A RISE in on-site television and film production is being reported at York Science Park as resident companies announce new contract wins including the team behind the BBC's Helicopter Heroes.

Footage for videos, television programmes and films is being captured and edited at the Science Park, utilising links with the University of York's department of Theatre, Film and TV.

One of the companies involved in the filming is newly-launched Air Television, set up by Ian Cundall and Andy Joynson, which has won the contract to supply a new 15-part, BBC 1 series following the work of British recruits to the Australian emergency services.

Filming has just started in Australia and will feature the work of police officers, flying doctors, firefighting pilots and their crews, before the film is brought back to York Science Park to edit.

Mr Cundall was born in York and started his career as a reporter in the city and Mr Joynson was one of Radio York’s first presenters. Together they specialise in flying and filming, and created the BBC’s Helicopter Heroes series, which captured more than 3,000 real-life rescues.

Air Television is also working with Channel 5 and has already produced corporate videos for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and Viscount Classical Organs, which involved a major musical recording at Selby Abbey.

Tracey Smith, managing director, York Science Park, said: "It’s really exciting to see so many residents involved in making and using TV and video. We have become a real creative media hub and demand is constantly growing for great footage and the skills needed to create and deliver that footage.

"As well as the skills provided by some of our residents, our proximity and links to the University’s Department of Theatre, Film and TV is also a great benefit and we’re delighted that we have such a positive relationship with the team and their commercial enterprise Heslington Studios Ltd."

York Science Park has also recently welcomed film production company UMedia as a temporarily resident while it filmed in York in conjunction with an Italian film company and the University of York’s Department of Theatre, Film and TV.

Another resident from the acting world, founder of In Flow Training, Dominic Colenso, recently turned his office in York Science Park’s Springboard into a mini studio.

In Flow Training is a specialist communications training company working with SMEs, start-ups and entrepreneurs and Mr Colenso has been creating a number of videos for a new online course.

He said: "Video is such powerful tool and this series of films I am developing is designed to help businesses take their message to a larger audience.

"I will also be interviewing other business experts to expand the content I provide on my website, making it a really useful resource for businesses both in the UK and overseas.”

Finally, the latest new resident in the Science Park's Springboard facility is Meridian Line Films, an independent television production company which also creates programmes for new media such as YouTube.

Meridian Line Films has been established by Liz McLeod, who has been producing specialist factual programmes for major broadcasters in Britain and internationally for more than 20 years.

The company will be working predominantly with the Chinese market thanks to Ms McLeod's long association with China and her experience of making programmes there, including an award-wining series on the Beijing Olympics. The Team is already in production with a YouTube Channel about China named China Icons.

Commenting on her move to York Science Park, Ms McLeod said: "We already have strong links with the University of York’s Department of Theatre, Film and TV and so being based practically next door to them in Springboard made perfect sense. We are very excited about the opportunities in TV and video production at the moment and already have a number of prospective new projects in the pipeline."