PUMA was set-up in 2013 as a pilot ‘Enterprise Hub’ within the School of Art, Design and Architecture, operating outside of the taught curriculum and engaging with both undergraduate students and recent graduates on live projects which would enable them to hone their skills whilst gaining valuable experience of professional practice. PUMA generates a profit from its work, which is intended to cover the cost of its human and physical resources, with surplus profits being re-invested both in equipment and to enhance the Media Arts programmes.

PUMA significantly enhances the University’s research, development and teaching activities, contributing to the achievement of the ambitions and aims set out in the ‘Plymouth University Strategy 2020 ’ as follows:

• Excellent learning in partnership with students: PUMA enables students to develop both personally and professionally, enhancing their employability skills and developing their professional practice by offering opportunities to take part in live projects.

• Achieving resilience, sustainability and effectiveness: PUMA contributes to the financial sustainability of the University by reducing our costs and reliance on external agencies to undertake media production work, as well as diversifying our income streams through the generation of commercial income.

Our vision is to build on a successful pilot phase and establish PUMA as a sustainable, in-house media production company which utilises the skills of the University’s students and recent graduates to produce high quality advertisements, short films and documentaries for a wide range of both internal and external clients. Key to the philosophy of PUMA is that the participants are paid appropriately and feedback has been extremely positive in that students especially feel that it is rewarding to be able to support themselves through work that is more appropriate to their interests. Our other key philosophy is that we have a tiered mentoring system so that the participants benefit from others experience as they develop their commercial practice appropriate to increased responsibility within that framework.

PUMA’s key strategic aims are to:

• Develop student and graduate talent through extra-curricular experience
• Support graduate start-ups e.g. Pulse Studios (see case study section), Another Robot in gaining credibility and establishing track-record
• Retain graduate talent within the South West
• Enrich the Media programmes (BA Media Arts, BA Media Arts: TV, and BA Film & Television Production) through that retention but also through marketing opportunities (PUMA has met with favourable response at Open and Applicant Days)
• Develop a network of local talent and connections to support and promote opportunities
• Realise significant cost savings for the University and reduce reliance on external agencies
• Minimise any impacts on local media businesses / avoid distorting local competition
• Establish PUMA TV – an online TV channel in Media Arts (TV) and Film & Television Production, streaming lectures, workshops, conferences etc.
• Establish PUMA-R – a research grouping, engaging with NESTA, NHS etc.

Ben Hancock and Will Jenkins graduated from BA Media Arts in September 2013. They worked on PUMA projects as students, graduates and now with their start-up company Aletalk Productions (now Pulse Studios). This case-study demonstrates how PUMA has enabled recent graduates to stay in the region and develop culturally impactive initiatives such as the Plymouth Film Festival which was partially sponsored by PUMA profits. Will and Ben are now members of the PUMAr research cluster and active in current funding bids. PUMAr has grown out of the connections that PUMA has forged with the local business and cultural communities

Clients have ranged from the University’s External Relations and multiple Faculties, Devon & Cornwall Police, Plymouth City Council, International Book Fair, Cognovo research project and many more – over 60 projects

Videos have ranged from recording lectures, sports, promotional videos and interviews to informational drama.