Lancashire based video production company, Bellyflop has been listed in the inaugural Forbes Solicitors Reinvention and Resilience Top 50 – an insightful report featuring North West companies that have innovated and diversified during the Coronavirus pandemic.

The company, which specialises in corporate video production was chosen as one of the Top 50 after launching their Bellyflop Video platform. The platform helps clients create branded video testimonials and case studies and takes no more technical ability than sending an email. The platform also has the capacity to help clients create their own social media video content and send video emails. There is no app to install and clients don't need to develop any editing skills. Customers can submit video reviews in just three clicks and within minutes businesses can download and share them across their social media channels.

Mark Robinson, Operations Director said: “We’re absolutely delighted to have been included in the Forbes Solicitors Reinvention and Resilience Top 50. Being able to bring this self-service product to the market is helping us achieve our mission of ensuring video is accessible, achievable and most importantly, affordable to all. 

As a business, we were hugely impacted by the initial lockdown as we regularly film at events and conferences which, as we know have all had to be cancelled. We feel that bringing this self-service platform to the market compliments the production and broadcast side of our business. It allows SME's to access affordable video and, as they see the return on that investment they can move on to using the production side of the business when they are ready. for larger businesses who are already using our production services it allows them to make a volume of content quickly and easily so they constantly have new video content being published."

Forbes Solicitors compiled the research – including nominations from small-to-medium-sized companies across all sectors – in a bid to showcase how businesses are generating revenue and protecting jobs in the wake of COVID-19.

The Reinvention and Resilience report identifies key trends that have seen companies ‘pivot’ to improve resilience by re-inventing their business, service, product or sector.  

Themes evidenced by North West businesses in the report include:

●Reutilisation; companies finding new ways to use existing equipment or materials to create new products 

●Rising risk tolerance; businesses dialling down their aversion to risk, whether it’s through M&As or opening new sites

●From linear to flat management structures; companies embracing more democratic work cultures to accommodate resource shortages, investing in their team and digital ways of working 

●Always open; companies investing in digital transformation and mobile, and new shift patterns to keep themselves always open for business 

●Innovation; businesses using COVID-19 as a reason to diversify and expand their product and service offering

●Demand; responding quickly and efficiently to a surge in demand and capitalising on an overnight opportunity

●Community / CSR; highlighting the charitable and public sector efforts.

Oliver Burton, Chief Executive Officer at Forbes Solicitors, commented: “The next six months remain unclear for businesses, but the many companies across the region that are showing huge resilience in the face of COVID-19 should be celebrated. With confidence in their own business and the region’s economy, we can all be reassured that our entrepreneurial region will work together to weather this storm.”

Businesses featured in the report include manufacturers who have halted traditional production lines to respond to the public health challenge; retail and hospitality companies that have innovated in order to survive the pandemic; and business services companies that have adapted operations and service offerings to grow during the lockdown.

To view the report please click here.