Zest4.TV Limited evolved from the expanding workload of freelance camera operator (and now Head of Cameras and Managing Director), Simon Roe.

Simon started his professional camera career as a news cameramen for local cable channel, Channel 7, based in Immingham in North East Lincolnshire. Whilst providing pictures for local news, including some work for BBC Look North and ITV Calendar, Simon worked to obtain an NVQ Level 3 qualification in Camera Operations and Editing.

Simon started trading as Zest4.TV to benefit from the project funding available through Yorkshire Forward, the regional development agency for the Yorkshire and Humber region. The funding paid for a Project Manager who devolved video project work to start-ups SMEs, such as Zest4.TV. Projects worked on included training videos for Baxters Foods and Humberside Police. A series of videos were also produced for the New Technology Institute at the University of Hull.

In December 2005, Simon incorporated Zest4.TV Limited and the volume of event based multi-camera work increased. Moving the business to Staines, West London in April 2006, it quickly took advantage of the demand for cameras at live events and corporate conferences. There was also a steady flow of work on news, particularly for Channel 9 Australia and RTE Ireland.

December is always a time of change for the company and, in December 2006, the company moved into its first proper offices at Tims Boatyard in Staines. It also took on its first part-time employee to assist with administration. Within a year, the premises were again too small, and the business moved around the Boatyard to significantly larger premises.

In the 3 years since moving, staff and inventory expansion have been the priorities. A part-time accounts administrator, full-time editor and a full-time multi-skilled production assistant/graphics creative have joined the team. And most recently an award-winning Minicams expert has arrived in-house. Kit-wise, we now have a 4-camera triax Portable Production Unit, 2 camera CCZ Portable Production Unit, Final Cut Pro High Definition edit suite and 2 mobile edit suites. Our next expansion is a multi-camera live ingest system.

Throughout all the changes in the company, we have enjoyed loyal clients that have remained with us since our first days of operation, and many that have joined our client list since. The company and its employees have always retained Simon Roe's aim of personal service, attention to detail and never taking a customer for granted. Client demands will always increase and budgets will always be tight - but we will always provide the best service possible at the best price.