Entrepreneurial Society welcomes TV head

Plymouth College’s Entrepreneurial Society has started the new academic year with a talk by CEO of the Two Four Group, Melanie Leach.

As Chief Executive of the Plymouth-based TV production company, Melanie oversees nine companies producing a wide range of comedy, drama and unscripted television. Prior to being appointed as CEO in July 2014, Melanie was MD of Twofour Broadcast during which time the company was named Indie of the Year at the 2010 and 2014 Broadcast Awards.

Melanie began her career in production and continues to Executive Produce some of Twofour’s most popular shows including The Jump (C4) and Channel 5's longest running series, The Hotel Inspector. Recent hits for the company include Emmy award-winning Educating… brand (C4), The Jump (C4); The Housing Enforcers with Matt Allwright (BBC1), Alex Polizzi: The Fixer (BBC2), Posh Pawn (C4), and Animals In Love (BBC1).

After an introduction by Sixth Form student, Oscar Marsland, Melanie talked to the audience of budding entrepreneurs about how the company’s breakthrough programme, Collectors’ Lot, was her own big break.  She talked about how the company had grown – from 6 to 600 employees – and continued to expand into new areas of broadcasting.  

When asked the best way to get on in TV, Melanie said that it was a people business and that as well as qualifications, personality, tenacity and confidence would take you far.  She was also asked how they came up with ideas for new programmes? Melanie replied that the company’s development team starts each day with a blank piece of paper!

The Entrepreneurial Society was launched last year.  The aim of the Society is to bring business and economics alive for students and to promote enterprise and leadership in them.