Amid a competitive field of finalists, Thread Studios has won the Creative Industries Award at the latest Sussex Business Awards, held on the 5 December.  

Thread Studios is a content production studio that tells the human stories behind global conflicts. Founded in 2018 and based in St Leonards, the team draw careers from investigative journalism, international relations, and the British military, and strive to inspire action through on-the-ground storytelling projects.  

Their recent work includes an eight-part series on the illegal wildlife trade and a documentary about the Hyde Park bombing in 1982.  

The annual Sussex Business Awards celebrates local innovators, leaders and entrepreneurs across 16 categories, including Community Hero and Future Talent, and is now in its 36th year. 

Sponsored by the Business School, the Creative Industries Award category received a record 22 entries in 2024. The judging panel, made up of Business School MBA students and alumni, shortlisted and interviewed the top applicants before selecting the winner, considering creativity, innovation and impact. 

Reflecting on the interviews as a member of the judging panel, MBA student Jason Cresswell said: 

“It was really nice to be on the other side. I really enjoyed the process of actually sitting there speaking to the companies. What you learn from how people actually talk about their businesses - and also the passion that they have - really takes you to a different level of understanding a company.” 

When asked about the judging process and what lies ahead for the company, award winner Alex Farquharson, Managing Director and Co-founder of Thread Studios, said: 

“The panel of judges gave me quite a grilling! The students were obviously knowledgeable and really engaged with what we’re trying to do which was great. 

“What we’re building in St Leonards already punches above its weight compared to big London producers, and we believe the next three years will see us reach a global audience with a series of powerful, important stories. We’ve got a couple of projects scheduled to come out in 2025 that we’re particularly excited about - so watch this space!” 

All award winners were announced at a gala event at The Grand in Brighton. Other finalists in the Creative Industries category include 427 Marketing, Creative Pod, Search Seven, and Snap Finger Clic.