SME News - Managing Director of the Year Awards 2024/ 38 Most Innovative Digital Media Production MD 2024 (North West England): Colin McKevitt Badger & Combes is a digital media production company nestled within MediaCityUK, Manchester. Managing Director Colin McKevitt takes a unique approach with his team, opting to nurture and cultivate young talent over long-term industry experience. Following his title in the Managing Director of the Year Awards 2024, we take a closer look at Colin’s alternative leadership style and how that has led the company to such success. Badger & Combes provides a variety of media services, including digital video production, live broadcasting, event coverage, research & development, and digital growth consultancy. The company combines passion with creativity to produce engaging and emotive digital content that will build and engage audiences for its wide client base. Being located within the coveted MediaCityUK campus offers Badger & Combes many industry benefits. MediaCityUK is a vibrant community located on the waterside of Manchester docks that is home to numerous prominent brands in the media, tech, and creative industries. Colin tells us, “MediaCityUK serves as a fantastic digital ecosystem for media and creative industries, providing unparalleled access to a vast network of professionals, resources, and cutting-edge infrastructure tailored specifically for media production and technology companies. This unique ecosystem fosters collaboration, innovation, and talent acquisition, positioning Badger & Combes at the forefront of the industry.” Colin McKevitt is the Founder and Managing Director of Badger & Combes. He re-entered education at the age of 38, following the decision to transform his career and join the media production industry. Two years later, whilst studying at MediaCityUK, Colin noticed the stark contrast between the opportunities available to himself and his 19-year-old counterparts in his courses. This, he chalked down to the misconception of maturity and experience as interchangeable characteristics. From that moment, Colin vowed to use his position to bridge the gap between academia and industry. Over the following years, Colin has curated an incredible team at Badger & Combes consisting of young talent that may have been otherwise overlooked during hiring processes. He tells us, “At Badger & Combes, we’re driven by a fundamental belief: leaders aren’t just born, they’re created when given the opportunity to lead and own their intent. This ethos is at the heart of everything we do.” The company culture stems from this belief and allows for employees to feel motivated and inspired to improve. Badger & Combes specialises in enabling young, new talent to emerge into the media industry. The team at Badger & Combes are passionate about the work they produce due to Colin’s expert approach at management. As a leader, Colin understands that there are naturally many ways to instil excellence amongst employees. When asked about his personal methods, he tells us, “As Managing Director of Badger & Combes, my approach is rooted in empowerment, collaboration, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.” Amongst his team, he aims to foster a culture of trust and accountability, both paramount elements of success. His team is encouraged to follow his ‘OIL’ approach, which stands for Ownership, Intent, and Leadership. For those aspiring to become Managing Directors, Colin recommends building strong relationships with both clients and employees, leading with purpose, and remaining adaptable in the face of adversity. Managing Directors must invest in their staff and recognise that their team is often their greatest asset within the company. This recognition is clear at Badger & Combes; in addition to placing a strong emphasis on hiring talent over experience, Colin has developed a Talent Pathway programme for young, unrecognised talent in want of nurturing. Through the programme, the company offers young individuals the opportunity to work with professional equipment and real clients as a way of gaining true industry experience. The programme has allowed for young professionals to work alongside names such as LancsTV, Betfred Super League, Sky Sports, BBC and MediaCityUK. These opportunities are ones that may not have been granted to them without the hard work and recognition of Colin. His actions are paramount to the mission of encouraging young people to enter the industry. It is clear to see exactly why Colin McKevitt was awarded his title in the Managing Director of the Year Awards 2024. Colin leads his team to strive for excellence and puts a heavy emphasis on nurturing natural talent. With such an inspiring managerial approach, it is certain that the future will be bright for Badger & Combes. Contact: Colin McKevitt Company: Badger & Combes Web Address: www.bcombes.com Social Media Handle @badgerMCR
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjQyNzgzNA==