Bristol TV production company Plimsoll Productions, the world’s biggest independent natural history programme maker, has achieved a 65% sales growth over the past year despite the challenges of operating during the pandemic.
The firm, which has been backed by mid-market private equity firm LDC since August 2019, clocked up sales of £50m in the financial year to this August. 
During the period Plimsoll released a number of highly rated programmes, recruited senior staff and attracted its highest audiences since it was established in 2013.
The firm has produced more than 70 wildlife, documentary and factual entertainment series since then for broadcasters including Netflix, Disney, Apple and Natural Geographic.
It has also scooped BAFTA, EMMY and Academy awards and opened offices in Los Angeles and Cardiff.
Standout productions for over the past year include Tiny World, pictured above, a nature documentary screened exclusively on Apple TV+ which provides a look through the eyes of the lives of the world’s tiniest creatures and is narrated by Paul Rudd, and Women of 9/11, a production for ABC that shines a light on the remarkable stories of women who put their lives on the line during the tragedy. 
Other achievements during the year included the launch of a co-production series with ITV which involved forming international partnerships including with organisations such as Tencent of China, and acquiring Brighton-based specialist distribution and rights management company Magnify Media – in which it had bought a minority stake five years ago – opening up a sales division for the firm.
Magnify Media now distributes to 75 countries worldwide through its network.
Plimsoll also recruited former US talent agent and unscripted TV dealmaker Mark Itkin to its board along with Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees. Mark is advising on strategy across the group while Marvin is focused on talent, diversity and sustainability.
Plimsoll said it was on track to further expand its premium factual offering and develop its portfolio of drama programmes over the next 12 months, including upcoming productions On the Edge, a National Geographic docuseries featuring Free Solo’s Alex Honnold, and chef Marcus Wareing’s Tales from a Kitchen Garden. 
Since LDC’s investment in the business, CEO Grant Mansfield and his team have invested in its natural history, documentary and factual drama divisions and pursued further growth, both organically and through acquisition, including expansion in the US.
Grant Mansfield, pictured, said: “We’re immensely proud of our multi-award-winning creative teams and their achievements over the last few years.
“It’s testament to their skills and long-term commitment that our projects continue to have a real impact, helping to raise awareness of important global issues and drive forward positive societal change.
“It’s never been more important to champion the natural world and it’s our mission to produce powerful storytelling and to reach as wide an audience as possible.
“The team at LDC has been instrumental in supporting our record growth and helping us to achieve our ambitions to date.”
LDC South West and Wales head Dewi Hughes added: “The impact of the pandemic created many unique challenges for the TV and entertainment sector, but Plimsoll continued to thrive under Grant and the team’s leadership, going on to deliver a record year for growth.
“With its strong pipeline of upcoming projects, growing international audiences and blue-chip partnerships, Plimsoll is on track to continue to scale in the years ahead.”
LDC, the private equity arm of Lloyds Banking Group, has a portfolio of 90 businesses across the UK in sectors ranging from telecoms, media and tech to financial services, healthcare and construction.
It has committed to invest £1.2bn in UK mid-market businesses over the next three years.
