Slate and Mortar Ltd

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work at the University of Warwick, a large higher education institution in the UK. We do various things across the institution, but my role is to support a widening participation (WP) agenda, as well as disadvantaged students and current students who come from these backgrounds.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Slate and Mortar Ltd?

We were trying to encourage more students from diverse backgrounds to join a network that we had created called the WP Student Network. Thus, we brought Slate and Mortar to help us create a story that could encourage more students to think about higher education and explain how we could support them in that transition. We also wanted to explain how we could enjoy the WP Student Network once they joined the university.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Slate and Mortar produced two videos for us, one of which was a storytelling video to support incoming students' transition to university. For this video, we filmed students looking back and talking about their days prior to the university, remembering who they were and what they were thinking before joining. These talks were full of top tips and helpful advice for these students.

The second video was a marketing advice video directed at current students. We filmed current students who were already part of the WP Student Network to other students with similar backgrounds to join. The idea behind this video was to create a peer support group.

Initially, we were in charge of finding volunteers to appear in these videos. Then, we collaborated with Slate and Mortar to choose different locations to film these videos throughout the day. Both videos had a talking-heads interview style, so volunteer students were talking directly to the camera as they were answering a series of questions. We interviewed 6–7 students per video, using the same students for both videos but from different content angles.

During the production process, Slate and Mortar was in charge of choosing the locations, helping with the lighting, and ensuring the student’s profiles were in full view. Their team also helped us put the students at peace regarding the video content. Moreover, their scope included editing and post-production.

What is the team composition?

We worked with three people from Slate and Mortar, including Stuart (Co-Founder & Head of Production), Jon (Director), and a cameraperson. Jon was our main point of contact and the person who led the project.

How did you come to work with Slate and Mortar Ltd?

We didn’t select them. Slate and Mortar were already set up on our university’s procurement system, so we had to go with them because they were already safe to use.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent £5,000 (approximately $5,600 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We hired Slate and Mortar in late-June 2022, and they delivered the first video in mid-August 2022. We asked them to delay the second video because we didn’t need it until the next month, so the second video was delivered in September 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

Before starting this project, the WP Student Network was a new network for us, so we didn’t have any marketing materials; it was all done through word of mouth. Thus, the videos produced by Slate and Mortar became a really good way for us to showcase what our network is about.

We now have visual material that we’ve been able to put on our emails and web pages. As a result, we’ve noticed an improvement in our network’s engagement, as well as an increase in signup conversions. The transition video has been recently uploaded to our website, and it has reached up to 3,000 views, demonstrating that it has been very well-received. 

How did Slate and Mortar Ltd perform from a project management standpoint?

Slate and Mortar was very quick to respond, and they were very willing to work with us in whatever way we needed. For example, if we needed to change things, they were very adaptable to those changes.

The filming day was very successful. Everything was well planned, and the setup was very professional, so we didn’t worry about guiding them in any way. They already knew the university, which was very helpful. If something wasn’t working well and we needed to change locations, they clearly communicated it to us. Thanks to their approach, we were able to film both videos on the same day, which was very cost-effective and time-efficient.

During the editing process, Slate and Mortar’s turnaround time was very fast. If we needed to make additional editing, everything was clearly communicated as well. During this process, we used a very simple system where we could post live comments and provide feedback very quickly. We mainly communicated via email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Slate and Mortar’s communication and professionalism were their most impressive qualities.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. Everything went really well.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Ensure you have an understanding of what you want to achieve, and come in with a clear brief. Slate and Mortar is very happy to work things through, but having a clear idea of your requirements is helpful. This includes having realistic expectations regarding costs and providing them with a clear budget and deadline.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I work for University of Warwick as an engagement officer. My job involves working with staff to support them to engage the public with their work.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Slate and Mortar Ltd, and what were your goals?

I wanted to produce a series of videos which would share staff members reflecting on why they felt public engagement was important for their jobs.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

Slate and Mortar are a highly respected company and one of our approved suppliers for video editing work. I chose them after they were recommended to me by a colleague.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.

I gave them a brief for what I was looking for and asked for some advice on the best way to make the videos work. They were very helpful and had lots of ideas to help organise a complicated day of filming around 15 people. Once we'd done the filming day they provided me some quotes for editing final videos - including a variety of options so I could choose what would work for our budget. I ended up asking for individual videos of everyone we'd filmed, and a few videos which compiled the best snippets which were targeted towards specific audiences I work with.

We went through a few rounds of amends for the different videos, which given the number we were producing did take a while to coordinate, however Slate and Mortar where always speedy to turn around our latest batch of amends and kept me updated with things like staff annual leave/ other jobs so I knew when to expect the next round of videos back.

Who did you work with and what was the feedback process like?

I worked with Jon to organise the filming day, he also helped to produce videos on the day and advised on how to get the best out of those being filmed. We arranged this through a mixture of video calls and emails. Stuart led on the amends process and editing stage. Typically we manages this through comments on Vimeo videos, or emails with amends.

It worked really well and they are spectacular at doing every amend you ask for the first time. Often when I've worked with designers I've had to spend hours proofing that amends have actually been done - Slate and Mortar didn't miss a single thing in several rounds of editing 20+ videos.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The videos have been really helpful to add to our website as part of a refresh of the design. This refresh has been well received by heads of department and senior leaders which I feel the videos have contributed to.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

The team where happy to let me set the pace for feedback, planning and amends and I never felt chased or forgotten about.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

They were helpful and highly engaged throughout - they've been a joy to work with.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

No - they've been great

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work at the University of Warwick within WMG, a department responsible for most of the research that takes place at the university. My role is project engineer, and I work with applied research in the autonomous and connected vehicles space.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Slate and Mortar Ltd?

We were working on a couple of projects demonstrating autonomy solutions, and we had demo events that needed filming.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Slate and Mortar produced two technical videos for us. First, we wrote a script ourselves that was a very rough skeleton, and they streamlined it into a workable script. After that, we worked with a tabular format for the script. We collaborated with them to fill in the shot that would accompany each part of the script regarding the vehicles. There were also some shots of people in lab and office environments, so we made a separate list of what they needed to film.

How did you come to work with Slate and Mortar Ltd?

They were an existing vendor for our university and have done previous projects for us. Our marketing department put out an RFP for existing vendors, and we selected Slate and Mortar. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent somewhere around £20,000–£25,000 (approximately $25,000–$31,000 USD) across both projects. 

What is the status of this engagement?

Our first project was from September–June 2021, and the second lasted from November 2021–January 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

The videos demonstrated what we needed them to, and they’ve gotten good feedback. We had close-up events where we showcased the videos, and they were really well-received. Currently, the video lives on the university’s YouTube channel and has also been broadcasted on LinkedIn and our website. 

Working with Slate and Mortar was a pleasure. They were focused on our quality requirements and really good at working around our needs. Overall, it was very easy to work with them, which was quite relaxing. 

How did Slate and Mortar Ltd perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicated with a mixture of phone calls and Microsoft Teams. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I appreciated that Slate and Mortar was very accommodating to our technical requests. We needed control of the narrative and didn’t want something off-the-shelf. The team was very flexible in their approach, which we appreciated. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My advice is to be clear and concise about what you want. Slate and Mortar is quite cooperative and will be happy wot work around any special requirements.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm a freelance communications consultant and campaigns manager, I work with businesses and organizations to develop multi-channel engagement strategies.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Slate and Mortar Ltd, and what were your goals?

Working alongside the Office for the Police and Crime Commissioner in the West Midlands, we wanted to present a series of short videos that would help to encourage men (in particular) to have more open conversations about violence against women and girls and the role they can play in ending it. This required the design, scoping and delivery of said videos, casting, location and more.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We selected Slate & Mortar because they immediately grasped the sensitivities and challenges of the project, and put the team at ease around their ability to deliver high-quality outputs.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.

We pitched the broad concept and script videos to the Slate & Mortar team, with some rather tight timescales. Having scoped out a delivery timeline, the Slate & Mortar team set about sourcing locations, logistics and casting. Filming took place over three days and, against some rather challenging lead-in times, they delivered the edits in rapid time to meet the target launch date.

Who did you work with and what was the feedback process like?

We worked with Stuart and Jon throughout the process. Although there were calls booked in to formally check-in throughout the process, the team responded within 24 hours to every request/feedback item.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We anticipate the videos will have a viewership of c.70-80,000 in the first month of being available, and they're to be used in training sessions across the West Midlands. Survey analysis (conducted by YouGov) found that the most reported emotional responses to the videos were Interested (26%) and Reflective (25%) - which are positive outcomes as we wanted to encourage deep, introspective thought about the role that men have to play.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

The team were incredibly easy to work with - and flexible to however worked best for me (be that calls, email or other) on any given day. They were consistently quick at responding to requests, met deadlines, and handled everything for me - made my job very easy in the end.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

One of the challenges we knew we'd have was bringing in fairly inexperienced (due to budget) actors - and watching the team not only instruct them, but support them, was a really pleasing thing. Alongside the more practical elements of the production process there was a deep level of care and understanding for the partners, staff and project itself that reassured both me and my client's team that they were in really good hands. It's not always the case - so it's worth pointing out when you see it.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

None - there's things I'd have done differently (potentially bringing them on board earlier in the process to see what we might have done with less aggressive timescales)!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a project engineer who was in charge of managing the creation of the video. We have created a system to provide cooperative perception to help an autonomous vehicle traverse a roundabout using 2 specific use cases.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Slate and Mortar Ltd, and what were your goals?

We wanted to create a video to explain and showcase our research into cooperative perception for autonomous vehicles and the benefits this can achieve

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We selected based upon quotes along with an initial meetings where we asked multiple companies how they would bring our vision to fruition

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.

We started with discovery meetings to describe what it was that we were going to try and explain and do in the video. This was followed by generation of script and story board. The VO was then recorded before the 1 day of filming to capture all of the necessary footage of the demonstration as well as the interviews. After this there was many drafts that we provided feedback on and worked very closely with to ensure all details were correct and to our liking

Who did you work with and what was the feedback process like?

We worked closely with the head of production and had a very open and regular feedback prosses ensuring that we saw early drafts to be able to provide feedback at every step of the process.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We showed the video off at the Intelligent Transport Systems World Congress and had very positive feedback throuhght the week that we were there. The video has also been used to show off the work that the intelligent vehicles group carry out at WMG through many other events helping to secure further research funding for the team.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

The project manager was very easy to get hold of and was more than happy to take on feedback whilst also providing creative direction for the video. There was always quick responses to emails and calls and meetings where necessary were promptly organised.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

They took the time to understand our research thoroughly. This enabled them to effectively come up with creative methods to best show off the technology we had developed.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

No issues at all.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the partnership marketing manager at FBS, an international trading company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Slate and Mortar Ltd, and what were your goals?

The team produced the film in 15 different formats with the Leicester City football players to bring awareness to the brands and their partnership's opportunities to people worldwide. The main challenge was the tight deadline, and Slate and Mortar Ltd. overcame it perfectly.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

Slate and Mortar Ltd. have already worked with Leicester City, and the club recommended the team.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.

We started with a discovery meeting. The team was well-organized, responsive, meeting the deadlines, and providing the best possible output. They sent the brief and proper concepts and contacted the club to plan the filming. Stuart and Jon prepared the storyboard reflecting the main idea, and we made a couple of amends to the script together.

Slate and Mortar Ltd. handled all the necessary preparations before filming by themselves and were very proactive on set, working with the crew and the Leicester City managers who assisted. During post-production, they understood the changes, were always ready to jump into a call to discuss essentials and delivered the materials on time.

Who did you work with and what was the feedback process like?

We worked closely with Stuart, Head of Production, and Jonothon, Head of Creative. Both of them were extraordinarily proactive and available at any stage of the process.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The campaign met the initial goals of increasing brand awareness by more than 20% in the primary target regions. Moreover, we never heard of any negative feedback on the video either from the customers or co-workers.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

Both Stuart and Jon were easy to communicate with. They kept me posted with any updates regularly, sent the materials for review without reminders, and were passionate about waiting for the final approvals from our management. All the issues were discussed honestly along the process.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

After the quick discovery meeting, Stuart and Jon clearly understood the campaign's main goal and the brand in general. They prepared suitable concepts for a reasonable price shortly. Moreover, we needed to make the voice-over in 19 languages in-house.

They suggested assistance in the English version preparations and created a draft voice-over for an actor to emphasize necessary points correctly.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

I do not think that Slate and Mortar Ltd. need anything to improve. They showed great results even though we worked remotely.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm a marketing executive for the School of Performance and Cultural Industries at the University of Leeds.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Slate and Mortar Ltd, and what were your goals?

Slate and Mortar were hired for the production of a short video aimed at attracting prospective students to the undergraduate programme at the School of Performance and Cultural Industries for the University of Leeds. There was a need to refresh the content for the School and provide a more modern style of video.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We received several responses to the brief we sent out and eventually decided on Slate & Mortar due to their clear understanding of the brief and attention to detail made in their pitch. We felt they understood the school's needs the most and were also impressed with their previous work.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.

We had an initial video meeting to confirm a schedule and methods for delivery of the project. The video was to be a series of interviews with students and academics cut with b-roll of seminars and footage of campus. We arranged two dates for filming and blocked in a week for pre-filming telephone interviews with the contributors, this was something Slate & Mortar suggested as it had worked well for them in the past to get to know the contributors before filming starts. We also agreed on the post production timeline and the number of edits, including several shorter edits for social media and the required dimensions for these.

Who did you work with and what was the feedback process like?

My main contacts were Jon (Creative Director) and Stuart (Co-Founder) and we also worked with Adam as director of photography. All were great to work with and very easy to get on with, which made the whole process very enjoyable. The feedback process was primarily through Jon who was very attentive to our needs and schedules, while also being very thorough and timely with the edits, often exceeding expectations.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

While it is still too soon too measure any impact within this recruitment cycle, anecdotally we have heard glowing reviews from students about the video as part of the interview process. The video has also been highly praised by management and senior members of the marketing functions within the University.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

Our project lead, Jon, was always very attentive and on-hand if we had any questions or needed to contact him for any reason. We spoke mostly over email and video chats. As previously mentioned, the project delivery exceeded expectations in both quality and timeliness.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

I was most impressed with the post-production process and the level of detail given to edits and the speed of delivery.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Overall I was extremely happy with Slate & Mortar and the final outcomes of the project, we felt very involved throughout the partnership and had a great experience working together.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the head of marketing and communications at the University of Warwick’s Medical School department in Coventry, England.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Slate and Mortar Ltd?

We’ve worked with Slate and Mortar on a number of projects. Our objectives are generally around raising awareness for our courses and profiling students and lecturers on specific courses. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Slate and Mortar has produced various videos for us, and our most recent project is focused on student testimonials. The university has a process called “clearing”, in which students who haven’t gotten the courses they want can look for other courses. Given this, we want to raise the profile of two courses using testimonials from students and get more enrollees by September 2021. We’ll use these testimonials on social media and across a number of platforms. 

For our recent effort, Slate and Mortar hasn’t had to storyboard since it isn't relevant to the project — our team has been clear about our objective and the questions we have for students. Moreover, since they have plenty of experience in video production within the education sector, we've included one of their suggested questions in our questionnaire. Overall, the process is straightforward: we write a brief in the beginning, and they take videos around the campus. 

Meanwhile, their team also handles all the video edits to produce different video versions. Footage can be transformed into a longer video incorporating a number of students and B-roll clips. It can also include shorter snippets for social media. We can even add our branding to it as well as some music, making it a full video production project. 

Back in 2018, we produced a postgraduate video where we profiled some of our courses. Later that year, we produced another video that was related to our undergraduate studies in health and medical sciences. At the beginning of 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, we produced another video as part of our anatomy course within our trainee doctor program. 

What is the team composition?

I work with Jon (Company Director), and he brings with him a freelance cameraman. We’ve also worked with Stuart (Co-Founder & Head of Production).

How did you come to work with Slate and Mortar Ltd?

Prior to our engagement, we’d known Slate and Mortar for a few years because both Jon and Stuart worked for the University of Warwick as in-house video makers. When they left and set up their own company, we maintained a good relationship. As a result, when they offered their services and talked about targeting the education sector, it was sensible for us to give them a go. 

How much have you invested with them?

The postgraduate project in 2018 was worth £10,000 (approximately $14,000 USD). 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in June 2018, and our partnership is ongoing. We’ve done around five projects since then. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

The course directors and our bosses have been positive about Slate and Mortar’s work, which is why we’ve used their services again and again. Meanwhile, instead of looking at metrics like CTRs, our team has focused on the advertising message that we have as a whole. We also check whether the videos they create actually send people to our intended landing page or course application. 

Overall, the Slate and Mortar team is highly creative. They won’t simply stick to the process; if they have a better idea, they’ll put it forward. Likewise, if our team has a better idea, they listen to us and take it into consideration. All of this makes our relationship highly collaborative. 

How did Slate and Mortar Ltd perform from a project management standpoint?

Slate and Mortar is efficient. They stick to deadlines and manage expectations well. Meanwhile, we don’t use any project management tools since we’ve done well with using phone, email, and Microsoft Teams. This is particularly helpful during the COVID-19 pandemic. They also provide a template that we can use for creating project briefs, so we just fill that out and send it over to them. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I always feel that I’m in good hands and that I’m going to get great results from our collaboration. Not only that; they’re also highly responsive. They understand me and my business, so I trust that they’re always doing a good job for us. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there aren’t any. Everything has been satisfactory.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Slate and Mortar works using a collaborative approach. Given that, if you don’t know much about video production, they’ll guide you through it. Give them a go; they’re truly good and have a lot of experience. More importantly, they’re not stuck in their ways. They’re prepared to listen and look at other industries to provide great results. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Marketing and Student Engagement Manager at the University of Liverpool School of Medicine. I look after our external marketing websites and all internal student engagement channels.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Slate and Mortar Ltd, and what were your goals?

We want to reach prospective and current students with an accurate depiction of studying medicine now, in one of the oldest and most prestigious medical schools in the UK. We needed to show the locations and the broad range of places to study we offer for medical placements in our network of NHS partners for the modern student, without just blending in to the crowd.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We looked at a range of vendors and found many offered the same style of product which didn't capture the energy and enthusiasm we were looking for, whereas Slate and Mortar did, at a reasonable price.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.

We worked together on a storyboard and schedule that would provide the maximum output on a tight few days of filming. I sourced the best available students and agreed the best locations to shoot with Slate and Mortar. We booked a date and the team arrived promptly. Working with them on filming was extremely easy and they were able to adapt on the go as needed.

Once the film was captured, I worked remotely with the company to get sign-off. They were very understanding of the need to meet the requirements of several layers of stakeholders within our school and our NHS sites.

Who did you work with and what was the feedback process like?

We worked with a director/project manager, a cameraman, and an editor. They were all easy to work with because they thoroughly understood the requirements we had and the delicacy of filming in sensitive medical locations.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We received the increase in social media clicks we had been looking for and positive feedback from applicants with whom we shared the content.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

The timeline was managed well with easy-to-understand updates and the ability to approach the company both online and on the phone. Sign-off was complex at our end and they were understanding and supportive in our approach to achieve that.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Flexibility, ease of communication, and lack of pretention.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

No.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the former international marketing manager at the University of Kent.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Slate and Mortar Ltd?

We needed to create promotional videos for the university so we hired Slate and Mortar.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I worked with Slate and Mortar on a range of promotional videos. The main area of work was on a series of lecture videos, similar to TED Talks in format, where university lecturers talked about their area of work as a promotional tool. We initially did a trial of about eight videos, but because it proved to be successful, we expanded and did about 130 in total over the course of two years.

The team helped with the planning of the project. It was quite straightforward, and during the actual production, they did all the filming and editing. Where necessary, they helped out with coaching the speakers to make sure that they got the best performance from them.

They kept us up to date on what was going on. They quickly produced the first edit and I replied with any amends that were needed. That was usually sufficient, and we could pretty much sign off on it by the second edit. If needed, they made some last-minute changes at the second edit.

What is the team composition?

I was in contact with two main people from Slate and Mortar, but they also contracted other camera people and editors. In total, there were about four people that I worked with.

How did you come to work with Slate and Mortar Ltd?

Slate and Mortar emailed us. I looked at their showreel and work, and it was really impressive. I liked the visual look of what they did, so I asked them to give us a quote. It was very competitive pricing, so we got them down to do this project. 

How much have you invested with them?

We did it in phases and paid £25,000–£50,000 (approximately $36,000–$71,000 USD) in total.

What is the status of this engagement?

The core period was from January 2015–January 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

Anecdotally, we had received lots of positive feedback from people within the organization. We got the sense that some post-graduate students decided to apply after having seen the videos. Obviously, I think that was due to a mix of the quality of Slate and Mortar’s videos and the content provided by the lecturers.

We also did some additional promotional videos and some more straightforward promos with Slate and Mortar. Again, these were very well received and had good viewing figures on YouTube. We received positive internal feedback on these as well.

How did Slate and Mortar Ltd perform from a project management standpoint?

I thought their project management was excellent. They kept us informed and updated every step of the way. They were always very professional and efficient, and you always felt confident that you would get what you want on time.

If there were any issues, they were always very open to suggestions and discussing ideas. Slate and Mortar would come up with their own approach whether it was on ways to organize the production to save time and money, or on more aesthetic ideas in terms of the look and feel of the videos. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

For me, their professionalism and the whole visual style and quality of what they produced were impressive. Certainly, that had been my initial motivation for hiring them. They were very easy to work with and were really good fun. We got on well, which made the whole process more enjoyable.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I don’t think so. The only reason I haven’t worked with them more recently has partly to do with COVID-19 and the limited need for promotional videos, and there have also been some newer, more local companies that have been able to offer the same services at a cheaper rate. Certainly, with my budget being scaled back, I have gone with the others. I would like to work with Slate and Mortar again, though. They delivered really good quality outputs, were reliable, and were fun and easy to work with.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

View it as a partnership. Be open to suggesting different things to Slate and Mortar, question what they have in mind, and be open to their suggestions as well. They have a lot of experience and are very creative. Certainly, I have found that that is what worked. By the very end, it felt like they were an extension of our department and not a separate company.