Case study videos are one of the clearest ways to prove a funded programme works. Inspired Film and Video has produced a series of case study videos for the University of Staffordshire Business Engagement team. Each one shows how local businesses, students and academics worked together on real innovation projects.

The films cover three business support programmes: the Advanced and Digital Technologies Innovation Accelerator (ADTIA), Go Digital and Net Zero. We filmed interviews and b-roll on location, so each story is told by the people who lived it.

Key takeaways

• We produced a series of case study videos for three funded University of Staffordshire business support programmes.
• Each film features the business owner, the student or graduate, and the academic who supported them.
• Filming on location shows the real workplace, the people and the innovation in action.
• The films promote the schemes to other businesses and celebrate students’ career progress.
• The University’s Knowledge Exchange Coordinator described the films as “fantastically received by the business community”.

What were the University of Staffordshire’s business support programmes?

The University of Staffordshire runs funded projects that pair local businesses with University talent and expertise. Its Business Engagement team asked us to capture the results on film, so other businesses could see what is possible. As a result, the series covers three programmes.

ADTIA: the Advanced and Digital Technologies Innovation Accelerator

ADTIA was fully funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) through Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council. The University of Staffordshire delivered it between April 2023 and March 2026. Over three years, it supported 30 local businesses with 360-hour innovation partnerships.

Each business worked with a trained student or graduate, acting as an Innovation Consultant. University academics, technical advisers and facilities in the Innovation Enterprise Zone supported them.

Go Digital and Net Zero

Both Go Digital and Net Zero were funded by Cannock Chase District Council, using its UKSPF allocation. Go Digital helped businesses adopt new digital tools. Net Zero, meanwhile, paired businesses with a graduate and a technical specialist to help them cut their carbon impact.

How we made the case study videos

Every business story was different, so we planned each film around its own project. However, the approach stayed consistent across the series. That consistency made the films work well as a set.

Planning with the Business Engagement team

First, we worked closely with the University’s project managers to agree on the key messages. For example, each programme had to be named in full before anyone used its acronym. Funders also needed a clear credit. We then wrote tailored questions for each business owner, student and academic.

Interviews on location

Next, we filmed interviews where the work actually happened: in workshops, offices and on factory floors. This puts interviewees at ease, because they are on familiar ground. It also gives the viewer a real sense of each business. If you are new to being filmed, our guide to getting the best out of a corporate video interview explains how we help people relax on camera.

B-roll that shows the innovation

Then we captured the b-roll of the people, products and processes behind each project. As a result, viewers can see the innovation, not just hear about it. Finally, every film was edited with subtitles, so it works on social media and is accessible to more people.

Which businesses featured in the films?

The series features a wide range of Staffordshire businesses, from manufacturing to recruitment. Projects we filmed include:

We also produced an introduction film for the joint Go Digital and Net Zero showcase event in Cannock. The event celebrated the businesses, students and academics involved, so the film told the story of both programmes from launch to results.

Watch: Staffordshire Precision Engineering and ADTIA

Our case study film for Staffordshire Precision Engineering shows how the business took part in the ADTIA programme. It features the business, the academic and the student, each explaining their part in the project and what they gained.

Why case study videos work for business engagement

A written case study tells people what happened. A case study video, by contrast, lets them meet the people involved. That matters when you want other businesses to take the first step.

Case study videos help business engagement teams to:

• Build trust: business owners speak to other business owners in their own words.
• Show real outcomes: viewers see the new product, system or process in action.
• Celebrate students: graduates explain the skills they gained and how the project shaped their career.
• Credit funders: councils and programme funders get clear, visible recognition.
• Reuse content: one shoot gives you a full film, short social clips and quotes for reports.

In short, a strong set of case study videos keeps working long after a programme ends. They support funding bids, impact reports and recruitment for future schemes. You can see more of our education work on our higher education and university video production page.

What the University of Staffordshire said

Justin Pover, Knowledge Exchange Co-Ordinator at the University of Staffordshire, said:

“Inspired Film and Video produced several case study videos for our business support projects at University of Staffordshire, showcasing both the university and the businesses involved. Fantastically received by the business community, their work is top quality. The team is wonderful to work with, puts interviewees at ease, and handles postproduction edits promptly. I highly recommend them!”

A long-standing partner for the University of Staffordshire

This series builds on a long relationship with the University. For example, we have filmed University of Staffordshire graduation ceremonies for more than 10 years. Across every project, we work as an extension of the University’s own team.