Blitz Hire partners with BGF to accelerate the next phase of growth

Blitz Hire, the UK’s leading provider of specialist rigging and structural equipment for the film, TV and live event industries, has attracted investment from BGF, the most active growth capital investor in the UK and Ireland.

Founded by Paul Skipper in 2001 and developed under the leadership of his son, Sam Skipper, Blitz partnered with West Yorkshire-based Production Park in 2022. Since then, the business has more than doubled in size through a combination of organic growth and strategic acquisitions, strengthening its position as a leading production services provider to the Film and TV industry.

Blitz has become a trusted partner to many of the UK’s leading high-end film and television productions, with recent credits including Barbie, Bridgerton and Slow Horses. Headquartered in the heart of the UK’s Film and TV industry, Blitz operates from a purpose-built, 90,000 sq ft facility in North London. Its team of more than 50 people provides customers with a broad inventory of rigging, structures, lifting and drapery.

BGF’s investment will be used to continue Blitz’s impressive growth trajectory, further securing its position as the leader in the rigging market, growing in adjacent markets and undertaking further strategic M&A to broaden its service offering.

Sam Skipper, CEO at Blitz Hire, said: “I’m incredibly proud of what our team has built. Their hard work and commitment have been central to our success, allowing us to grow our inventory and capabilities while maintaining the personal service our customers value. As we look to the future, it was important to find an investment partner who shares our ambition and takes a long-term view. We believe we’ve found that in BGF, and together with our existing partners, we’re excited about the next chapter.”

The investment comes at a time of continued focus on the economic importance of the UK’s creative industries, which contributed more than £145 billion to the UK economy in 2024 and support thousands of skilled jobs. Production Park is a key national asset based in West Yorkshire, housing an integrated ecosystem which brings together world-class production facilities, industry-leading businesses, education and innovation.

Lee Brooks is CEO at Production Park, added: “BGF has a strong track record of helping regional businesses grow, alongside relevant experience across the creative industries and events sector. That combination made them a natural choice when Sam and I were considering an investment partner. Their experience supporting management teams to invest with confidence and unlock further growth will be invaluable as we continue to scale. We’re looking forward to working together on the next stage of the business’s development.”

The deal was led by BGF partner Chris Boyes, along with James Baker and Christian Pollard – investors in BGF’s Yorkshire and Northeast team. Via the BGF Talent Network, Ross Smith will also join Blitz Hire as non-executive chair, having worked across several BGF portfolio businesses to drive strategic value, including J&B Recycling and Datum360.

Santander’s regional corporate & commercial Banking and Structured Finance teams, led by Liz Pickering and Martin Beckett respectively, provided increased debt funding in support of the transaction.

Chris Boyes, investment partner for BGF, added: “Blitz has demonstrated incredibly strong growth, working with some of the best-known brands across the entertainment industry. Its market-leading equipment offering, strong customer relationships and reputation for service provide an excellent platform for further expansion. We’re excited to partner with Sam, Lee and the wider team to support the next phase of growth.”