21/10/2002

BBC NI studio outfitted by Omagh-based BES

The BBC Northern Ireland studio used by news magazine Newsline has received a technology makeover from Omagh-based Broadcast and Electronic Solutions (BES).

BES, an Invest Northern Ireland client company, was formed by Michael Bradley, a former electronics engineer with UTV, and received advice and assistance from Invest NI's Western Local Office in Omagh.

Mr Bradley said: "I had been exploring opportunities to work as a self-employed engineer and soon realised that there was scope to use my experience of over 20 years in broadcasting to offer a much more comprehensive service that covered all aspects of the broadcast industry.

"In the past, local broadcasters and programme makers were dependent upon suppliers from outside Northern Ireland. I used my contacts to test the market by offering them a locally based expert service and found them to be generally receptive to my approach. BBC Northern Ireland was particularly keen to encourage local expertise in this area.

"We were the first to offer this service in Northern Ireland and one of a very small group in Ireland with such a broad range of technical skills."

Mr Bradley described the business start-up assistance and ongoing support from the team at the Invest NI Western Local Office as "excellent".

"The Small Business Development Programme was first class because it helped me with all I needed to know about getting started in business. I am also building my marketing skills through participation in the Marketing Awareness Programme," he said.

BES currently employs eight people, including experienced electronics engineers, and has completed several major projects in addition to the development of BBC Northern Ireland's Newsline Studio B at Broadcasting House in Belfast.

Mary Gormley, Invest NI Client Executive in Omagh, said: "BES is an ambitious and very enterprising company which has used the broad range of services we provide to grow their business, particularly in the Republic of Ireland."

BES, based at Gortin Road, Omagh, has carried out projects for TV3, Kairos Communications and for local facilities companies such as MGTV of Holywood.

The company are currently completing work on the first high definition editing facility in Ireland for The Farm Media Group in Dublin.

(GB)

Related Northern Ireland Business News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

22 March 2024
Northern Ireland's Best Areas For Broadband Revealed
West Belfast has been named the Northern Ireland area with the best broadband, according to a new study. The experts at Getac – Rugged Computing Solutions analysed data from Ofcom Connected Nations 2023 to reveal the spots with the best broadband.
26 July 2012
Northern Hydraulics Engineers Investors In People Success
Coalisland precision engineering company Northern Hydraulics is one of 37 organisations from across Northern Ireland today awarded with the prestigious Investors in People (IiP) accreditation. Dr Stephen Farry, Minister for Employment and Learning, congratulated those receiving the business award at a celebration event held in Hillsborough Castle.
08 September 2010
Robinson And McGuinness Open £93m Coca-Cola Plant
The new £93million Coca-Cola HBC Northern Ireland manufacturing plant was officially opened in Lisburn today. Coca-Cola HBC Northern Ireland is part of the Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company, the world’s largest producer of Coca-Cola branded beverages with a presence in 28 countries, employing 45,000 people and serving 560 million consumers.
21 July 2014
Irwin's Bakery Wins Export Business In Abu Dhabi
Irwin's Bakery based in Portadown has been assisted by Invest Northern Ireland to win its first export business in Abu Dhabi.
12 September 2013
Local Firms Seek Business Opportunities With CERN
Invest Northern Ireland and the Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC) recently hosted an event to encourage local firms to seek out business opportunities with CERN in Geneva. CERN, the European Organisation for Nuclear Research, is the largest particle physics laboratory in the world.