Adamedia at 10 - family start-up to creative powerhouse - a BECBC Journey
In 2015, Adam Pearson co-founded Adamedia with his father, Keith, blending creative ambition with practical experience to launch a media production company from their base in West Cumbria. Ten years on, the company has grown into one of the region’s leading content creation studios and BECBC (Britain’s Energy Coast Business Cluster) has been a key part of that journey from the very beginning.
“We officially incorporated in May 2015,” Adam says, “and within a few months of forming, we’d joined BECBC.”
After a couple of months they were presenting to the cluster. “I still remember it really clearly,” adds Adam. “We showed off a lot of drone work - that was our big focus at the time - and played our showreel on the massive screen. It was a proper launch moment for us. And from that, we had a few ‘early adopters’ - businesses that took a chance on us when we were just getting going. Many of those are still clients today.”
Those early supporters included local engineering firms and energy sector clients, relationships that helped Adamedia gain a foothold in an industry where trust and reputation are everything.
From the outset, BECBC provided more than just networking opportunities. It offered validation, visibility, and a sense of community.
“It was the right level of networking group,” Adam says. “We were already aware of BECBC, Liz Bowe pointed us in their direction, but as soon as we arrived, it became clear this was the right place to be. There were businesses here that wanted to collaborate, that were serious about working with companies like ours. BECBC had medium-sized engineering companies, infrastructure clients, organisations who might genuinely need content creation - very collaborative, very proactive.”
A Shadow Board pioneer
In 2018, Adam became one of the founding members of the BECBC Shadow Board - a group aimed at bringing fresh perspectives and younger voices into the heart of the cluster’s decision-making.
“I was part of that first cohort of 18–30-year-olds. It was a great opportunity to shape something new and a great development experience, personally.”
Since then, the Shadow Board has grown dramatically, involving dozens of members and helping to drive forward new initiatives and engagement strategies within BECBC.
“When I left a few years later, I think we’d had nearly 30 people come through it. Now it’s even bigger, 50 or more. It’s been amazing to see how it’s evolved and the impact it’s had.”
Investing in the future
Adamedia has always prioritised organic growth - never relying on paid advertising or aggressive sales tactics.
“Everything we’ve done has been word-of-mouth,” Adam says. “No Google Ads, no Facebook spend; just building relationships and a reputation for doing good work. That’s always been more important to us than having a flashy brand.”
BECBC has played a big part in that network-based growth model:
“There are people I met through the cluster - seeing them month after month, and eventually, those relationships turn into real opportunities. One of our biggest clients today came through a connection made at BECBC. And we’ve worked all over the UK because of it - Wales, Scotland, the South East. It started locally, but the impact has spread far beyond Cumbria.”
To mark its 10-year milestone, Adamedia has launched a brand-new media hub and studio space in Lillyhall — a purpose-built creative environment that reflects the company’s evolution and ambition.
“It’s a big step up for us,” says Adam. “The new studio gives us the space and tools to offer more — podcasting, branded content, video interviews, high-end photography. It’s also a place where other local brands can come in, bring their products, and create something really professional.”
This growth is supported by an expanded team and four new roles, including a dedicated office manager to help manage increasing demand.
“We’ve grown sustainably,” Adam emphasises. “No boom and bust. Just steady development when the time and the team were ready. That’s how we’ve always done it, and it’s how we’ll keep going.”
Advice for others - get involved
When asked what advice he’d give to members of BECBC:
“You get out what you put in. That’s it. The members who never turn up well, they don’t get the value. But the ones who show up, contribute, build relationships, they become part of the fabric of it. We’ve always treated BECBC with respect, and it’s paid us back many times over.”
As Adamedia steps into its second decade, its story is a reminder that strong values, community connection, and long-term thinking still matter and that in the right environment, creative ideas can thrive far beyond their starting point.