James secured his first round of funding for his business, JM Cinematics, back in 2023 to purchase his first drone, “I started working with drones when they were still newish in 2021 while I was studying for my BA (Hons) Visual Effects (VFX) degree at Arts University Bournemouth.

“I took a gap year after COVID (2021 - 2022) and was on Universal Credit that year. In one of my meetings with them that it was suggested that I look into The SAMEE Charity. The charity helps anyone with business mentoring and support and they specialise in support for those who have a disability, either mental or physical. I told them I had been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome - now known as Autism - which is a neurodevelopmental condition causing problems with social interaction, non-verbal communication, restricted interest and repetitive behaviour.

“SAMEE understands the issues associated with many mental health conditions and takes them into account when helping you with your business. In my case, I don't like using the phone because I mess up my words. I don't sound as confident as I do in person, so they have written emails I can use to contact people to sell my services. They taught me how to do a two-week follow-up and sent me an annotated and easy-to-understand business plan template.

“I decided I wanted to start my own business while I was still at uni, it just made sense to me, why wait until I finish? So, I asked my business mentor at SAMEE, Stuart Knight, if he knew of any available funding and he pointed me in the direction of SWEF.”

SWEF is a business that provides financial support of up to £2,000 to individuals between the ages of 18 and 30.

“Stuart helped me apply for the funding and helped me develop a comprehensive business plan, cash flow forecast, and presentation to demonstrate the impact a drone would have on my business. I highlighted the work I had already accomplished and the challenges I had encountered, showing my determination to overcome obstacles and succeed.

“It wasn't an easy journey, and I faced several challenges along the way so I was thrilled to learn I’d been successful! I received a total of £859 which completely transformed my business enabling me to acquire a DJI Mini 3 RC Pro, an essential tool for my drone work.

“Following this, I quickly secured my first client, a renewable installer, who hired me to capture content from their case studies. It was a struggle at times juggling the demands of fulltime study and starting my own business, and I did fall behind in my studies at one point. It was then that I decided to sacrifice my leisure time and not my study time to work on my business. And it’s paid off; now I’ve graduated, I’m going straight into working for myself in my own established business.”

JM Cinematics now offers professional photography, videography, and drone solutions providing aerial footage, 3D mapping, roof inspections, and event coverage.

“I started specialising in aerial footage when I discovered companies were using drone operators to carry out roof inspections. If you have a leaky roof after a heavy storm, you can fly a drone up there rather than having to hire scaffolding for someone to inspect it, which can be expensive.”

“I applied for a second SWEF grant in April 2024 to acquire a new VFX PC capable of efficiently editing and exporting videos up to 12K, as well as rendering in VFX programmes like Houdini and Nuke. This will set my business apart, giving me a competitive edge over other production companies. It’s also enabled me to provide a wide range of services that require VFX.

“I was fortunate enough to be successful again and received a grant of £1,141 which allowed me to purchase the new PC. I also recently invested in the NEAT Video Denoiser Pro for Premiere Pro and Topaz Video AI.

“Since securing that grant, I’ve been busy organising meetings with different businesses around Dorset. I'm also looking at doing photogrammetry and 3D mapping with my drone as that’s a popular service highly requested by many trade companies, safety boards, and insurance loss adjusters. Since the VFX course taught how to do photogrammetry for smaller 3D assets, the same principle applies to larger buildings.

James graduated in the summer of 2024 with a Third-Class Honours degree in VFX, “Graduation was terrific! It was great to have an official ceremony congratulating everyone on their achievements and taking group photos with my class and the staff who had helped and positively impacted my daily life over the last four years.

“I’m really happy with my result, I hope it encourages and reassures people that you don't need to get the highest grades to be a high achiever or to have your own business. The work I’ve secured has relied on my solid portfolio and my positive mindset rather than the class of my degree.

“My degree will be used as an accreditation for my production company to show that I’ve received industry-standard training in film and VFX. This will show trust and certification when potential clients want to hire me. Bournemouth has one of the best film schools in the UK, so it will attract more prominent companies or corporations to hire me and my team.”

“Graduating from the VFX course at AUB, the support from SAMEE, and the two grants have been instrumental in the success of my business. It’s a great feeling to have finished my degree, and to not only leave with such valuable skills but also with a fully-fledged business. I feel like I’ve got a head start and I’m ready to hit the ground running, I’m really looking forward to starting this next chapter of my life and seeing what happens next!”