Pocket Projects

Founders

Rad Miller

Profile

I graduated in 1994 in Technology Management at Bradford. Following this I became the member of a band called VSI and had a contract with a major recording company. It was a minor success and it gave me the experience of being in music production. After the recording contract ended, the Youth Service said they would like to use our recording studio and that's how my connection with music and young people came about.

What does your company do?

We are a creative music and video media production company providing educational and recreational workshops for young people. We work with both primary and secondary schools on media projects that are focussed on the end result, rather than the process. For example, I have done a media project in a school aimed at improving the student voice. My creative solution to this was to teach them how to do Podcasting. Podcasting is a new form of broadcasting using the internet. I helped the students put together shows which were very similar to radio shows. These shows, containing many school related topics, interviews and music, are then broadcast throughout the school and on the internet for outside listeners.

What has ThinkBusiness@Bradford done to help you develop?

They have looked at my individual needs and put me with the right people to help me get what's in my head onto paper and explain my business in laymens terms. They have helped me explore other avenues for my business that I would never have thought of. Think Business has felt like a family, even though I haven't been using the office space, because the workshops and networking events have given me a chance to meet other new businesses.

What's been your biggest success?

Discovering for myself, with the help of the professionals at Think Business, that my business has the potential to succeed and that there's a niche out there for it. One of my successes has also been meeting like-minded individuals and creating long-term partnerships.

What's been the hardest thing you've had to cope with?

The hardest thing I've had to juggle has been being available for events and meetings with Think Business whilst trying to run the business. Both are important to make time for.

What advice would you give other new businesses?

Believe in your idea and research it as much as possible to check out the competition and if there's a market for it. Always take the advice of people who have experience and never refuse the opportunity to be mentored. Don't go it alone!

What plans do you have for the future of Pocket Projects?

World domination?! I'm working on my Website at the moment. My philosophy is to have fun whilst learning and I'd like to make the Pocket Projects website a useful learning resource for young people and adults alike, providing music, videos and audio products to schools to make learning more interesting. I'd especially like to see the resources used in Schools TV and have them embedded into the curriculum.

What would you like to see from ThinkBusiness@Bradford in the future?

I think the one-to-one mentoring should be continued. Think Business should consider bigger more permanent residences, like commercial space. I would have liked a bit more assistance in finding grants.