Editor

Six months on since its formation and independent television production company Rondo Media is not only on track to surpass its first year £10million turnover target, but has also been chosen as one of a limited number of companies included in the BBC’s outside London XM25 networking scheme.

The company, which has offices in Cardiff, Caernarfon and Menai Bridge, has also created nine new jobs since its inception, with 5 employed in north Wales and 4 in south Wales. One of these new posts sees BBC senior producer Tom Ware join the company following its success in being one of three Welsh production companies to win the Talent Attraction Scheme. The scheme, which provides financial support for Welsh companies to recruit senior production talent for three years, is devised by Pact and jointly funded by Skillset, the Sector Skills Council for Creative Media, and Creative Business Wales.
Tom Ware joins Rondo Media from BBC Vision in Bristol where as Executive Producer he managed BBC Bristol’s annual daytime output including established shows such as Flog It, Bargain Hunt and Wanted Down Under developing factual formats and landmark series including The Human Planet. Tom will be responsible for creating original formats for Rondo Media aimed at securing network commissions for the company.

The BBC XM25 networking scheme is designed to bring production of programmes outside of London and closer to the audiences they serve. In a recent speech to the Royal Television Society delivered by Jana Bennett, Director of Vision BBC, XM25 will see the BBC permanently increasing the production and commissioning of programme in other parts of the country, including Wales. In addition to Drama, Wales will focus on Documentaries, Factual Formats and Music.
Gareth Williams, Chief Executive Rondo Media, said, “We are delighted with our progress in our first six months. Being able to create employment in this difficult economic climate is also particularly pleasing for us and we are confident our future direction is on the right track.
“Our XM25 and Talent Attraction Scheme successes provide us with a solid foundation for targeting and winning network commissions. Having Tom’s experience on board as part of the team is invaluable and we are already excited by the formats he is working on.”
Tom Ware, added, “The Talent Attraction Scheme provides me with an incredible opportunity to not only broaden my skills level and experience but also create new opportunities for Rondo Media to help create a totally new market for its creative talents.”
Krishan Arora, Independents Executive at BBC Vision, said, “I congratulate Rondo Media on its success in being awarded funding via the Talent Attraction Scheme. By being able to employ experienced individuals such as Tom Ware the company can help make a real difference for the sector as a whole in Wales.”
Chief Executive of Skillset, Dinah Caine, added, “Rondo Media are now part of an initiative that is real. It is on the ground and provides the company and the sector as a whole in Wales with a long-term and innovative solution for building capability and structures to develop a highly skilled workforce to service major productions.”