranked #8 in the UK, click the link below.
BRAVA (Bristol Academy of Voice Acting) is delighted to announce that it has received two Society of Voice Arts and Sciences (SOVAS) Award nominations.
Best Podcast Host
The nominations are for Outstanding Podcast – Best Producer/Host – for BRAVA Founder and CEO, Melissa Thom, for the High Notes podcast on the art and business of voice.
From Monoglian throat singing to vocal health, accents, gaming and more, High Notes uncovers the craft behind the business. Series 3 has just dropped and explores ‘Words at Work’, talking to some of the best minds about voice, speech and communication for business.
Best Audio Drama
BRAVA has also been nominated for Outstanding Audio Drama for Angels in Bristol, an original Film Noir script based in 1954 Bristol, written and directed by Elaine A. Clark, and produced by Melissa Thom.
Elaine wrote the script exclusively for BRAVA’s in-person Characters Masterclass, held in Bristol every summer. This annual event provides participants with the opportunity to be cast in and record a range of productions, from audiobooks, to audio dramas, video games and more.
Melissa Thom, Founder & CEO of BRAVA said:
“I could not be prouder of everyone at BRAVA involved in these nominations. It’s a real testimony to the talent of our voice clients. Here’s to storytelling, community, and the power of voice; to putting Bristol and the South West firmly on the global voice map; and, most importantly, to creating art for pleasure!”.
BRAVA’s High Notes podcast is hosted and produced by Melissa Thom, audio and video engineer Euan McAleece, and audio and video editor, David Macgregor.
The Angels in Bristol cast: Carla O’Shaughnessy, Tiffany Xin, Marilla Lamour, Tina Duffin, Gwen Henderson, Tyler Woodburn, Guy Pass, Daniel Watson, Amy Smith, Rebecca Kozlen, Tabitha Owens and Melissa Thom. The Producer was Melissa Thom and Assistant Producer, Tabitha Owens.
To work with BRAVA on voice, speech and communication in the workplace and beyond, drop us a line at [email protected] or visit our website at www.brava.uk.com
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