Successful Bradford television and film production firm Sandman has a training company to thank for helping to get it off the ground.

Gary Scott, who is joint owner of Sandman Productions, took the plunge into the world of self-employment after completing a Business Planner Course at R&D Associates in Little Germany.

The company, which was set up in January, specialises in the production of science fiction films and has already had a major success with its first feature film Firewall which was launched in May at the Cannes Film Festival.

"Showing the film at Cannes really helped to promote and raise the profile of the business," he said.

Now the company, based in Church House, North Parade, has produced a 13-part TV series with independent producer Arrowhead called Tales of the Legion.

The series has been described by scriptwriter David Newall as a much deeper film than Firewall. He said: "It is much grimmer and darker than Firewall. It's more Boys from the Black Hole than Boys from the Blackstuff."

Gary Scott said: "The Business Planner course gave me a clear idea of how to put my business ideas into practice."

He said he chose to set up in Bradford because he found the city helpful towards new businesses.

R&D have helped hundreds of people set up successful business ventures.

The Business Planner course covers a wide range of topics from market research through to taxation, financial assistance and the legal aspects of self-employment.

The course is funded by Bradford & District Training & Enterprise Council which means it is free to anybody in the Bradford district.

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